3 Must-Have Presentations for Casting for Lake Erie Walleye
Forward facing sonar has made casting one of the hottest ways to catch Lake Erie walleye. Captain Ross Robertson breaks down the three presentations he keeps rigged on the front deck, plus the rods, reels, line and leader he fishes them on.
Last updated: November 2026 · By: FishUSA Staff
Casting for Lake Erie walleye has grown fast over the last few years, driven by the rise of forward facing sonar. Instead of covering water with a trolling spread, anglers can now spot individual fish and put a bait right in front of them. The key is having the right presentations rigged and ready, so you can switch the moment fish turn their noses up at what you are throwing.
In the video below, Captain Ross Robertson of Big Water Fishing walks through the three presentations he always has on the front deck when casting for walleye: a glide bait, a jig and plastic, and a jig and crawler. He also breaks down the rods, reels, line and leader he pairs with each one.
Casting for Walleye with Forward Facing Sonar
With forward facing sonar, many anglers are now targeting walleye so precisely they are “almost knocking these fish right on the head,” as Robertson puts it. That precision gives you instant feedback. “When you get that bait in front of them, you realize real fast that they like it or they don't like it,” he says. “And then you can make your presentation change very quickly.”
That is why Robertson keeps several rods rigged with different presentations instead of sticking with one bait. If fish ignore a fast-moving glide bait, he can hand them something subtle or something live within seconds. You do not need forward facing sonar to use this approach, either. The same three presentations work when you are blind casting. If you are still deciding how to approach the lake, our guide to Lake Erie walleye jigging vs. trolling breaks down when each method makes sense. No boat? You can still cast for walleye from piers and breakwalls. See our guide to shore fishing for Lake Erie walleye.
The 3 Presentations at a Glance
| Presentation | Bait | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Glide bait | Rapala Jigging Rap X | Fish aggressively or subtly to find active fish |
| Jig and plastic | Z-Man Scented Jerk Shadz on a VMC tungsten swimbait head | When fish are really going good |
| Jig and crawler | Nightcrawler on a tungsten jig head or VMC Snitch Jig Spinhead | When fish need something live |
Presentation #1: A Glide Bait Like the Rapala Jigging Rap X
The first presentation Robertson keeps ready is a glide bait. Several manufacturers make them, but his pick is the new Rapala Jigging Rap X. “It fishes not as heavy, but it fishes down, if that makes sense,” he says.
The Jigging Rap X arrives at FishUSA in December 2026. Use the “Notify Me” feature on the product page to get an alert when it is in stock.
What Makes the Jigging Rap X Different
- Integrated fin: The fin is part of the body, so it will not bust off or work loose like fins on older glide baits.
- Larger front and rear hooks: During prototyping, Robertson's team caught plenty of fish on just the front hook or the rear treble.
- Built-in swivel: The belly hook swings all the way around. “When those fish get pinned and that treble hook goes sideways, you're not losing those fish,” he says.
- VMC hybrid treble: A quality hook that does not hang up on the bait.
- Rattle and big eyes: A small rattle adds sound, and oversized eyes give it a unique look.
- Three sizes: Robertson shows the size 9, which weighs 7/8 of an ounce. It also comes in size 7 and size 5.
How to Fish It
“You can fish that aggressively, you can fish it subtly,” Robertson says. He does not see it replacing the original Jigging Rap, but it has earned a spot as a go-to. For more on matching glide baits and other jigging lures to the season, see our spring walleye jigging setup.
Presentation #2: Jig and Plastic
“Sometimes if the fish are really going good, what I like to do is use a jig and a plastic,” Robertson says. His setup is a Z-Man Jerk Shadz on a VMC tungsten swimbait head with a 3/0 hook.
Z-Man's ElaZtech material is stretchy and extremely durable. “You can get a million fish on this thing,” Robertson says, holding up a bait that was torn up after catching a lot of fish. That durability means less time rerigging and more time with a bait in front of fish.
Fish It Like a Do-Nothing Minnow
This presentation is all about doing very little. Robertson compares it to the “do-nothing” or strolling minnow techniques many bass anglers use: cast it out, let it get to the fish's level and keep the retrieve slow and steady. “This can put a tremendous amount of fish in the boat,” he says.
Match the Size to the Bait
Robertson sticks with something subtle and minnow-shaped, usually 3 to 5 inches long. “Adjust that size, because that also really makes a difference,” he says. If fish follow without eating, try going up or down a size before changing colors.
Presentation #3: Jig and Crawler
The third presentation uses that same tungsten jig head with nothing on it but a nightcrawler, threaded all the way up the hook. “That sometimes is an absolute cheat code,” Robertson says.
Crawlers are no stranger to walleye anglers. They are a staple on slip bobbers, spinner rigs and a walleye harness and bottom bouncer setup. On a jig and spinning rod, they give fish that will not commit to a lure something natural to eat. For more on choosing live bait, see our guide to the best walleye bait.
Add Flash with the VMC Snitch Jig Spinhead
Robertson's twist on the jig and crawler is the VMC Snitch Jig Spinhead, a jig head with a small spinner blade. “There's something about that prop,” he says. Here is why he likes it:
- Quality hook: A VMC hook in the right size for walleye.
- Crawler keepers: Small keepers hold the crawler on very well.
- Head design: The head shape, 60° line tie and large eye all add up to a bait that “just really, really works.”
Robertson has also fished soft plastics on the Snitch, but he finds a crawler is the best all-around option.
Rods for Each Presentation
“I like nice rods. I don't want to have a hundred of them, I want to have a handful of really good ones,” Robertson says. He marks each rod with tape so he can quickly tell which one is rigged for which presentation. The difference between them comes down to action.
Jig and Plastic: 7' Extra Fast Action
For the jig and plastic, Robertson uses a 7-foot G. Loomis NRX+ in an extra fast action. Extra fast means a stiffer rod, which “really makes a difference for popping that bait or just barely moving it,” and for driving the hook into a fish quickly.
Jig and Crawler: Fast Action
For live bait, he switches to a fast action rod, which bends deeper and has more give. A walleye on a crawler often just nibbles, the same way it does on a bottom bouncer or slip bobber. A softer rod lets the fish load up before you set the hook. “You don't want to just hit them hard out of the gate, or you're going to have that fish on for about a half a second or come back with a crawler cut in half,” he says.
Glide Bait: In Between
The glide bait rod falls in the middle. At 7/8 of an ounce, the size 9 Jigging Rap X is too heavy for a really light rod, so Robertson wants something that is not too fast, not too slow and can handle larger lures. For more help choosing, see our guide to the best walleye rods.
| Presentation | Rod Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jig and plastic | Extra fast (7') | Precise bait control and quick hooksets |
| Jig and crawler | Fast | More give lets nibbling fish load the rod |
| Glide bait | In between | Handles a 7/8 oz bait without being too stiff |
Reel, Line and Leader
Reel: Shimano Vanford 2500
Robertson runs 2500 size Shimano Vanford reels. A larger reel picks up more line per turn, but he prefers the 2500 because it keeps him from fishing too fast. “I just can't make myself slow down enough,” he says. If you want more speed, step up a size.
Main Line: 10 lb P-Line EndurX No Fade Braid
His main line is 10 lb P-Line EndurX No Fade Braid. The line on his reel had been there for nearly the whole season and “still looks like the day I got it,” with no fading.
Leader: 10 to 15 lb P-Line Shinsei Fluorocarbon
On every rod, Robertson ties the braid to a 10 to 15 lb leader of P-Line Shinsei. True leader material is much stiffer than regular line, and “it really makes a difference to use leader line over regular line,” he says. For more on line choice, see braid vs. mono vs. fluoro for walleye and our walleye leader length and strength guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Captain Ross Robertson keeps three presentations ready when casting for Lake Erie walleye: a glide bait like the Rapala Jigging Rap X, a 3 to 5 inch minnow-style soft plastic such as the Z-Man Scented Jerk Shadz on a tungsten swimbait jig head, and a nightcrawler threaded on a jig head or a spinner jig like the VMC Snitch Jig Spinhead.
No. Forward facing sonar lets you see walleye and put a bait right in front of them, which makes it easy to tell quickly whether fish like a presentation. The same glide bait, jig and plastic, and jig and crawler presentations also catch walleye when you are blind casting without forward facing sonar.
Ross Robertson shows the size 9 Rapala Jigging Rap X, which weighs about 7/8 of an ounce. It is also available in size 7 and size 5. Larger sizes cast farther and get down faster on big water, while smaller sizes offer a more subtle profile.
Use a fast action spinning rod for a jig and crawler. It has more give than an extra fast rod, which lets a nibbling walleye load the rod before you set the hook. Setting the hook too hard and too early often pulls the bait away or leaves you with half a crawler. Save extra fast action rods for soft plastics, where a quick hookset matters.
Ross Robertson uses 10 lb P-Line EndurX No Fade Braid as his main line on a 2500 size spinning reel, tied to a 10 to 15 lb P-Line Shinsei fluorocarbon leader. Dedicated leader material is stiffer than regular fishing line, and Robertson says using true leader line makes a real difference.
Ross Robertson rigs a Z-Man Jerk Shadz on a VMC tungsten swimbait jig head with a 3/0 hook. Match the size of the plastic, typically 3 to 5 inches, to the baitfish walleye are feeding on, because bait size makes a big difference.
The VMC Snitch Jig Spinhead is a jig head with a small spinning blade that adds flash and vibration. Ross Robertson fishes it with a nightcrawler for walleye, using its keepers to hold the crawler in place, though it can also be fished with soft plastics.
Final Thoughts
Casting for Lake Erie walleye rewards anglers who can adjust fast. Captain Ross Robertson's lineup covers the range: a glide bait to find aggressive fish, a do-nothing jig and plastic when they are biting well and a jig and crawler as a cheat code when they need something live. Rig each one on a rod with the right action, spool up with no-fade braid and a true fluorocarbon leader, and you will be ready for whatever the fish show you on the sonar screen.
Find everything you need to put this system together in our walleye fishing gear shop at FishUSA.