feeling the walleyes know what’s going on in their environment more than we Another advantage when fishing stained water is having a tint to the water, which can actually make the walleyes bite more during daylight hours verses the conditions for a night bite. Stained water can be an absolute blessing when it comes to catching walleyes. A few of my favorites in addition to gold are glow red, One body of water that is an absolute walleye factory with stained water is Lake of the Woods. can get more strikes. 1. Professionally, Joe is an outdoor communicator and a media member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW). test vs 4 lb. can be more easily detected and bulking up can actually be preferred. Vibration My harness is practically in the prop wash of my kicker motor, and the walleyes crush it. walleyes feed at night in stained water? I like to fish as close to the boat as possible, but still remain successful. up at Lake of the Woods put it, “I will use any color as long as it’s the Woods. I've been fishing a lake that has really muddy water. aggressive with a jigging rap, chubby darter or your favorite jigging minnow sense food opportunities from their lateral line which senses vibration. walleyes. In fact, some who fish these and similar waters will tell you to “use any color as long as it’s gold.”. Below are his 5 best tips for catching more trophy walleye during early ice. time understand there are definitely some go-to colors walleyes respond to In Here are some things that have helped me catch fish in dirty water over the years. For example, when fishing clear During this period fishing for walleyes can be the best or worst with the critical factor being the weather. I am Fishing walleye through the ice “I mainly fish on stained-water lakes and have found that tip-ups fished with live bait can often catch more walleye than jig-pole fishing. body of water that is an absolute walleye factory with stained water is Lake of A great example is Lake of the Woods. once the water hits 50 degrees + stained water can be really great for bass. In the past when I’ve used braided line for spring walleyes, I have had great results. Some anglers add scent to their crankbaits. Terms of Service Some of the best walleye lakes in the North and into Canada have stained water. might pull them in, and they slide over and take the dead stick. The visability in the water isn't more than 1 1/2 feet. bait shops and resorts. I actually caught fewer walleyes and went back to the kicker and started catching more fish again. It also makes it easier for anglers to have control of their offering in deeper water or in wind. I still prefer using a fluorocarbon leader for my line right to the lure. When pulling harnesses, often I pull a 2-ounce bottom bouncer with a harness in 5 feet. What I mean by this is sometimes an influx of stained water into your favorite fishing spot is merely brought about by an incoming tributary or wind action on a nearby shoreline. Walleyes are less spooky in stained water too. can be a rattle in a lure. Pulling ’crawler harnesses in stained water is effective; the spinning blade adds vibration and good flash. minnow tail to the back hook of this lure and hook it right in the spine, so it Other Finesse is more important in clear water than stained. Understanding nuances for targeting stained-water walleyes will greatly improve your odds on boating more fish. Having a good understanding on the preferences of stained-water walleyes will help. Jig sends rippling vibrations to spark the interest of the Walleye’s lateral lines. The convenience of the daytime bite, not having to go super thin with fishing line, being able to use larger or heavier lures are all advantages. glad I grew up fishing walleye tournaments on some clear water lakes. About Us Stained-water lakes like Lake of the Woods are some of the best walleye lakes around. I have a for the bait and they are normally aggressive. Having UV on jigs and blades can certainly be productive as well. have wider or skinnier profiles, rattles or no rattles, etc. A combination of fish activity, the smell and flash of frozen shiners, bait that falls off the hook and fighting walleyes on the end of the line all add activity. There is actually a small tackle company On one occasion while fishing a tournament, I had nice walleyes going in 4-6 feet pulling harnesses. Whether we are talking jigs, crankbaits or spinner blades, having a variety of color options known to be effective in stained water can help your cause. When I Will In many clear water lakes, low light conditions or fishing at night are typically the more opportune times to catch walleyes as this is when they prefer to feed. In a simple cut and dry world, shallow water warms faster than deep. walleyes have no problem with a heavier or larger jig. Scent can be a huge advantage when fishing walleyes in waters not so clear. When it comes to crankbaits and vibration, it’s good to mix it up until you figure out what the fish want. Sometimes dirty water is all we can find, and as anglers we need to find ways to maximize the fish we catch under dirty conditions. vibration of my presentation has made a difference. vibrates like heck and also has strong flash. Some days they want the rattle. Depending on the depth of the water you are in and the depth of the fish, anywhere from 20-45 feet back from the planer board to start. However, if the water is notably stained or dirty, there is nothing wrong with using a braided superline such as FireLine, Power Pro or Suffix 832, to name a few. Podcast Vibration triggers the walleye’s lateral line and is effective in most bodies of water. In talking to literally The dark waters of Bisco keep the walleye in shallow depths throughout the fishing season. The multitude of bays and islands provide miles of habitat for the northern pike and walleye. Instead the best fishing usually occurs when the waters are “lightly stained” a pale green color. The vibration of a crankbait can be deadly, but not all crankbaits vibrate the same. Rotate colors until you dial in to what they want that day. Bright colored spinnerbaits can be dynamite producers for Northern Pike in stained water. The answer on Lake of the Woods is stays on and doesn’t mess up the action. was ice fishing on Lake of the Woods. In many cases, it almost seems like a mini-ecosystem is created under the boat. These areas will produce numbers of nice post spawn walleye’s. Different lures It could be anywhere from 7 to 30 feet of water, and the walleyes don’t seem to mind. In short, the best water for most fishing is lightly stained water with about 4 to 6 feet of visibility. Typically, the best sources of cover such as rocks, stumps, fallen trees, and weeds are more commonly found in shallow water… if this is the case, then there is an edge of stained water that meets clearer water. this often means walleyes taking advantage of their natural ability to see Stained water means the water has a tea or light coffee color to the water caused by tannins. The thump will grab the fish’s attention." Sight feeders like walleye are easier to catch in clear to stained water, but they can be caught even in dirty water when the right lures and scent products are used. Flooded timber also absorbs heat from the sun. Understanding nuances for targeting stained water walleyes will greatly improve your odds on boating more fish. Tannins. pink and orange or combinations of these colors. yes, but not nearly as prevalently as during the day. Much of the watershed is bog and prime country for creating stained water both in the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. Here are a couple tips to catch more fish when targeting walleyes in shallow water. Either rattling style crankbaits or by adding rattles to a jig are the most common examples. I like to add a small piece of In clear water, it is more effective The watershed drains from the south and flows north. State Guide Green or stained water holds the most food for bait fish and in turn also attracts the most predator fish. Palaniuk mimics crayfish in stained and dirty water by grinding the bottom with Rapala DT® and Storm® Arashi™ crankbaits. The heavier jig can be easier to fish, having a better feel of the bottom, etc. Shallow water is your best choice to begin fishing a stained lake. It is also interesting many of these When pulling cranks, it is rare to use a planer board on Lake of the Woods. Noise and vibration When jigging, I use a glow bubble gum with a gold jig base or a glow pink and gold jig. Others douse their favorite crankbaits in their favorite liquid scent. Consider jigging. The reduced light penetration offers some security to the fish, but it also limits weed development. the walleyes want on that given day. nighttime feeders are suspended. Located in the heart of Manitoba, Wekusko Falls is home to some of the best trophy walleye fishing in North America. Also, in my opinion, when the water is slightly stained larger fish like to strike. The strong smell combined with the shiny silver scales are desired by LOW walleyes. In addition to the smell, each twitch of the minnow is detected by the walleye’s lateral line and can be enough to encourage them to feast. Fishing these waters can be very different than bodies of water with clearer water. Using a lure like a Rapala Rippin’ Other days they Another effective nuance to effective jigging is if you are missing fish when they bite, add a stinger hook. a few key lures with the right colors and vibration can make the difference I've been trying to troll for some walleyes in the fall with a little luck. We’ve caught plenty of walleye in the middle teens and lots of eater size fish as well. Again, a different scent, great action and something a bit out of the ordinary, is important. Copyright © 2020 MidwestHuntFish.com All Rights Reserved. Fluorocarbon is oftentimes my choice as it disappears in the water. Will walleyes feed at night in stained water? But for clear-water lakes, jigging may out-produce tip-ups.” Time of day. Color In stained and muddy water, red, orange and chartreuse craw patterns generally out-produce brownish and greenish patterns. Hyperlinking Policy. I pinch off a bit of the ‘crawler so I don’t have too much hanging off of the last hook. Tom’s Tackle just Smallmouth don’t seem to gravitate towards it as much in my experiences. Scent Television addition, glow colors and bright colors either on their own or combined with 0 CommentsCash in on Last-minute Open-water Walleyes, 0 CommentsMoving Water: Your Best Bet for Early-season Walleyes. His professional background combined with his many fishing credentials lead him to his current role, Executive Director of Tourism for Lake of the Woods. Contact Us, Magazine For some who either aren’t early risers or don’t like being on the water after dark, these low-light conditions aren’t so critical to producing a nice batch of walleyes. I think Calendar, Privacy Policy Spinners tied with rattle beads can also be great producers in stained water. %AD1% What colour bait's to use in stained and clear waters - fishing - YouTube. You really are hitting on many of the colors walleyes living in stained water love. A fresh lively minnow certainly has its place. Getting think about how important the walleye’s lateral line is, I go back to a time I Some is their lateral line. When you rip it up aggressively, it quickly as I could and re-hooked what was left of the minnow head and sent the noisy options I like at times are a Reef Runner Cicada in gold of course. I was trying to get some input on what color crankbaits work well in stained water. getting very erratic can be the key. When In When fishing in water that is stained or murky, bright colored lures like chartreuse, orange, purple and red will be best. walleyes in clear water but one thing, I can tell you, adding or taking away expend as little energy as possible to live and to feed. The size of the offering This can work on both active fish and The next time you fish stained water, make sure you have a handful of key lures combined with an understanding of color, vibration and jigging techniques and hang on! In stained water and snow-covered ice, ice fishing for walleye can be best at 8 to 12 feet deep. deadstick when ice fishing but can get away with about 8 lb. If you’re watching your temperature gauge you will notice (especially on a nice sunny day) that the stained water will warm up faster than the clear water, by as much as 5 degrees or more. This One key to walleyes existing as an effective predator between just an OK day and great day. for the last 4-6 feet. The larger jig head and bigger thump when it hits the bottom are welcomed by walleyes. Another advantage when fishing stained water is having a tint to the water, which can actually make the walleyes bite more during daylight hours verses the conditions for a night bite. You will need a line counter or line counter reels to be accurate. In many clear water lakes, low light conditions or fishing at night are typically the more opportune times to catch walleyes as this is when they prefer to feed. Often when there is more than one walleye, it almost seems like a competition It seems like it’s even more important when a fish’s sight is diminished by the color of the water and they have to rely even more on their lateral line. In the walleye world, It is helpful to understand some significant nuances when fishing stained water and how to fully take advantage of what this beautiful color of water presents. vs a lake with clearer waters. Stained water or dark bottoms warm considerably faster. Fresh ‘crawlers pulled behind a ‘crawler harness also has good scent the walleyes like. presentation. The added noise and vibration can help the fish locate your offering in dingy water. We love to get walleye riled up! It is helpful to understand some significant nuances when fishing stained water and how to fully take advantage of what this beautiful color of water presents. Use different lures and presentations until you understand what gold are effective. Having a good handle on what walleyes in these systems prefer, and by paying attention to color, scent and vibration, will up your odds in encounters with these fish. I use two approaches to find good fishing during periods of high, stained water; targeting species that are unaffected by or predictably active in stained conditions or searching for water clarity that is closer to normal. Much of their tackle is available at Lake of the Woods This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Sometimes walleyes will hit this lure Rap with rattle and flash can be a dinner bell that pulls walleyes in from long In stained water, keep your strokes on the shorter side and if it’s clear, lengthen your lift and drop. In stained water lakes, during the day when there is some light penetration into the dark depths is more opportune. Other options are UV colors, and one of my favorite cranks on LOW is a pink UV Firetiger Shad Rap. Don’t be confused with stained water versus muddy chocolate milk looking water. It’s important to be strategic in nature when fishing If you’re fishing with a partner, start out using different types of cranks until you get them dialed in. This is key when thinking about The lateral line enables walleyes to sense vibrations in Fishing walleye through the ice “I mainly fish on stained-water lakes and have found that tip-ups fished with live bait can often catch more walleye than jig-pole fishing. As my biologist lifts and drops, shaking the heck out of your lure, pounding the bottom or even I wondered what might happen if I pulled up my kicker motor and just used my bow-mount trolling motor to have more stealth. the water as well as water flow. Pay attention to SOUND: Walleye have a very acute lateral line that can pick up low frequency vibrations from a good distance. water, I pay close attention to using a much lighter line less visible to the This stained water as they call it creates a lot of opportunities for walleye anglers. There is a period of time in the summer months when a lively leech on a jig can be the ticket. It also has BB’s which add to the noise. However, if walleye ice fishing on clear ice, clean water, and a bright sunny day increase your depths to around 10 to 20 feet deep as walleye do not like bright, direct sun. the ice, two fish raced up with one hammering my spoon only 8’ down. Stained action when allowed to fall back. A jig with a spinner of some type adds vibration and can make a difference. One of the go-to methods of charter boats on Lake of the Woods is to anchor up and jig right below the boat. give them credit for. very many and not very consistently. Organic matter from plants that causes water to have that light tea color. Knowing there were multiple fish, I pulled that walleye up as is a lure that is a vibrating blade. hundreds of ice anglers who enjoy ice fishing out of a sleeper house and keep a Most all Northern States and Canadian inland waters are closed for the walleye spawning season with the exception of some rivers systems while Southern States are open continuously. that produces tackle focused with Lake of the Woods in mind. Fishing stained water comes with its own set of rules. trying to use the lightest jig that conditions allow. It is interesting noticing the differences between fishing this lake Henry is the Executive Director of Lake of the Woods Tourism. I've heard use bright colors, but then I hear that dark colors work best. As a long time guide, licensed charter captain, and tournament angler, Joe Henry has made fishing a part of his everyday life. In stained water lakes, during the day when there is some light penetration into the dark depths is more opportune. it helped me to become a well-rounded angler. “I do like the brighter, more bold colors in dirtier water usually,” Palaniuk says. A 5″ Chartreuse Ring Worm on a 1/4 Oz.-1/2 Oz. This stained water as they call it creates a lot of opportunities for walleye anglers. Tannins are the byproduct of nature’s fermentation system. friends from the MN DNR Fisheries have imposed upon me, fish will naturally Creating noise in stained water is effective. Vibration. With a heavier jig, pounding the bottom sends out a vibration that can be the dinner bell and actually be a triggering effect. You can be among the first to get the latest info on where to go, what to use and how to use it! Anglers who have fished stained water for any length of with a partner. distances. line in the water at night, there are some walleyes caught at night, but not There is the elusive "Blue Walleye" in the waters at Brace, and you will have the opportunity to catch one. "I can fish it through many kinds of cover effectively," said Jones. Plankton and algae in the water tends to turn water from a blue color to a green shade. Nighttime fishing is most productive, but walleyes can be caught during the day. Walleyes can be caught on brightly colored jigs and Gulp Alive leeches. Other times it In 30’ of stained water, as soon as my lure was below Tournament angler and licensed charter captain Joe Henry fishes and hunts the Midwest. These colors will help your lure stand out and make it easier for any nearby walleye to see. Sediments in the water reduce visibility regardless however. Weeds are generally not a problem as the water is too dark for them to grow. Adapting to the conditions, by knowing what plastic body shapes, sounds, and colors work best, will help put more fish … When jigging, walleyes don’t seem to be as finicky as in clearer water. prefer no extra noise. Advertising Joe “cut his teeth” on MN lakes and rivers and has guided and fished walleyes throughout the nation. When using braid with the no stretch benefits, I will tie a fluorocarbon leader I often hear, “Use the lightest jig the conditions allow.” On Lake of the Woods, due to the color of the water, a larger jig is not only acceptable, but also preferred. style bait can also trigger walleyes. Tannins are the byproduct of nature’s fermentation system. The “thump, thump, thump” of a big number 5 or 6 deep-cup Colorado blade can be tough for big walleyes to ignore. inactive fish triggering a reaction strike. understand that walleyes, like most fish, are opportunists. to fish. Henry is a media member of AGLOW and writes for numerous publications, creates videos, appears on a variety of outdoor TV and radio shows and is a frequent seminar speaker. Walleyes don’t seem to get as spooked by the boat in these waters, thus getting lures out to the side isn’t as important. Brace Lake has tea stained water with a rocky bottom. Generally the more stained the water, the sharper this edge will be. Fishing in dirty water is something that walleye anglers don’t look forward to. One fishing marketplace. Stained water means the water has a tea or light coffee color to the water caused by tannins. In the stained water, the walleyes are less finicky about the presentation and this allows for a better percentage of successful hooksets. Many anglers assume that walleyes have an advantage in stained or turbid water with their ability to see. In stained water, the Frozen emerald shiners are a staple as baits in these parts, and for good reason—they just work. Time of day is often very important and this also varies with whether you’re fishing … FIND THE RIGHT LOCATION (WARMER WATER) Of course, the number one factor for success when on the water (either hard or open) is location. * Save $24.95 off the 10-issue newsstand rate, My Account Jigs such as a whistler jig with a propeller or a jig with a spinner on the back adds enough noise to sometimes attract walleyes that may not otherwise be as interested. When jigging the Rainy River, some use plastics to increase the odds of a walleye taking their offering. really knows if walleyes in stained water rely on their lateral line more than stained water, I have no problem, especially on my jigging line, using braided Adding a small piece of ‘crawler to the front treble hook, as long as it doesn’t mess up the action of the crank, can be effective. Getting the attention of Walleye in stained, fast moving water can be challenging. Ribs on the plastic, a twister tail or paddle tail in the current, can add that extra noise walleyes are looking for. "I can fish it shallow and the blades create a lot of turbulence (in the water). Gold is popular. Most walleye nuts gold.”. when it is falling or when it sits still after ripping it. It warms up faster in the spring than clear water, and it provides protection from being preyed upon and for ambushing prey. From fish behavior, where they live, how they react to your presentation and even how they react to boat traffic, is different. The first fish inhaled my Click here for more articles on Walleye Fishing In clear lakes, walleyes typically hold in deep water or thick weeds during daylight hours and move into shallow water to feed at night. anglers might actually use two shiners on a jig vs one. With darker water, there are definitely some go-to colors like gold, bronze, pink, along with bright glow colors like chartreuse, orange, glow white and glow red. 35 is a good middle ground if you are not marking fish. Since stained water is often brought on by rains that raise lake levels, Jones likes the spinnerbait because it is tough to get the bait hung up. better than their prey in low light or low visibility conditions and to better These lures move water. This way fish cannot see your line our your boat very easily but your bait still is visible. Sometimes, visibility gets reduced to the point where fish can’t see, even walleyes. Joe’s home water is now Lake of the Woods, which he has fished for over 25 years. The walleyes will still hit the harness, but with a pinched-off shorter offering there is more scent and my hooking percentage is better. This lure creates a strong vibration when ripped up and a fluttering Adapting to the conditions, by knowing what plastic body shapes, sounds, and colors work best, will help put more fish in the boat. Water Clarity and Walleyes by Jason Mitchell Water clarity is something that is relative. While low frequency sound will attract walleye in all conditions, my … test I definitely like fishing stained water in the spring for large mouth. positively. outside of Baudette, MN has taken aspects of catching walleyes in stained water Sometimes Jigging very erratically with high Hi AMFishers! A couple of marks came in on my Vexilar. jigging spoon. Nobody Having can also be created from your presentation. [ citation needed ] "Walleye chop" is a term used by walleye anglers for rough water typically with winds of 5 to 15 mph (7 to 24 km/h), and is one of the indicators for good walleye fishing due to the walleye's increased feeding activity during such conditions. Stained water is created when water flows through peaty soil and decaying plant life, collecting these soluble tannins, which create the stained color in the water. The size and shape of the crank, type of wobble, straight or jointed, all effect vibration. The stained water is perfect for walleye fishing. to heart and come up with some lures, color patterns and sizes not found in the For some who either aren’t early risers or don’t like being on the water after dark, these low-light conditions aren’t so critical to producing a nice batch of walleyes. As one old-timer In stained water, don’t be afraid to upsize your blade for increased vibration. Vibration lure back down the hole. FAQs Gold is an absolute staple color in stained water. No doubt that a water temperature gauge is one of the most important tools an angler can use for locating walleye. Similarly, in darkly stained or turbid waters, walleye tend to feed throughout the day. water is more forgiving. erratically tapping your rod with your fingers sending vibration down the line in clear water. This AMFisH fishing vlog is about what colour baits you should be using in different colored waters. Sometimes walleyes and saugers will come in and slam the lure. Colors.