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Locating and Catching Deep Water Walleye in the Great Lakes

By: FishUSA Staff

May 15, 2025

Targeting walleye in deep water can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, especially during the late summer months. While spring and early summer offer more predictable patterns with fish staging on shallow reefs, rock piles, and bays, the warm-water period of late summer presents a different challenge. In the Great Lakes, rising surface temperatures and shifting thermoclines push walleye to suspend or settle into deeper offshore basins. This guide provides proven strategies and tips to help you locate and catch deep-water walleye more consistently in big water environments like Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and beyond.

Targeting walleye in deep water can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, especially during the late summer months. While spring and early summer offer more predictable patterns with fish staging on shallow reefs, rock piles, and bays, the warm-water period of late summer presents a different challenge. In the Great Lakes, rising surface temperatures and shifting thermoclines push walleye to suspend or settle into deeper offshore basins. This guide provides proven strategies and tips to help you locate and catch deep-water walleye more consistently in big water environments like Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and beyond.

Table of Contents

  • Why Walleye Move Deep in Summer
  • Start by Following the Fleet
  • Use a Fish Hawk for Precision
  • Vary Your Lure Depth
  • Choose High-Impact Lures
  • Understand Color and Light Penetration
  • Fish Structural Transitions
  • Timing and Weather Considerations
  • Final Thoughts

Why Walleye Move Deep in Summer

Walleye are temperature-sensitive predators. As summer progresses, surface waters warm and baitfish disperse. To stay in their preferred temperature zone—typically 55–68°F—walleyes descend into deeper, cooler waters, often suspending around the thermocline. These areas provide oxygen-rich, bait-filled environments ideal for feeding. However, walleye can also become more scattered, making them harder to locate without the right tools and tactics. 

Start by Following the Fleet

One of the quickest ways to get on fish when you're not sure where to begin is to follow the lead of experienced anglers. Charter boats, for example, often fish productive zones daily and have the best read on where active fish are holding. If you see several boats consistently working a contour or basin, it's likely a hotspot.

While not a foolproof strategy, following other anglers—at a respectful distance—can help you quickly locate target zones and save time on the water. Use it as a starting point before branching out and dialing in your own program.

Use a Fish Hawk for Precision

One of the most important tools for Great Lakes walleye trolling is a Fish Hawk system. This device gives you real-time downspeed and water temperature readings, which are crucial when fishing 30, 50, or even 70 feet below the surface.

Surface speed doesn’t always translate to speed at depth due to lake currents. A Fish Hawk lets you adjust your trolling speed accurately and locate the thermocline—a key zone where baitfish and feeding walleye often congregate. By finding pockets of cold water and maintaining the right lure speed, you drastically increase your odds of catching fish consistently. 

Vary Your Lure Depth

Walleye in deep water don’t always stay locked to a single depth. Big fish often lurk near the bottom, while schools of active feeders suspend above them. As light levels change throughout the day, baitfish—and the walleye following them—shift vertically in the water column.

To stay on fish, run a spread of lures at different depths. Use lead core, downriggers, weighted snap weights, and diving crankbaits to stagger your presentation. During low light periods (sunrise, sunset, overcast), expect fish to move higher. During mid-day with bright sun, they tend to push deeper.

Choose High-Impact Lures

When targeting fish in 30–60 feet of water or more, visibility is reduced. That’s why choosing a bait that can be detected from a distance is essential. Use crankbaits with loud rattles or aggressive action to help fish locate your bait.

Tip: Keep your hooks sharp and monitor bait action frequently. Deep trolled lures can pick up debris or weeds without being obvious at the rod tip. 

Understand Color and Light Penetration

Light behaves differently at depth. Certain colors fade or lose contrast as depth and water clarity change. Understanding how colors shift under water will help you choose more productive baits:

  • Shallow (0–20 ft): Bright colors like chartreuse, orange, and silver are highly visible.
  • Mid-depth (20–40 ft): Purples, blues, and golds tend to hold their contrast better.
  • Deep (40+ ft): Dark colors like black or deep purple can provide silhouettes that stand out.

Cloud cover, water stain, and sun angle all impact what colors walleye respond to. Rotate colors throughout the day to track what’s working best. Don’t be afraid to change a hot color from last year—it might not match current light conditions or forage color.

Fish Structural Transitions

Just like in shallow water, walleye relate to structure in the deep. Look for sharp depth transitions—ledges, offshore humps, or underwater ridges that quickly drop into deeper basins. These “highways” act as feeding zones and holding areas.

Trolling across these transitions from deep to shallow water or vice versa lets you identify where fish are concentrated in the water column. Use your electronics to mark bait clouds and fish arcs, then adjust your trolling passes accordingly.

Timing and Weather Considerations

Walleye are sensitive to fronts and barometric changes. A strong cold front can scatter fish, while stable weather promotes consistent feeding. Pay attention to:

  • Sunrise and Sunset: Fish often feed higher in the column during these times.
  • Overcast Days: Fish stay higher and are more aggressive longer into the day.
  • Post-Front Conditions: Fish can become neutral or negative—slow down your speed and offer tighter action baits.

Final Thoughts

Locating and catching deep water walleye in the Great Lakes is a game of precision, persistence, and adaptability. Leverage your electronics, use temperature and speed probes like the Fish Hawk, and run a spread that targets multiple depths and light conditions. Fish that once seemed impossible to locate will become part of your regular program with a little knowledge and the right tools.

Whether you're a weekend warrior or chasing tournament trophies, these tactics will help you stay dialed in all summer long. Be patient, stay flexible, and keep covering water until you find the bite.

Good luck out there, and tight lines!

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