Trolling Big Water Walleyes

Experts reveal surefire methods for walleye trolling, equipment techniques, tactics, and more

On big, open water like the Great Lakes, sprawling Western reservoirs, and large North American rivers, trolling puts more walleyes in the boat—hour for hour—than any other fishing method. Why? Because if done correctly, the lure or bait is always in the fish’s strike zone. If anglers do it wrong, all they will net is a long, frustrating boat ride. In this detailed instructional guide, generously illustrated with more than 50 color photos and complemented by time-tested fish-catching secrets from 17 professional fishing authorities, fishermen will learn to catch walleyes from those who chase this highly prized sport fish for a living.

A veteran walleye angler himself, author Chip Gross covers every aspect of walleye trolling, offering advice on basic and advanced trolling equipment, trolling setups throughout the fishing year, choosing crankbaits and other lures, determining when and where to fish, night trolling for walleyes, purchasing and rigging a boat for walleye trolling, and how to catch that trophy walleye of a lifetime. Information on cleaning and caring for the catch, as well as Gross’s favorite walleye recipe, is also included.

Walleyes are finicky, will-o’-the-wisp fish, often here today and gone tomorrow. They follow schools of baitfish like hungry wolf packs; as the bait moves, they move. Often this translates to anglers enjoying spectacular fishing one day but getting scarcely a bite, or possibly none at all, the next. Successful trolling can seem like an unattainable goal, but Trolling Big-Water Walleyes makes that goal easier to reach.