Using Bottom Bouncers to Bring up Walleye

Hey it's Andrew Martinsen.

Suspended walleye just aren’t as easy to tempt as walleyes that are actively hunting. When the walleye are just hanging around at the bottom, a bottom bouncer can put the bait right at their fishy lips.

Bottom bouncers are a very versatile rig. They can be paired with a multitude of baits. They also lend themselves to a multitude of presentations. This really opens up the opportunities when the walleye are being picky.

The construction of a bottom bouncer is fairly simple. It has three components: wire, weight and bait. The wire is formed into a seven shape with a weight attached to the longest leg. The line is connected to the angle and the bait is attached to the short leg.

Once an angler has found suspended walleye, they need to lower the rig into the water. Keep lowering the line until the weight touches bottom. The line should slacken and tighten back up. The angler can then let out a little more line.

Once the bottom is established, the angler can give the bottom bouncer a little action. If the bottom bouncer is being used in a vertical or casting presentation, the angler needs to create a taping motion. This can be achieved by raising and lowering the rod tip. The angler should be able to feel the sinker make contact each time.

Bottom bouncers will also work with trolling. Again, it is important to establish where the bottom is. A sonar unit can be utilized to identify any dips or holes in the floor. This will make it easier for the angler to adjust the line as needed.

The bottom bouncer needs to make contact with the bottom when being trolled. If it isn’t, it may be too high and missing the fish entirely. The bottom bouncer shouldn’t be dragged either. Dragging a bottom bouncer achieves nothing but disappointment.

Bottom bouncers work best when used with slow speeds. Whether the angler is trolling, casting or vertical jigging, it is necessary to keep the movement slow. A bottom bouncer is supposed to simulate the natural movements of baitfish. The walleye won’t take the bait if it whizzes by them.

Bottom bouncers are normally paired with spinners or live bait harnesses. These combinations work the best. Bottom bouncers can also be paired with crankbaits. When trolled properly, crankbaits can be quite appealing for suspended walleye. Crankbaits don’t always work with bottom bouncers since the lower speed interferes with the crankbait performance. They can be a deadly combo if the perfect speed balance is found.

When walleye suspend near or at the bottom, they become a much harder fish to catch. Their lethargic state makes them much more finicky about what they will go after. A bottom bouncer paired with the ideal speed and tempting bait is often enough to peak a walleye’s interest. Sometimes an angler needs to sink the bait to the walleye’s level in order to get a strike.

Great fishing to you always!

Andrew Martinsen

Andrew Martinsen Talks about Walleye Gear

Hey, Andrew Martinsen here.

A boat is one of the best tools that an angler can utilize. A boat can help the angler get to where the fish are hiding. Making sure that the boat is properly packed will help make the most your time on the water.

When it comes to fishing, there is a lot of gear that needs to be packed especially when you are heading onto the water. Ideally, all the gear should have its own space on the boat. Gear that is improperly stored can result in damage and accidents. Before you head out, try to organize your boat to the best of your ability.

When it comes to gear to bring, life jackets should be on the top of the list. Most states have laws that govern younger boaters. All passengers should wear lifejackets when on the water no matter what their age is. Lifejackets can save your life in an emergency but only if you are wearing it.

You should also have an emergency kit on board. The kit should include the basics like bandages, wraps or ointments. Make sure that any bandage material is stored in a water proof bag. The kit should also have a flashlight, flares or glow sticks. These can be a lifesaver if trouble strikes as the sun goes down. Some states also require that boats with lower levels carry fire extinguishers.

You should also have a basic toolbox on the boat. You don’t need to pack the entire garage, just a few tools like screwdrivers, pliers or a hammer. These can come in handy if you have a gear malfunction.

Fish finders are also a great tool to bring along. These little gadgets will help you find the pockets of fish. They can also help you monitor the bottom of the water and avoid embarrassing mishaps.

Once your safety gear is stowed, it is time to get the fishing gear on board. When it comes to rods and reels, most anglers usually bring two of each. This can save the outing if you lose or damage one.

A net is important to have on board because you can safely haul in your catch. There are some collapsible nets on the market. These are great space savers but make sure that the net can handle the fish you are after. Many walleye have been lost because the net wasn’t adequate enough.

You will also need to save room for your bait. It doesn’t matter whether you are bringing along a tackle box with your favorite lures or live bait. The bait needs to be accessible for easy changes but out of the way to prevent mishaps.

Live bait needs additional considerations because it works best when it is actually alive. Make sure your reserve enough space to accommodate your live bait container. You will also need a place to put the fish you keep. A cooler with ice works well or you can use a fish well that hangs of the boat into the water. Either way, these items will need a spot to live.

If you are going to be on the water for an extended amount of time, you may want to pack a cooler for yourself. Dehydration and hunger can affect your judgment especially when the mercury is high. Packing plenty of water and light snacks will keep you at your peak.

It is faster to just toss the gear into the boat and hit the water. In the long run, it will waste time as you desperately search for the gear you need. Taking a little extra time to gather the right gear and stow it properly will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

Take Care,

Andrew Martinsen

Andrew Martinsen on Walleye Lure Options

Hey, Andrew Martinsen here...

Walking down the lure aisle can be hard on even the most seasoned angler’s eyes. There is a sea of color choices that all promise to incite a walleye to strike. Before filling the cart with every color created by man, there are some color trends that need to be considered.

Research biologists have spent some time studying walleyes. They found that walleye are able to see red, yellow, orange and green the best. The darker colors like blue and purple are harder for the walleye to see. As interesting as this is, it still doesn’t explain how color influences walleye behavior.

Water clarity has a lot to do with the colors that walleye respond too. When the water is clear, walleyes respond better to natural colors. Pearls, chromes and whites stimulate the look of the natural forage fish. Shades of gray, brown, green, blue and even purple can be affective to. Shiny finishes and scale patterns also aid the cause.

Walleye need to be able to see the lure before they will strike it. When the water is on the murky side, brighter colors seem to work the best. Chartreuse, orange, red and pink really seem to entice walleye. When the water is just plain dirty, fluorescent colors are the way to go.

Walleyes seem to like chrome finishes almost as much as bikers at Bike Week. Spinners, crankbaits and spoons all come in colors that are reflective when the lure is in motion. Nickel, silver and gold are top producers. Brass, palladium and copper will also motivate the walleye.

Crankbaits come in a wide range of patterns and colors. There are three color patterns that have the best overall success rate. The natural silver color works well in clear waters. The natural gold works well when fished close to the bottom. The fire tiger pattern excels over others when used during the night or in murky waters.

When it comes to walleye fishing there are no sure-thing colors. Every angler on the water has a color that they swear by. Anglers normally have their own ideas on what colors work best. Since every water body varies in some way, it makes sense that the inhabitants will vary in their tastes too. Sometimes choosing a color comes down to knowing the trends.

If angler is getting a few strikes with their presentation they may want to consider a color change. A change in color can often stimulate action that has slowed or stopped. A color change is subtle but often effective.

When trying to choose a color, the best bet is to match the forage fish. Walleye will often strike at lures that look like what they are eating that time of year. That is why the natural colors work well in clear water.

It isn’t necessary to fill a tackle box with every color lure on the market. There just isn’t enough room or money to make this feasible. An angler should have a selection of successful colors on hand. This will make it easier to tempt the walleye palette.

Great Fishin'!

Andrew Martinsen

A Night with the Walleye

Good walleye fishing can happen anytime of day. Most anglers agree that nighttime is the best time to fish for walleye. When it comes to walleye, nighttime is often walleye time.

Walleye are a predatory fish. The huge eyes that they are known for make them deadly in low level light. On the other hand, these eyes also make them more sensitive to light. That is why some of the best walleye fishing happens from dusk until midnight during the summer. Good walleye action can also be found in the hours surrounding sun rise.

As night falls, bait fish move into shallower waters in search of food. The walleye aren’t far behind. Finding walleye at night is often easier than locating them during the day. An angler can shine a light near the shallow shore. If the water is shallow enough, the light will usually be reflected by the enormous eye. This shouldn’t be done to often though because it will scare the fish.

One of the best ways to catch walleye at night is either by wading or casting from the shore. A crankbait cast over the shallow spot works wonders for landing a walleye. Walleyes are aggressive strikers when on the prowl. Still, the retrieval needs to be fast enough to make the crankbait work but slow enough to be caught by the walleye.

Walleye may also haunt heavy vegetation areas during the night. Long-lining works great in this situation. The line should be let out between 120 and 150 feet. A minnow shaped diver plug is a great lure to use. A crawler harness with a worm or a leech also works well.

As the angler trolls the weeds, they need to monitor speed carefully. Going too fast may spook the fish and too slow will hinder the performance of the bait. The bait should be trolled just above the weed line and allowed to occasionally touch the tops of the weeds.

Nighttime anglers can also anchor and use jigging to catch walleye. This technique works best if the walleye are hunting around structures. Sometimes even nighttime walleyes are soft biters. A bobber can be a great asset if an angler needs help detecting a strike.

There are several lines of glow-in-the-dark bobbers that can help. This will make it very easy for the angler to keep an eye on the bobber. It also adds a little amount of light that the more curious walleye may find attractive.

Nighttime walleye presents a few challenges for the angler. Since visibility is low, the danger of hitting structures or bottoming out is very high. During nighttime fishing, walleye can often be found in water that is less than fifteen feet deep.

A sonar unit will be very helpful but nothing beats daytime reconnaissance. An angler that wants to fish walleye at night should spend some daylight hours on the water. This will make it much easier to identify potential hot spots as well as possible problems.

Nighttime fishing for walleye can be a great adventure. The fish are more active and the competition with other anglers is less. Hunting walleyes at night isn’t hard but the successful angler needs to be more aware and flexible on their approach.