Rock and Rolling Walleyes
By: Tyler Dunn   Tyler Dunn Guiding

No matter if it is spring, summer, fall or winter. Walleyes can be found at any depth on any lake. One thing that can be found close to the areas holding fish is rocks. It might be a small rocky shoal in the middle of the lake, a shoreline littered with big boulders, or even a deep underwater rocky point. Where ever the rock structure is, walleyes won’t be far.
When you’re planning on specifically targeting rock related walleyes your first decision is obviously going to be where to begin. With this question in mind, I tend to make my first choice a windblown rocky shoreline. If my previous walleye fishing has taught me anything it is that walleyes love to push schools of minnows up on shallow windblown shorelines. The school of baitfish become disoriented in the waves and rocks in shallow water becoming very easy prey. In the choppy shoreline water, I especially like to troll shallow running minnow baits like the popular Original Rapala or a walleye spinner with only a few split shots above for weight. I try both and then make a decision on which to use but usually when you have found a school of walleye feeding heavily, it doesn’t matter which one you use.

A cluster of large boulders is another great spot for walleyes. They sit and wait ready to ambush any unsuspecting prey. I find myself paying much closer attention to these areas in lakes with stained water. Stained water walleye can be found in the shallows much more frequently compared to walleyes in clear water lakes. When I find myself in this situation on a stained lake, a simple slip float precisely placed between or along the edges of large rocks can be a deadly tactic that has kept me busy all day. Minnows were always my favourite live bait when using a slip float up until this past spring. A live leech under a float can not only out fish a live minnow but they are much more durable.

Artificial such as Gulp is another alternative to using live bait using a slip float. Not having to bait your hook after each fish is a great asset that gives the opportunity to get back fishing quicker. This is a great technique for kids or someone who has minimal experience. Another easy method for pulling walleyes off big boulders is to cast crank baits. Walleyes can be fairly opportunistic predators when you can get their attention. Create some contact with the rocks on a quick retrieve looking for a reaction bite. A slower retrieve will target fish in a negative mood giving them such an easy opportunity that they just can’t resist.

Its not a secret, rocky shoals are possibly one of the most common places on any lake that you will find walleye. The best part about fishing rock shoals is that they can be approached so many different ways. It really comes down to wind, weather and literally which way you want to catch them. Pitching jigs, bottom bouncer, minnow baits and slip floats can all be extremely effective. Usually when encountering a shoal with some wind on the lake, I opt to troll before jigging. With no or very little wind on the lake, I will jig vertical slowly drifting the shoal using an electric motor to guide the boat. Mess around with different presentations and find which technique is most efficient for you to use.

So, next time you are out chasing walleyes on the lake always look for rock structure and I can guarantee the walleyes won’t be very far away!