Bottom bounce for walleye: New here, first time asking question. So, I live in Missouri, and have always been told you can catch walleye in the summer if you fish deep for them. I use...

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Bottom bounce for walleye

Aug 7, 2019 20:46:27 #

HLONUMN Loc: Missouri

New here, first time asking question. So, I live in Missouri, and have always been told you can catch walleye in the summer if you fish deep for them. I use a “bottom bounce” rig in 20-25 foot of water with either rock or weed, grass cover on the bottom. Has anyone ever heard of this technique to catch walleye in the summer?

Aug 8, 2019 09:14:40 #

Rj pike Loc: Wisconsin

All the time. I use night crawler harnesses or crack baits behind the bottom bouncer. The only way to fish mid summer eyes. Good luck.

Aug 8, 2019 11:54:28 #

HLONUMN Loc: Missouri

Rj pike wrote:

All the time. I use night crawler harnesses or crack baits behind the bottom bouncer. The only way to fish mid summer eyes. Good luck.

Thank you Rj pike, haven’t tried crawler harnesses. Have to give that a swim and see how it works out! Thanks and happy fishing!!

Aug 8, 2019 12:28:09 #

Thumperpk

I use a leech most times here in Wis.
You can also use plastic, bring it off a drop-off into the deep and bam, game on.

Aug 8, 2019 18:28:26 #

HLONUMN Loc: Missouri

Thanks Thumperpk, used to vacation in MN in early fall and would use leeches all the time for all kinds of fish, but walleye, like you said, bring it off a drop-off, into deep and game on. Caught all kinds of walleye with leeches!! Thanks and happy fishing!!

Aug 8, 2019 18:53:12 #

guggiej

Fishing deep water for walleyes, a great way to fish between six-twelve ft. Crawler harness with bottom-bouncers, sure works great in MN.

Aug 8, 2019 23:37:53 #

RICHenmyCatCH

Mid summer cooler water is favorable for walleyes.Very familiar with bottom bouncers here in Minnesota for walleyes. Use a Rap. that not heavy billed as one for deep diving. Connect deep diver leader(w)two ft.leader, some three ft. ahead of leader connecting Rap.This keeps Rap. out of the short weed growth on bottom of deeper water while trolling.Problem is bringing fish to be netted with the extra bottom bouncer three ft. ahead of your catch. Need a second person behind you to to do the netting, very hard to handle yourself !

Aug 8, 2019 23:45:51 #

RICHenmyCatCH

Here in Minnesota on a clear water lake been using bottom bouncers in 20-35 ft. range. Must be a misprint guggiej mentioning six-twelve ft, I'm sure !

Aug 9, 2019 09:34:13 #

Ibclyde Loc: Cloverleaf Lakes Wisconsin

I fish Walleyes on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin regularly
I always drag or bounce the bottom
It’s the only way I fish but I work transition areas adjacent to reefs not strictly deep water
I like jigs tipping with half a crawler
Crawler harness
Erie Dearies
Lindy rigs

Matter of fact I’m heading out shortly
Caught 12 two days ago using that exact technique

Aug 9, 2019 09:49:03 #

guggiej

Sorry bout the misunderstanding of 6-12 ft. That is the length of the snells in deep water, thanks

Aug 9, 2019 11:07:06 #

Ihntnfsh Loc: Colome, South Dakota

Crawler’s, leeches, and minnow’s will all work well behind a bottom bouncers. Depending on the bottom even hard baits work well.

Aug 9, 2019 12:44:06 #

GLA Loc: WA State

I recommend a crawler harness with a single slow death hook (it has an exaggerated bend). Thread the crawler on the hook and troll it slowly behind a bottom bouncer. Vary the length of leader, but I'd recommend starting with one 3-4 foot in length. Good Luck!

Aug 13, 2019 09:08:58 #

Hotrod Loc: Naples, FL 7 months, Bflo NY 5 months

I sometimes fish for walleye with bottom bouncers in shallow water. Even caught them in 2-3 ft in Lake Erie.
I fish just outside the weeds for walleye in inland lakes and use a bottom bouncer and worm harness.

Aug 13, 2019 16:49:13 #

HLONUMN Loc: Missouri

So.....according to all the replies to my post, I went out and bought a couple crawler harnesses, went out today and gave them a bounce along a rock drop off, falls from 10-25 foot. And what do you know!!! Caught me a couple “eyes”!!! Not big enough to keep, but still caught them!!! First time I have caught “eyes” in the summer! That was fun!!! My other line was catching stripe bass as fast as I could get in in the water, was using a bluish, yellowish, orangish crank, colors all blend together, in about 8 ft of water !! What a blast!!

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