{"id":11592,"date":"2025-08-20T13:10:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T18:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sail.ca\/blog\/the-best-gear-for-walleye-fishing-as-recommended-by-an-expert\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T10:40:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T15:40:06","slug":"the-best-gear-for-walleye-fishing-as-recommended-by-an-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sail.ca\/blog\/the-best-gear-for-walleye-fishing-as-recommended-by-an-expert\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Gear for Walleye Fishing, as Recommended by an Expert"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Walleye is one of the most popular species among anglers in both Quebec and Ontario. Find out what Claude Bissonnette, Hunting and Fishing Category Manager at SAIL, has to say about the best gear for walleye to maximize your chances of making a catch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":9067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[231,240],"tags":[370,502,655,657,658,660],"class_list":["post-11592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fishing","category-walleye-fishing","tag-hard-baits","tag-spinning-rod","tag-bottom-bouncing-sinkers","tag-spinning-reel","tag-walleye","tag-yellow-pike"],"acf":{"post_flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":false,"anchor_link_text":"","text_content":"Walleye is one of the most popular species among anglers in both Quebec and Ontario. Find out what Claude Bissonnette, Hunting and Fishing Category Manager at SAIL, has to say about the best gear for walleye to maximize your chances of making a catch.<\/b>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content_anchors_list","anchors_section_title":"In this article, you will learn more about:"},{"acf_fc_layout":"nosto_products","content_anchor":false,"anchor_link_text":"","nosto_class_name":"blog_cp_walleye-fishing"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":true,"anchor_link_text":"Features of a walleye","text_content":"

[stag_button url=\"https:\/\/www.sail.ca\/en\/fishing\" style=\"black\" size=\"medium\" type=\"normal\" target=\"_blank\" icon=\"\" icon_order=\"before\"]Fishing gear[\/stag_button]<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Features of a walleye<\/h2>\r\nThe walleye is known for the brilliant colour of its scales and its white and flaky flesh, appreciated by those with gourmet tastes. It measures, on average, between 15 and 20 inches (38 and 50 cm) and weighs between 5 and 10 lb (2 and 5 kg). It is one of the most common fish in the lakes and rivers of Quebec<\/a> and Ontario<\/a>, which makes it very accessible.\r\n\r\nThe start of walleye fishing season, around mid-May (depending on the area), coincides with the opening of outfitters in Quebec and Ontario. You can also find it in national parks, regional parks or wildlife reserves<\/a> that offer stays and packages for one or more days, as well as boat rentals for walleye fishing.\r\n\r\nThe intensity of the colour of the walleye varies according to its environment. It is brighter in turbid waters, paler in clear waters. Its body is generally olive brown with small golden spots on its sides. It has large silver eyes, two distinct dorsal fins, the first high and spiny, the second with soft rays, as well as a white spot on the lower part of its tail. Do not confuse it with the sauger, a generally smaller fish with rough cheeks and black spots on its dorsal fin.\r\n\r\n "},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":true,"anchor_link_text":"The best gear for walleye fishing","text_content":"

The best gear for walleye fishing<\/h2>\r\n

Types of fishing rods<\/h3>\r\nIf you\u2019re planning to jig for walleye, we recommend a shorter light spinning rod, between 6\u2032 and 6\u2032 6\u2033 (1.8 to 1.98 m), with medium power and a fast or extra-fast action. Pair it with a size 2000 to 2500 spinning reel.\r\nIf you\u2019re trolling for walleye, go with a longer light spinning rod, between 6\u20326\u2033 and 7\u2032 (1.98 to 2.1 m), with medium or medium-heavy power and a moderate-fast or fast action. Match it with a size 2500 to 3000 spinning reel.\r\n

Types of fishing line<\/h3>\r\nClaude Bissonnette recommends using braided line for walleye fishing.\r\n\r\nFor jigging, go with 8 to 15 lb. braided line (3.6 to 6.8 kg), paired with a 6- to 7-foot fluorocarbon leader rated between 8 and 12 lb. (3.6 to 5.4 kg) for added invisibility.\r\n\r\nFor trolling, a 10 to 20 lb. braided main line (4.5 to 9.07 kg) with a 10- to 12-foot fluorocarbon leader rated between 10 and 15 lb. (4.5 to 6.8 kg) will do the trick."},{"acf_fc_layout":"nosto_products","content_anchor":false,"anchor_link_text":"","nosto_class_name":"cp_blog_fishing_fishing_rods_spinning"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":true,"anchor_link_text":"The best baits to use","text_content":"

The best baits to use<\/h2>\r\nWalleye can be caught using fresh live worms for both trolling and jigging. If you prefer artificial baits, the specialist recommends small hard baits, plastic larvae imitations, or soft plastic worms."},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":true,"anchor_link_text":"Recommended artificial lures for walleye","text_content":"

Recommended artificial lures for walleye<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Hard baits<\/b><\/h3>\r\nTrolling lures for walleye include\u00a0<\/span>crankbaits and jerkbaits<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>They come in floating, suspending, and deep-diving models designed to reach depths of 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 metres). To target deeper schools of walleye, choose lures with a long lip that helps them dive down.<\/span>\r\n