Walleye Current Trolling Secrets

Without question, trolling crankbaits is a consistent walleye tactic from spring to autumn in rivers. Fast flow poses challenges, but with the right tools and methods these hurdles are easily overcome. The reward: lots of overlooked, willing-to-bite walleyes!

Reliable River Obstructions

Classic walleye structures will hold fish on rivers. Islands around deep water and shoreline points rarely disappoint as they obstruct water flow and create current breaks. A hydro dam releasing water, a wing dam and a bridge are other zones that create current anomalies and regularly concentrate walleye in rivers.

Fish activity levels will influence their whereabouts. Inactive fish will seek refuge from fast water. They may be belly to bottom among boulders, in a deep hole, or hiding in weedy bays. Contrastingly, active fish have no qualms swimming in current if it's a hunting advantage, such as invading the top of underwater points, bars, and shallow sand flats.

Rapala's Tail Dancer is an outstanding river bait that runs true right out of the box.

Crankbait Considerations

Proven river baits include: Rapala Tail Dancer, Minnow Rap, and Trolls-to-Minnow, Storm Lures Deep Thunderstick, Bomber Deep Long A, and Yo-Zuri's Crystal Minnow Deep Diver.

Always test a crankbait at boat side to verify it's running straight. If it isn't, tune the lure by bending the line tie in the opposite direction than the bait's pulling. A boat-side test will also give clues on how certain lures perform in current at different trolling speeds.

Unless you already know the river intimately, do some reconnaissance before trolling. Drive over the areas you plan to fish while watching the electronics for fish signals. Mark fish concentrations, promising-looking structures, and current anomalies in a GPS unit or use landmarks to triangulate the position.

Once you plot a trolling run and understand the area's current dynamics, it's time to start fishing. Generally, it's best to troll lures upstream into the current. This gives you more control over boat position and trolling speed. Getting fish to bite demands precise bait placement in the sweet spot where fast and slack water meet, so begin a distance downstream of the prime zone to give yourself enough time to position the boat.

River rat, Derek Samson with a trolled-up walleye.

Gear Tips

A line counter reel helps troll crankbaits in current with precision. Tracking line lets you run a lure at a specific depth where fish are holding and then repeat the fish-catching formula on each trolling pass.

Many anglers today are using moderate-action rods combined with superline for trolling current. No-stretch superline might seem counterintuitive with a horizontal presentation, but it delivers the sensitivity needed to feel the crankbait's action in a way that monofilament can't in fast current. This lets you know if the lure's running true and when a bait's fouled. The latter happens often in rivers where floating plants and wood often catch on a bait rendering it ineffective.

As many veteran river anglers will attest, crankbaits are proven producers when it comes to plying current for walleye. Tie one on, tune it up, and hold on tight the next time you troll a river.

Line counter reels help you troll with precision.