Huge Walleye Fishing Success With Nightcrawlers

Nightcrawlers can be a very good live bait choice during some seasons and times of the year. The fact is that walleyes have an on-again, off-again relationship with crawlers.

There are some situations and conditions that are perfect for Walleye success using nightcrawlers, and then there are times when it’s best to avoid this bait like the plague.

Make sure that the bait you have is alive and active, because only this will attract the Walleyes, and if the bait is close to dying it is not going to draw in any fish.

Trolling can be effective at presenting the bait attractively, but one tip that many experts follow is to use a spinning rig that only has a single hook.

The second hook may alert the Walleye and prevent the fish from hitting the bait at all.

You may want to use a double hook rig and then simply remove the second hook.

Like leeches, nightcrawlers do not work well in icy cold waters, but these baits do attract the fish during the spawn and late spring, making them more versatile than leeches.

Hooking Your Crawler

One hooking method is to hook the crawler through the nose, rather than being threaded along the hook in the method that is common.

The reasoning behind this is that the Walleye will take the entire hook either way, and the nose only method allows for natural movement and more hits.

Trolling With Crawlers

Trolling using a nightcrawler for bait can be a terrific way to catch more fish, but there are some tips that can help.

Watch the trolling speed carefully, because the nightcrawler will not stand up to high speeds. Make sure that the bait flows through the water, and does not twist or turn a lot.

Walleye will not be as attracted to bait which is flipping all over the place.

It is possible to take large crawlers and divide them in half, making two portions of bait.

This can be very efficient, and can help prevent any stolen bait because the worm was too long.

What To Do After The Walleye Has Spawned

Right after the Walleye have spawned, if the water is still cold a slip bobber rig with a nightcrawler attached may be just the thing, because the limited motion appeals to the lazy fish in these conditions.

The best time to use nightcrawlers is during the late spring, summer, and early fall months.

There are many things that need to be considered before determining the ideal bait, and this includes the weather, sunlight, and time of day and year.

During cooler times, like spring and fall, the fish will be slower and may head to shallower water.

At these times, presenting the nightcrawler in a way that causes the least amount of effort for the Walleye may get better success.

During the hot bright summer days, the speed of the presentation can be increased, and nightcrawlers will work best in the early mornings and evenings when the fish come in closer to the shore to feed.