Catching Big Walleye on Lake Ontario and the Surrounding Region
Catching Big Walleye on Lake Ontario and the Surrounding Region
Spring and fall are prime seasons for targeting big walleye on Lake Ontario, as cooler water temperatures and changing conditions make these fish more active and accessible. However, anglers on the St. Lawrence River also consistently land large walleye throughout the summer, relying on three fundamental techniques: trolling with minnow plugs, drifting with crawler harnesses, and casting with jigs. While the most successful anglers have honed their skills into an art form, here’s a look at the essentials of each method for those seeking to improve their walleye game.
1. Trolling Minnow Plugs
Trolling is one of the most effective techniques for covering large areas of water to locate actively feeding walleye. Minnow plugs mimic the small baitfish that walleye naturally prey upon, and trolling allows anglers to control the depth and speed at which they’re presented. Adjusting trolling speeds to match the walleye’s feeding patterns—typically slower in cooler water and faster in warmer conditions—can make a significant difference. Many anglers swear by specific plug colors and patterns that mimic local baitfish, refining their setup based on water clarity, light conditions, and time of day.
2. Drifting Crawler Harnesses
For those who prefer a slower approach, drifting with crawler harnesses is a tried-and-true method. As the harness drifts naturally through the water, the spinner blade and worm create an enticing flash and movement, which often triggers walleye strikes. Drifting lets anglers cover water effectively in areas where walleye may be spread out along the bottom. It’s also a versatile technique; anglers can adjust depth by adding or reducing weight and can slow down or speed up the drift to match the walleye’s feeding behavior. Perfecting this method requires finesse, as subtle changes in speed and presentation can be the key to consistent success.
3. Casting Jigs
Casting jigs is another productive method, particularly for anglers looking to target specific structures like rock piles, weed edges, or drop-offs where walleye like to hide. Jigs allow for a more controlled presentation, and by adding soft plastic trailers or live bait, anglers can make their lure even more appealing. This technique shines when walleye are holding tight to specific areas, as jigs can be dropped precisely where fish are likely to strike. Seasoned anglers often experiment with jigging patterns, such as snapping, dragging, or vertical jigging, to match the mood and behavior of the walleye.
The Perfect Trolling Lure Placement for Walleye
To successfully target big walleye, which tend to hold close to the bottom, lure placement is critical. The goal is to get your lure within a few feet of the bottom to entice strikes, as walleye are often less willing to rise far off the lakebed to feed. Thanks to today’s advanced diving plugs and in-line weights, anglers can effectively reach depths of 35 feet or more, which is essential for accessing walleye that are suspended deep in cooler waters.
However, each lure and weight combination has its own unique depth range, making it important for anglers to know precisely how deep their setup will dive. Doing the groundwork to understand which lures, weights, and trolling speeds achieve specific depths can make all the difference. Many experienced anglers use dive charts or apps to refine their setups, adjusting based on water depth and structure. By ensuring your lure consistently moves within striking range of the walleye, you’ll greatly improve your chances of hooking into one of these prized fish.
Ensuring good Lure Action
Another critical aspect of effective trolling is maintaining proper lure action. A well-tuned lure mimics the natural movement of prey, making it more enticing to walleye. An easy way to verify this is to visually inspect the lure by running it alongside the boat at your intended trolling speed. Observing it in action helps you spot any issues, like a lure that wobbles too aggressively or fails to produce the desired movement.
Once the line is fully deployed, you can continue to monitor the lure’s action by feeling for steady vibrations through the rod or by watching the rod tip. A rhythmic pulse indicates the lure is working correctly, while any interruption or lack of vibration may mean the lure is fouled with debris or needs adjustment. Paying close attention to these subtle cues can make all the difference in keeping your lure presentation appealing and effective.
Knowing where to Troll for Walleye
Drifting Walleye Crawler Harnesses
Like trolling, drifting with walleye crawler harnesses allows anglers to efficiently cover large areas, which is essential for locating widely dispersed summer walleye. During the warmer months, walleye tend to scatter throughout the water system, often seeking out deeper waters where they find cooler temperatures and more stable conditions during the day. Covering these zones with a drifting setup can be highly effective.
To reach the deeper spots where summer walleye are likely holding, anglers commonly use heavier bottom bouncers or three-way swivel rigs. These setups enable the harness to work close to the lake or river bed, maximizing the lure’s time in the strike zone. By maintaining consistent depth and movement, anglers can drift across promising areas and adjust quickly when walleye are located, creating an ideal balance between depth control and coverage.
Finding the Right Drifting Speed
Drift speed is crucial when targeting big walleye on Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence River. The right speed keeps your lure at the perfect depth and ensures blades on crawler harnesses spin effectively, creating the flash and vibration that attract walleye. If the drift is too slow, the blades won’t spin, causing the rig to sink and inviting unwanted gobies to devour the bait. Conversely, if the drift is too fast, the rig may rise too high off the bottom, reducing the chances of a strike.
Ideally, current or wind will naturally move the boat at the optimal pace, but often, conditions require adjustments. Using a motor for slight propulsion or deploying a drift sock to slow the boat can help maintain the ideal drift speed. Fine-tuning your drift speed keeps your lure in the strike zone longer, maximizing your chances of hooking up with a big walleye.
Picking the right Walleye Crawler Harness
Walleye Basics – Knowing Where to Look
Big walleye are at their most active during low-light and changing-light periods, thanks to their eye structure, which gives them an advantage over other species in dim conditions. This means the best times to fish for walleye on Lake Ontario and in the surrounding region are during cloudy or windy days, sunrise and sunset, and the early morning or late evening hours. During these prime times, large walleye often move to structures to feed, reinforcing the popular saying: “Find the structure, and you’ll find the walleye.”
The key structures that hold walleye include points, shoal edges, weed lines, channels, break walls, and drop-offs around islands or the mainland. These areas create natural ambush spots and provide the cover walleye prefer, increasing an angler’s chances of success.
Putting in the Time
Spending ample time on the water is crucial for successfully catching big walleye, often affectionately referred to as “summer marble eyes” on Lake Ontario. Walleye have a tendency to shift their locations periodically, and by dedicating time to fishing, an angler can better track fish movements and patterns. Whenever possible, try to fish on consecutive days. Unless a significant weather change occurs, the success you experience on one day is likely to carry over to the next, if not improve. This consistent presence not only enhances your understanding of the local conditions but also helps you build familiarity with the habits of walleye in the area.
Original Article By Mike Seymour
About the Author
Captain Mike Seymour is a licensed Coast Guard and NYS guide who has guided extensively on the St. Lawrence River, Black Lake, and in western Alaska. He is a former president of the New York State Outdoor Writers’ Association and is an active writer for several publications. In addition to fishing the St. Lawrence River, he is actively fishing Lake Ontario, the Adirondacks, and other waters of the state. Contact him at fishmike@twcny.rr.com.
This article has been revised by Daniel O’Neill, an experienced angler and writer, to ensure its continued relevance and accuracy. As a result, it may no longer reflect the original author’s views or intentions.
