What’s the secret to consistently landing those elusive, trophy-sized walleye? Many anglers spend hours on the water, yet return with empty buckets, often wondering if they are using the wrong tools for the job. The sheer volume of artificial lures on the market today—each promising to be the ultimate fish-catcher—can feel overwhelming. Choosing the wrong lure means wasted time, fewer bites, and frustrating days when the fish just aren’t cooperating.
Understanding which lure works best under different conditions is the key to unlocking consistent success. This deep dive cuts through the confusion. We will break down the essential categories of walleye lures, explaining exactly why one style outperforms another when you are trolling deep reservoirs or casting weed edges at dusk.
By the end of this guide, you will have a clear, actionable strategy for selecting the perfect artificial bait for any situation. Get ready to upgrade your tackle box and start feeling more of those satisfying tugs on the line. Let’s explore the best lures that put walleye in your boat!
Top Lures For Walleye Fishing Recommendations
- Curated Walleye Lure Selection: Includes 7 hand-picked walleye baits plus a bonus item chosen by Rapala experts. Designed to help anglers target walleye in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs with proven fish-catching action
- Top Walleye Brands and Premium Components: Features trusted gear from Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Sufix, and Storm, giving anglers high-performance lures ideal for jigging, trolling, casting, and live-bait rigs
- Versatile Baits for All Conditions: This complete walleye tackle kit includes a mix of crankbaits, soft plastics, jig heads, and terminal tackle optimized for clear water, stained water, low-light feeding, and deep structure
- Great for Beginners and Experienced Walleye Anglers: Perfect for upgrading your walleye fishing gear, learning new techniques, or gifting to the angler in your life. Ready for year-round use from spring opener to fall night bites
- Rapala: Made by fishermen for fishermen, we understand what you need
- 【PREMIUM DESIGN】Constructed from environmental friendly quality soft plastic, expertly design and rigorous testing of light refraction fish pattern make the lures more realistic and attractive. The soft plastic fishing lures are soft, light but durable with fishy smell to attract freshwater / saltwater fishes.
- 【LONG CASTING JIGHEAD】Having an ideal weight for long casting and slow sinking, PLUSINNO Jig lures can achieve a slow, flutter presentation. Featuring a precisely engineered shape, swimbaits sink slowly with side to side swimming action.
- 【HIGH QUALITY HOOK】: A super-sharp hooks, excellent puncture ability, And the Pre-rigged with ultra-sharp back hook design. especially important for scholing striper and other monster bass, Fish don't simply hit the rotating tail fishing lure, They attack it.
- 【LIFT-LIKE ACTION】: the lure is finished with 3D living eyes and an ultra-realistic paint job. The soft body swimbaits generate the perfect kicking action Laser Lifelike fish scale with brilliant colors that reflect light to attract the fishes. Built-in small metal piece keep the lures in balanced and get a decent casting distance. It is the best whopper fishing lures for walleye pike musky fish plopper.
- A MUST HAVE: Soft lures with jig head hook are deadly to many fish in freshwater and saltwater. Just casting and a slow retrieve, swimbaits can sink slowly with side to side swimming action. The soft fishing lure lead jigs are fun and easy to work.
- 8 SEGMENTS LIFELIKE LURES: Designed with 8 segment multi-jointed body, TRUSCEND fishing lure can sink slowly and move flexible in water. In addition, life-like swimming actions make it attracting more catches and provoking predator fish to strike.
- HIGH SIMULATION: With 3D realistic looking eyes and pearl powder coating, this swimbait appears very delicate and vivid that looks like a real fish. A perfect fishing bait that easily cheats the target fishes.
- BASS VIBRATION: Made of high-quality ABS material and equipped with built-in rattle, this vibe lure can continuously emit the fish sound wave to during the swimming to provoke the feeding urge of the fishes and induce them to attack.
- WIDELY FISHING SPECIES: This bass fishing lure can be widely used to catch bass, yellow perch, walleye, pike, muskie, roach, trout, snook. salmon etc. This swimbait is quite suitable for both saltwater and freshwater and functions well in all water layers.
- ULTRA-SHARP OWNER HOOKS - Equipped with sharp high quality OWNER high carbon steel hooks and built-in magnet, the innovative design of these soft lures can help ensure increased fish hook ups in all situations while Reduce the odds getting hung up when fishing, thus saving your bait for future use.
- HANDMADE - WINNING QUALITY - The TRUSCEND Fishing Lures made of environmental friendly quality soft plastic and able to withstand the strong bite of aggressive fish. Hand spraying makes the appearance and touch of the bait more realistic and plump.
- UNIQUE DESIGN - 3D t-shaped soft tail with 360° spinner blade can kicks and thumps even at slow speeds. A super-lifelike soft jerkbait whose lively design perfectly emulates erratic baitfish action.
- LONG CASTING JIGHEAD - Having an ideal weight for long casting and slow sinking, Truscend Jig lures can achieve a slow, flutter presentation. Featuring a precisely engineered shape, the soft body swimbaits has a great kicking action at both ultra-slow speeds and moderately fast speeds.
- WIDELY FISHING SPECIES - Whether you are fishing reefs, estuaries, rivers, fresh or saltwater, this Truscend Soft bait will become your essential paddle tail lure to target bass, trout, Walleye, pike snook, salmon, redfish and many more.
- WELL MADE: 3D fish eyes with fish-attracting printed body provides excellent appearance of the lures. While double flat strong rings and #4 high carbon steel treble hooks offers special vibration to attract fishes
- LIFELIKE LURES: Appearance and structure design inspired by real fish, 3D eyes and lifelike scale patterns - external etched scales and gills, keep it looks as realistic as natural live baits to attract predators' attention
- DIVE BOARD: Hard minnow baits come with a extended and widened pressure plate, easy bait into the deeper water search for large fish. (Dives to 10ft or more)
- GRAVITY BALL INSIDE: Swimbait lures with steel balls inside, it will make noise to attract fish's attention. Meanwhile, they can improve the cast distance and postural stability
- WIDE APPLICATION: Hard bait lures weigh 0.48oz, length 5in. Suitable for both freshwater and saltwater, offshore fishing, rock fishing, lake, pool, river and more. Target fishes like perch, catfish, bass, pike, trout, walleye etc
- ATTRACTIVE FISHING LURE RIG:The Walleye Rig is great for trout. Easy to set up- fishing beads, fishing blades, fishing hooks. Colorfulblades swimming vividly in the water, made the rigs attract all the focus from other fish. Great apperance and easy to use. Each wire is finely crafted.
- VIVID SWIMMING ACTIONG: The exquisitely designed fishing spinner rig have a natural and unique swimming action under water, smooth and sinking quickly. The reflection of metal baits underwater makes it tempting for trout to attack, Life-like swimming actions are irresistable to kokanne walleye,etc.
- PREMIUM MATERIAL: All these kokanee lures for trout come with one sharp high carbon steel hook, sharp, wear-resistant, and not easy to bend. The hard plastic Material beads make it endured and reusable, great for fishing worms. Fishing blades provide a duper-bright, vibration-heavy presentation that grabs the interest of a wide range of predators.
- MAKES FISHING MORE CONVENIENT: All you have to do is tie the loop to your line and a leader to the swivel and you are ready to fish. Stainless steel wire with a swivel on one end and a ready to use loop on the other. Wonderful fishing ready rig for angler!
- WIDELY APPLICATION:the Walleye Rig lures are widely applied to many species of fish, such as kokanee, walleye, bass, trout, bream, muskie and so on; The fishing Spinner baits are also suitable for both freshwater and saltwater, really suitable for fishing lovers
- Versatile Multi-Species Lures：Designed for bass, trout, salmon, walleye, pike, and panfish in both freshwater and saltwater. Effective for casting, trolling, or jigging across lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.
- Professional-Grade Construction：10 durable spinnerbaits (5x 0.22oz + 5x 0.11oz) with 2.36" lifelike profiles. High-carbon treble hooks maintain razor sharpness, while UV-reactive sleeves enhance visibility in murky waters.
- Optimal Flash & Vibration：Patented rotating blades generate intense flash and low-frequency vibrations without aggressive retrieval. Mimics injured baitfish movement to trigger predatory strikes.
- Portable Storage Solution：Heavy-duty tackle box prevents hook tangling and rust. Compact design fits in vest pockets – ideal for bank fishing, ice fishing, or boat tournaments.
- Ultimate Angler Gift Set：Premium packaged kit perfect for birthdays, Father's Day, or Christmas. Backed by 100% satisfaction guarantee for worry-free gifting.
- The Cotton Cordell Wally Diver has proven that its slender profile and tight wiggle produce big walleye and bass.
- Its tight compact action increases hooksets and is equally effective whether cast or trolled.
- Proven on the Great Lakes and other walleye waters
- The Wally Diver series is Cotton Cordell's most popular lure and if you use one, you'll see just why they are so popular.
- Variety of size styles and color patterns to match any situation when fishing. Includes: 1 Chartreuse Perch - Wally Diver, 1 Chrome/ Black Back -Wally Diver, 1 Gold Perch - Wally Diver
Choosing the Best Lures for Walleye Fishing: A Buyer’s Guide
Walleye are popular fish to catch. They can be tricky to hook. The right lure makes all the difference. This guide helps you pick the perfect lure for your next trip. We look at what works best for catching these clever fish.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for walleye lures, focus on a few main things. These features help the lure attract the fish successfully.
1. Action and Movement
- Vibration: Lures should create movement in the water. Walleye often find fish by sensing these vibrations. Look for lures that wobble or spin nicely.
- Depth Control: You need lures that reach the depth where walleye hide. Crankbaits often have diving bills. A bigger bill usually means a deeper dive.
2. Color Selection
Color matters, especially based on water clarity and sunlight.
- Bright Colors (Chartreuse, Orange): Use these when the water is murky or on cloudy days. They show up better from far away.
- Natural Colors (Silver, Green): These work well in clear water or when the sun is bright. They look like real baitfish.
3. Sound Attraction
Some lures have internal rattles. These make noise when you reel them in. This sound can attract curious walleye in low-light conditions.
Important Materials in Walleye Lures
The material a lure is made from affects how it acts in the water and how long it lasts.
Plastic vs. Hard Body
- Soft Plastics: These often look and feel very real to the fish. They are great for rigging on jig heads or spinner rigs.
- Hard Baits (Plastics or Wood): Crankbaits and jerkbaits are made from hard materials. They offer consistent action, which is great for trolling.
Hook Quality
Never skimp on hooks. Sharp, strong hooks mean you land more fish. Stainless steel hooks resist rust, which is important if you fish often.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Lure Quality
The quality of a lure directly impacts how often you catch fish.
What Makes a Lure Better?
- Finish Durability: Good lures use paint finishes that resist chipping when they hit rocks or when walleye bite them. A chipped lure looks unnatural.
- Component Strength: Strong split rings and quality line ties ensure the lure stays together under stress.
What Lowers Quality?
Poorly balanced lures often spin or tumble instead of swimming correctly. This bad action scares walleye away. Cheap plastic bodies can crack easily after just a few hard hits.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about where and how you plan to fish. This helps narrow down your choices.
Fishing Scenarios
- Open Water Trolling: For covering large areas, use deep-diving crankbaits or trailing spinner rigs (like crawler harnesses).
- Vertical Jigging (Over structure): When fishing straight down over reefs or deep drop-offs, use jigging spoons or vertical blade baits. These sink fast and have a tempting fall action.
- Casting Shorelines: When casting toward shallow weed lines, use suspending jerkbaits or shallow-running crankbaits.
A good angler always carries a mix of lure types. This lets you quickly change tactics if the walleye are not hitting your first choice.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Walleye Lures
Q: What is the best all-around lure color for walleye?
A: Chartreuse or white often work well across many water conditions, making them a great starting point.
Q: Should I use live bait or artificial lures?
A: Artificial lures are easier to use and require less maintenance. However, live bait often triggers more bites when the fish are being very picky.
Q: How deep should my crankbait dive?
A: This depends on where you see the fish on your fish finder. If they are 15 feet down, you need a lure rated to dive close to that depth.
Q: Are scented lures better than unscented ones?
A: Scent can definitely help, especially when the water is cold or the fish are not actively chasing food. Scent gives them something extra to investigate.
Q: What size hook is best for walleye?
A: For most jigs and standard lures, hooks in the size 1/0 to 3/0 range work perfectly for average-sized walleye.
Q: When should I use a suspending jerkbait?
A: Suspending jerkbaits are excellent when walleye are suspended in the water column or are lethargic. They stay at one depth when you pause your retrieve.
Q: How does water temperature affect my lure choice?
A: In very cold water, walleye move slowly. Use slow, subtle presentations like soft plastics or steady retrieves. Hot water allows for faster retrieves with moving baits.
Q: Do I need expensive lures to catch walleye?
A: No. While quality matters for durability, many inexpensive jigs and plastics catch just as many fish as the high-end brands.
Q: What is the best way to retrieve a plastic worm or grub?
A: Try a “lift-and-drop” jigging motion. Reel up a bit, let it fall naturally, and pause it near the bottom.
Q: How do I know if my lure is vibrating correctly?
A: You should feel a distinct thrumming or vibration through your rod tip while retrieving the lure steadily. If you feel nothing, the lure might be defective or tangled.