04-12-2009, 11:03 PM
I disagree on not using bottom bouncers. They are my number one producer for walleye's, especially this time of year. Use a worm harness and a crawler and get to the right trolling speed (slow slow slow, probably about a mile an hour gps speed tops). Presentation is key you don't just drag the bouncer on the bottom, it should "bounce" occasionally, it will take you a little while to know the difference between a hit and the bottom this time of year. You don't just let a bouncer out there and forget about it, constant adjustment in key, you need to be where the fish are. They can hit very delicately. I leave my poles in rod holders instead of in my hand as I set the hook to fast and pull it out of their mouth, I guess I'm too used to using crank baits and am too jumpy. Look up some of the walleye guys posts on here, Crankem comes to mind on bouncers. He catches an awful lot of eyes on them. I have all graphite poles with braid I use for the real sensitive bite and ugly sticks with mono when they are more active. With the ugly sticks I put them off the side in the pole holder at a 90 degree and when they hit the pole bends enough to usually set the hook on the eyes (usually trolling a little faster when they are more active). The graphite poles I've learned to feed it to them a little then sweep set the hook. Even with the ugly sticks you'll get used to feeling the set and you may have to sweep set. Crankem I think thinks I'm nuts for my ugly stick routine but it has worked for me in the past. You always need to watch your line because if you're trolling slow enough the eye can pick it up and swim the same direction as the boat. Sweep set is key again. Walleye are not easy fish to catch which is why I love going after them. It's not like trolling with cranks, you really need to pay attention.
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