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Shallow Water Surprise

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So I was out on the lake Fathers Day,and I was getting frustrated with the lack of bite. My brother in law and I moved to a shallow flat flanked by a nice weed bed.

I thought bingo, perfect spot to start fishing for bass. But the bite I got wasn't from a bass. I pulled in a small 17 inch walleye.

I was shocked because I found a walleye hole at about 22 ft on another part of the lake, and didn't know walleye went that shallow.

I have caught walleyes in a foot of water or less, and not during the spawn. Its kinda like the old catfish myth in that you can only catch them deep and at night...

  • Super User

No surprise at all. I just got back from a 10 day trip to Ontario. I caught 57 walleyes, of which, 51 of them were caught in 3-6 feet of water in the weeds. They were up in the weedy, shallow flats chasing fry. We caught the majority of our walleye on rattletraps, chatterbaits, and baby minus 1's. The other 6 fish were caught in 6-11 feet on wiggle warts, shad raps, and DT10's, just off the rocky breaks of a weedy flat. 

 

 

 

Lunker of the trip (6lb. 7oz.) caught on a Rattlin Rap in weeds. You'll notice the weeds still on his back. 

 

20150611_152008_zpsjsfurtnm.jpg

  • Author

I just have always been told and taught walleye are always deep...

I caught walleye last summer punching mats in 3 feet of water. I remember seeing a video of Dave  Mercer flipping laydowns for walleye as well.

  • Global Moderator

Last walleye trip my dad and I went on if we were in water deeper than 8' we were too deep. Catching them casting 3" power minnows at the bank. I caught a nice 19" eye in about 8" of water. Dad caught the big fish of the trip in 3.5' of water right next to the boat. Walleye aren't the deep water fish they're labeled as, not around here anyways. 

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