The spotlight
The spot I fished during this session was a lock exit. I chose this spot because it allows me to float away from the main river current. This area has a calm, current-free section where carp and walleye hang out. Channel catfish, on the other hand, hang around the edge of the main current.
The fishing rod
The great thing about fishing for walleye with soft lures is that one rod is all you need. I use a 5/28-gram power rod, which allows me to use lead heads between 5 and 24 grams, as well as lures between 3 and 6 inches.
Leaded heads
I alternate my sinkers between 10 and 21 grams. I use 10 and 14 grams in the calm zone and 17 to 21 grams in the part subject to current. The color of the lead head seems to have an effect on the carp, as I've caught several carp when I had a fluorescent head. When I use an unpainted head, I don't catch any...
When you're traveling, it's difficult to carry a lot of leaded heads, as they quickly weigh down your suitcase. Try to find all-purpose models, equally at home in vertical or linear positions. Berkley All round jig heads or football-shaped heads are good models for both techniques.
Decoys
One of my favorite walleye colors is yellow, followed by chartreuse. These colors seem to react very well to fish, regardless of water color or season. If I had to choose just one lure for walleye, it would be the Daiwa D'Fin in Lime. I can also mention Sawamura's One up shad in 4 and 5 inches, in colors 071 and 074, which also work well.
The echo sounder
There's no secret to using an echo sounder for vertical fishing. Here, it allows me to identify the shape of the bottom, depth and whitefish holding areas. When float-tubing, 4" and 5" screen models are preferable for their compactness and low power consumption. Power consumption is an important factor to take into account, as it reflects the size of the power supply battery.
Vertical and linear alternation
There's no real rule about which technique to use, vertical or linear. I tend to choose linear when I can't identify specific areas where walleye are holding. The linear technique allows me to prospect more quickly and find active fish. When I detect high concentrations of large white fish, I systematically switch to the vertical to distinguish between true and false bites and avoid harpooning.
Here's an overview of the equipment I use for short winter outings to specific spots, as it's easy to deploy and repack.
