These fish will strike almost anything that comes near them making it important to keep moving. Walleyes in water that ranges from roughly five - ten feet in depth and provides good cover are most often susceptible to a presentation that covers a lot of water at a moderate pace. We generally relate crankbaits with active chasing fish. I have often retrieved a crankbait through an area I had just drawn a blank using a jig & bait combo. Only to be surprised by an aggressive strike from a giant sized walleye, that would not eat the easy meal.

While many fish are taken along weedlines, there is the forgotten other side or inside edge. The inside edge may only be a few feet From the shore, but can be much further depending on light penetration and bottom content. This edge is most effective when the weather has been stable for a few lays and the fish have had a chance to setup shop and do some serious feeding. Inside edges will often go untouched. When you find one that holds fish be sure to file it away for future outings.

Other spots that will attract schools of hungry crank-eyes include points, shoals, current breaks and areas above and below white-water or rapids. Most of these locations are places that the walleye may not live but they surely come here to eat. These hit and miss spots require optimum weather conditions or time of day to produce. Establish a milk run of spots so you can check more than once to see if the bite has turned on.

My number one favourite is still, and probably always will be, the weed flat area that exists between the deep edge and the shore. In lakes or rivers where walleye utilize the weed flats, it can be home to untold numbers. These walleyes will spend most of their time eating and snoozing and not being caught. This is where the fish live and eat. They won't travel far from this area as a rule.

Weed flats are easy to locate with a good pair of sunglasses. It is a lush area with big deep black holes. Most often they will grow to within a couple of feet of the surface. The edges are the easiest to fish with multi-hooked baits. However when the bite is inside the flat, one of the best decisions you can make is to switch from the traditional deepdiving crankbait to a straight minnow type bait. This family of baits are often referred to as jerkbaits. Probably because you retrieve them with a series of jerks and tugs to simulate a baitfish in distress. This is in contrast to the standard crankbait retrieve that is in most cases is for maximum depth.

When on the flat, some of my best catches have come from exploding the minnow through the tip top of the weeds, then just letting it sit dead still. This action will give the ever aware walleye a few seconds to home in on his or her snack.

While fishing any crankbait, I am a firm believer that the side to side wobble is more attractive than the front to back wiggle. The wobble produces more flash to attract active feeding fish to an easy meal. Remember, we are seeking active fish.

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