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Nightcrawlers and leeches work great in Utah and are among the only legal live baits available. If you’d rather cast, toss a crankbait suited to the depth you’re fishing. Use crankbaits or work a bottom bouncer like a lindy rig setup with a worm harness and whole nightcrawler. Try along riprap that has a moderate current. Search out the deeper sections of main channels in lakes, gravel, and rocky points and the area near river channels where the current slows. You can have a great day on the lake and go back under the exact circumstances again and not catch a thing. You’ve heard they like to cruise the bottom, eating whatever they want. So, you’re after the ever-elusive walleye.
WORM HARNESS BOTTOM BOUNCER HOW TO
This article will show you the handful of spots where your odds are going to be the best, but first we’ll make sure you know how to catch them when you get there. There are several lakes and rivers throughout the state where you can find these toothy critters. Walleye in Utah are a difficult fish to catch, though once you’ve figured them out, you can have a great time catching one of the tastiest fish Utah has to offer. With so many epic trout lakes around, walleye can often get overlooked. Fish where others are fishing, look for structure, put forth the time to learn how to fish for them, and you will become successful.Utah has some great walleye fishing if you know where to look. You will lose your fair share of fish, but do not get discouraged. When that moment occurs, set the hook and reel in your catch.Ĭatching walleye is an endeavor that takes a lot of practice and patience. Let them take the bait and you will begin to feel weight on the bouncer. A walleye will take the harness and swim with it a while before completely eating it. Adjust your line until the bouncer is periodically hitting bottom as this will ensure your bottom bouncer is standing vertical and lifting your harness off the bottom.
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Drop the bouncer until you hit bottom, and troll at a speed of 1 mph. Tip the harness with a night crawler, and break off the tip about an inch from the shank of your hook. Attach a 1.5-ounce bottom bouncer to your line, and tie on a worm harness. Worm harnesses and bouncing for walleyes is probably the most successful way to increase your catch numbers. Use any lure that resembles shad, and you will start catching walleyes. Walleyes generally seek cover in these areas and can often be found schooled there. Look for structure such as ledges or drop-offs, submerged trees, rock piles, or road beds and target these areas. Make passes with your boat next to the shoreline, in depths of 10 to 30 feet. Let out line until your lures begin to hit bottom, and then reel up until you are only hitting bottom occasionally. Troll at a speed of 2 to 2.5 mph, (you may need to go either faster or slower depending on the time of year, but 2- 2.5 is a good average speed). Trolling for walleyes is a fantastic way to target bigger fish. You can either walk the lure back to you by jerking the fishing pole, or reel it in straight. Walk the shoreline and cast out into the body of water. Use any suspending, or driving lure that can reach a 5 to 8-foot depth. This same tactic can be used when fishing with any stick bait. Twister, but any color or worm variation will suffice. I have had the most luck using a white Mr. A walleye will sometimes strike the jig head aggressively, or you may just only be able to feel weight on the end of your line. Retrieve the jig head by either reeling at a very slow rate, just enough to spin the tail on the worm, or jig it slowly in by using short thrusts with the tip of your rod. Cast as far out as you can and let it slowly sink to the bottom.
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Use a 3/8 to 1/2 ounce jig head tipped with either a plastic worm with a spiral tail, or a minnow hooked through the head. Walleye can be successfully caught from the shore in the early morning and during dusk hours. Below I have listed some helpful tips and tricks to increase your catch rate.
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Many people target walleye, but not everyone is able to catch a freezer full. Not only are they fun to catch but they are also one of the most sought-after fish to eat. Walleye fishing is a pastime that many outdoor enthusiasts take part in.
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