Mid-summer is the time for the oft overlooked deep water structure. Warm water can push the bait deep, especially in waters holding smelt or other similar forage.
To know where the big walleyes will be, check your contour maps or your mapping GPS unit for long points farthest out into the lake or reservoir. These points, along with sunken islands, are the best pieces of structure for deep exploration. Walleyes will be concentrated along the slopes and finger tips of these deep underwater fish magnets, which are easy to check with your locator.
If you mark fish in depths from 30 to 70 feet deep don’t just ignore them…FISH THEM! Try using a ¾ oz Bottom Bouncer, 7 ft. snells, 1/0 live bait hooks like the Mustad Double Wide Fine Wire Livebait Hook, model #10548R (Red color). This is one situation where red colored hooks can really pay off. Dress it with a 4 to 5 inch long creek chub, or other larger minnow. Slow troll with your bow-mount electric to contact these fish, and when you mark a large concentration of fish on your locator, slow down and hover, keeping the bait dangling right in their faces. Using a long rod (at least 7 to 8 feet), will help get good hook sets in deep water. This is also a good scenario for using FireLine, because the line's superior sensitivity will help you feel bites.
When summer is in full swing, drop a big Creek Chub into the deepest reaches of your favorite walleye water. That's often where you'll find the big mammas hiding.
Editors Note:
If you have questions or comments on this or other articles of mine you may have read, contact me through the website The NextBite
Written by Gary Parsons
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