Imagine the perfect day on the water: calm mornings, the gentle hum of your trolling motor, and the thrilling anticipation of a big Walleye striking your line. But then reality hits—you’ve trolled for hours with nothing to show for it. Choosing the right lure for trolling can feel like navigating a maze. So many colors, sizes, and actions promise success, yet many leave your boat empty-handed.
The sheer volume of trolling lures available today—from crankbaits diving deep to spinners flashing just below the surface—can overwhelm even seasoned anglers. You need reliable gear that matches the water conditions, depth, and the Walleye’s mood. Stop wasting precious time and money on lures that don’t perform. This guide cuts through the noise.
By the end of this post, you will understand exactly which types of trolling lures work best in different scenarios. We will break down the essentials, ensuring you leave the dock confident, ready to fill your livewell. Get ready to master the art of Walleye trolling lure selection and turn those frustrating blank trips into trophy catches.
Top Walleye Lures For Trolling 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
- 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
- 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
- 43pcs Fishing Lures Kit includeing 20pcs Minnows, 18pcs Crankbaits and 5pcs Poppers. Variety of hard baits in different sizes, colors and swim styles. Rich combination, all in one!
- Fishing Lures made of high quality ABS material, impact-resistant and corrosion-resistant, is not easy to be damaged, and it also presents a natural swimming posture in the water, withstand the strong pull of large fish, to ensure that long-term use is not easy to damage.
- Lifelike Bionic: Each hard bait is carefully designed with a highly simulated appearance, with lifelike paint and high simulation 3D eyes, easily trigger the desire of predatory fish to attack.
- Nimble Swimming: Each lure contains flexible movable steel balls inside, and the unique center of gravity shifting design makes Minnows present a natural and nimble swimming posture in the water.
- FREE FISHER bulk fishing lures kit widely applicable, suitable for freshwater, saltwater and a variety of water environments, great lures kit for Trout, Pike, Bass, Perch, Salmon, Crappie etc. Perfect Gift for Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.
- 4 3/4-inch slender minnow/jerkbait trolls to around 27 feet deep and swims with a wide, searching action
- Walleye, zander and other predator and gamefish fish love this slender minnow jerkbait
- Universal color patterns for wide-ranging effectiveness
- Designed in collaboration with walleye fishing experts
- Molded-in lip for true-running toughness
- 4 3/4-inch slender minnow/jerkbait trolls to around 27 feet deep and swims with a wide, searching action
- Walleye, zander and other predator and gamefish fish love this slender minnow jerkbait
- Universal color patterns for wide-ranging effectiveness
- Designed in collaboration with walleye fishing experts
- Molded-in lip for true-running toughness
- HIGH QUALITY: 10pcs deep dive crankbaits fishing lures mixed color. Durable ABS hard plastic body. With double flat strong rings and #4 high carbon steel treble hooks delivers an exceptionally lifelike swimming action continuous metal flash and special vibration to attract fishes
- 3D LIFE-LIKE: 3D eyes and lifelike scale patterns - external etched scales and gills, keep it looks as realistic as natural live baits. Create lifelike swimming action to trigger predatory strikes in all water conditions
- DIVE BOARD: Hard Minnow come with a longer and wider pressure plate to enable it to dive deeper in the water. Crankbaits are effective in middle to deep waters in river, lakes, sea fishing and ocean boat fishing (Dives to 10 ft or more )
- RATTLE INSIDE: Swimbait with internal rattles that create loud, consistent vibration and sound underwater, attracting fish from far distances through their lateral line. Deadly effective in murky water, deep water, and low-light conditions. At the same time, it can increase the cast distance and postural stability
- These minnow lures are ideal for casting, trolling, jigging, and ice fishing. Suitable for all water layers, they work seamlessly in lakes, rivers, streams, surf, piers, and offshore waters. Deadly for targeting bass, trout, walleye, northern pike, salmon, striped bass, bluefish, mackerel, redfish, snook, etc
- Easy Catch Design – Trembly Sinking + Vibrating Swim. The Shadtale delivers two actions in one lure: steady retrieve triggers a tight vibrating swim with paddle tail kick; jigging hops create a unique trembling fall. This combination triggers strikes from curious and aggressive fish alike
- Unique Trembly Sinking – Trembles All the Way Down. After each jigging hop, the Shadtale doesn't just drop – it trembles. This high‑frequency vibration during the fall mimics a stunned or injured baitfish, drawing reaction bites even from pressured bass, trout, crappie, and walleye
- Vibrating Swim Action – Steady Retrieve, Solid Vibration. Reel it in at a constant speed, and the paddle tail produces a powerful, tight vibrating swim. The lifelike tadpole profile and tail kick send out water displacement and flash that predator fish can't resist – perfect for covering water
- BKK Premium Hooks – Ready to Fish. Equipped with sharp, corrosion‑resistant BKK hooks straight from the factory. No need to upgrade – these hooks penetrate deep and hold firm, giving you confidence on every hookset
- Multi‑Lure Pack – Multiple Colors, Better Value, Any Water Condition. Each pack contains multiple Shadtale lures in a variety of colors. Dark colors for murky/low‑light water, light colors for clear/bright conditions – you'll always have the right color for the moment. More lures, less cost per bait, and great for family fishing trips
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Walleye Trolling Lures
Trolling for walleye is a fantastic way to cover a lot of water and find where those hungry fish are hiding. The right lure makes all the difference between an empty net and a cooler full of fish. This guide will help you pick the perfect trolling lures for your next trip.
Key Features to Look For in Walleye Trolling Lures
When you look at a wall of lures, a few things stand out. These features help the lure act like real bait underwater.
1. Action and Vibration
- Action: This is how the lure swims. A good trolling lure wiggles, darts, or wobbles just like a panicked minnow. Different speeds require different actions.
- Vibration: Walleye use their lateral lines to feel movement. Lures that create strong, consistent vibrations are easier for them to find, especially in murky water or low light.
2. Depth Control (Lip Size and Shape)
The lip, or bill, on a crankbait controls how deep it dives when trolled. Bigger, more angled lips make the lure dive deeper. Smaller lips keep it shallow. You need to match the lure’s depth rating to the depth where the walleye are holding.
3. Color and Finish
Color matters a lot! Bright colors like chartreuse or fire tiger work well on cloudy days or in stained water. Natural colors like silver, gold, or blue are better when the water is clear and the sun is bright. Look for high-quality, reflective finishes that mimic fish scales.
Important Materials That Matter
The materials used in a lure affect its durability and how it swims.
Body Construction
- Hard Plastics: Most modern trolling lures use durable ABS plastic. High-quality plastic resists cracking when it hits rocks or the boat hull.
- Wood: Some classic lures use wood. These often have a unique, slightly softer action in the water.
Hooks and Hardware
Always check the hooks! You need strong, sharp hooks. Look for corrosion-resistant hardware, like stainless steel split rings and sturdy line ties. Weak hardware breaks when a big walleye hits hard.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all lures are made equally. A few details separate the great lures from the junk.
Quality Indicators (Better)
- Tuning: A well-made lure swims straight right out of the package. If a lure spins or rolls consistently, it is poorly tuned and will scare fish away.
- Paint Adhesion: Good quality paint stays on after being dragged through water and hitting rocks. Cheap paint flakes off quickly.
Quality Reducers (Worse)
Flimsy line ties bend easily, changing the lure’s action. Soft plastic bodies tear easily around the hook hangers. These problems reduce the lure’s effectiveness quickly.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the lure changes what you need.
Speed and Depth
If you troll fast (over 2.5 mph), you need a lure with a tough, deep-diving bill that can handle the pressure. For slow trolling (under 1.5 mph), smaller, lighter-lipped lures or spoons often work best. Experimentation is key!
Water Conditions
- Clear Water: Use natural colors and smaller profiles. Troll slowly to let the fish inspect the lure.
- Muddy Water: Use bright, flashy colors and lures that create maximum vibration. You want the walleye to feel you coming!
Walleye Trolling Lures: 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the best color for trolling walleye lures on sunny days?
A: On sunny days with clear water, use natural colors like silver, gold, or pearl white. These reflect sunlight like a real baitfish.
Q: Should I use a planer board when trolling?
A: Yes, planer boards let you spread your lines out wide. This lets you cover more water and prevents your lures from tangling near the boat.
Q: How fast should I troll for walleye?
A: The ideal speed usually falls between 1.5 and 3.0 miles per hour (MPH). However, you must adjust this based on the water temperature and the fish’s mood.
Q: What is the difference between a crankbait and a spoon for trolling?
A: Crankbaits have lips that force them down and create a swimming action. Spoons are thin metal pieces that flutter and wobble when retrieved, often running shallower.
Q: Do I need expensive lures to catch big walleye?
A: No, expensive lures are not always better. A well-tuned, reasonably priced lure that matches the current conditions will often outfish a fancy, untuned one.
Q: How do I know what depth my lure is running?
A: Check the manufacturer’s depth rating for your specific line setup and speed. Using a fish finder or depth counter gives you the most accurate reading.
Q: What is the best way to store my trolling lures?
A: Store them in tackle boxes with dividers to prevent hooks from tangling. Keep them out of direct sunlight to protect the paint and plastic.
Q: When should I switch from a shallow lure to a deep-diving lure?
A: Switch when your fish finder shows walleye holding deeper than your current lure can reach. Always try to target the fish’s depth.
Q: What size hooks should I look for on a good trolling lure?
A: For average-sized walleye (15-20 inches), size 2 or 4 treble hooks are usually perfect. Bigger fish might need size 1 hooks.
Q: How often should I check my lures while trolling?
A: You should check them every 15 to 20 minutes, or immediately after hitting bottom or a snag. Debris on the lure stops the action and kills the strike potential.