Walleye Articles & Guides

Expert fishing articles, pro staff gear breakdowns, and technique guides from FishUSA anglers.

FishUSA Staff · August 25, 2026

Deep Lake Erie Walleye: Lead Core & Dipsy Diver Tactics

When Lake Erie walleye drop into the deep basin and lock onto smelt, two trolling systems put fish in the boat consisten...

FishUSA Staff · July 7, 2026

Braid vs Mono vs Fluoro for Walleye (When to Use Each Line)

Braid, mono, and fluorocarbon each do something the other two don't — and picking the wrong one for the job costs you bi...

FishUSA Staff · July 6, 2026

Snaps vs Direct Tie for Walleye (When to Use Each)

A snap saves time. A direct tie can save the bite. Knowing which one to use — and which size hardware won't kill your lu...

FishUSA Staff · July 3, 2026

Walleye Leader Strength + Length Guide (Jigging, Jerkbaits, Trolling)

The right leader is a balance between stealth, strength, and control — and that balance shifts by technique and water co...

FishUSA Staff · July 1, 2026

Best Jig Colors for Walleye: How to Match Color to Conditions

Walleye have some of the most studied vision of any freshwater gamefish — and knowing how they see color gives you a rea...

FishUSA Staff · June 25, 2026

Does Diver Color Matter?

If you troll with Dipsy-style divers, you’ve probably heard both sides of the debate: “color doesn’t matter, it’s just a...

FishUSA Staff · June 24, 2026

Complete Night Shore Walleye Setup

Everything you need to fish walleye from shore after dark — baits that work in low light, a braid-to-fluorocarbon system...

FishUSA Staff · June 19, 2026

Planer Boards 101: Simple First Walleye Trolling Spread (No Tangles)

Planer boards spread your lines 20–30 feet per side, keeping baits out of the boat wake and letting you cover far more w...

FishUSA Staff · June 18, 2026

Complete Walleye Trolling Starter Spread

This page gives you the complete first trolling spread — planer boards, crankbaits covering three depth zones, linecount...

FishUSA Staff · June 17, 2026

Lead Length Rules for Crankbaits (Walleye Trolling)

Lead length is one of the most powerful variables in a trolling spread — it controls depth, lure action, stealth, and sp...

FishUSA Staff · June 16, 2026

Lake Erie Walleye: Jigging vs Trolling Decision Tree (What to Do Today)

Wind, depth, fish spread, water color, and available time all determine whether jigging or trolling puts more Erie walle...

FishUSA Staff · June 15, 2026

Lake Erie Water Color Playbook (Clear vs Green vs Mud Line)

Lake Erie's water color changes faster than any other Great Lakes fishery — clear one morning, stained by afternoon when...