Speed Trolling Crankbaits for Late Summer Walleye

Walleye can be an extremely challenging fish to target throughout the year. Sometimes you’ll want to go out at night with your favorite stickbaits, other times you’ll want to go and jig deep water with some bait. In the late summer, one really great way to chase these fish is by speed trolling crankbaits.

When the late summer comes around, walleyes can oftentimes be found roaming expansive flats. They’ll be actively feeding in these areas, especially when the water is warmer. One benefit of this is that they aren’t going to be stuck to structure as much as they are during other times of the year.

They’ll be chasing after schools of baitfish looking to feed as much as they can. This works well for anglers, as they are able to find areas that are loaded with baitfish, and then target walleyes using crankbaits that imitate the look and action of these baitfish.

Since the walleyes are going to be in these large areas of flats chasing baitfish, speed trolling is a great way to target them. This allows you to cover these large areas relatively quickly, increasing your odds of finding them.

Typically, you’ll want to be in the 2 - 2.5 mph range of speed with this method, but don’t be afraid to dial it up or down to find the sweet spot. One good way is to start at around 2.2 mph until you find some fish. If they bite, great, you found a good speed. If not, try going up or down in your speed until you have it dialed in.

As for the crankbaits you should use, there are a few factors to consider. If you’re in clear water and know the baitfish in the area, try using something realistic that mimics those baitfish. If the water is a bit murkier, don’t be afraid to try some brighter colors that stand out better. With both options, you’ll want a crankbait that has aggressive actions that help to trigger strikes.

The rest of your setup should consist of your favorite moderate rod, a conventional reel, and either braided line with a leader or monofilament. This gives you the best trolling setup to fight these fish once they’re hooked.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to run planer boards to help spread out your lines, or to get your crankbait into shallower or deeper water away from the boat. If you notice the fish are hanging out in deeper water, try using a deep-diving crankbait or put on some snap weights to pull the crankbait into the ideal depth.