Fly fishing is an emerging sport. Many fly fishermen and women use this technique for trout, bonefish, and bass, but they never opt for walleye. The interesting factor is that fly fishing can be an effective means of catching a walleye. Walleye are notorious for their cunning behavior which challenges anglers to use top-notch skills to seize a prized walleye. This article will provide you with constructive tips and tricks to reward yourself.
What Is a Walleye?
wall eye (scientific name: Sander vitreus) also called yellow pike or yellow pikeperch is a perciform fish that lives in freshwater. The species is native to Canada and the Northern United States. They are a priority to chase for a fishing sport along with being a delightful food with its mouth-watering taste and scores of health benefits.
Fly-Fishing
Fly fishing is a technique preferred by challenging anglers to catch their prey or to enjoy a fine day indulging in this fascinating sport. This technique requires the usage of artificial weightless flies tied to a weighted line to attract the prey which feeds upon aquatic insects and crustaceans.
Both fly fishing and your target (walleye) are challenging and require a set of professional skills. This experience will give you chills!
Proper Gear and Equipment for Walleye Fly Fishing
You always need the right set of tools before starting any activity, and for that, you must have the right information about the type and quality of equipment you desire.
Fly rod
You will need a 7-9 feet medium to medium-heavy fly rod that weighs between 6 to 8 range.
Fly reel
You will need a reel that matches the rod. It should have a smooth drag system and sufficient backing of about 150 yards.
Floating line
You must opt for a floating line if you are fishing near the shore or shallow water.
Sinking line
This line is preferable for fishing in deep waters typically during the day or hot months.
Flies
This part attracts the prey, hence opt for streamers and flies that perfectly mimic walleye food. You might even need weighted flies for walleye. This helps you to reach deeper waters and maintain control.
Leaders and tippets
A tapered leader of 7 to 9 feet works perfectly fine. Adjust the length based on water clarity and the size of your flies. A tippet with a strength ranging from 4X to 2X is best.
Net
Opt for a net with rubberized mesh so that the fish is not harmed. Here are the specifications of nets to choose from.
Know the Behavior of Walleye
It is important to understand the behavior and activities of your prey in order to figure out situations and circumstances and to set up a perfect plot.
Walleye locations
These are freshwater species and are hence attracted to rivers, lakes, and streams. These water bodies provide the perfect food and resources to cultivate a walleye habitat.
Preferred environments
Walleye prefers to reside under deep water levels where enough light cannot reach. They also like the cool temperature deep inside the water bodies during the summer months. They do come to the surface during the night time, this is the prime active time of walleye.
Walleye’s favorite nutritional source
Walleyes love to feed upon insects, leeches, minnows, and crawfish. So as long as you can tie a pattern closest to these species, you will be able to trick your target.
Fly Fishing Techniques to Catch a Walleye
Here is the ultimate guide to ace your fly fishing experience while aiming for walleye.
Mimic the walleye food
You can win the fight against naughty walleyes as long as you can make or find a fly that closely resembles the insects that walleye feed upon. You need to turn up your betrayal strategy if you lack this one. There are several ways by which you can tie a pattern
- Woolly bugger
- A balanced leech
- Different colored sculpin patterns
- Crawfish flies
- Insect flies
Line casting techniques
Your style of casting a weighted line also matters a lot in this case. You must master the art of casting fly lines like a pro, which is a difficult step as you cannot cover large water distances by fly fishing.
Retrieval techniques
Try and practice different retrieval techniques to find out the best one. Sometimes you need to keep it slow whereas other times might require a fast retrieve.
Depth control
You need to observe the level of walleye before fishing. Hence it is advised to use sinking-tip lines. Or just adjust the sink rate.
Favourable Time and Weather for Walleye Fishing
You need to watch out for the perfect time of the day and the year to catch your prey.
Best time of the day
It is interesting to note that catching a walleye is more effective during the night as they prefer dark and are more active during low light conditions. There can be a few exceptions where you can get lucky during the day. However, rainy days can prove to be rewarding during the day.
Best weather conditions
Walleye likes to stay in a cool environment. They dive deep inside the water during the summer months. Cold months of the year or cool areas can compel walleye to come near to the surface making it easier to fly fish for it.
Conclusion
This is all the basic information you need to get before taking a fly fishing trip for walleye. Be sure to appreciate the beauty of nature that walleye holds and stay patient while you are on the march. Remember! Enjoying every bit of this thrilling adventure is the pro tip even if you don’t get the catch in your first go. Practice is all you need now.
