Mid-spring walleye trolling is about hitting the right depth with the right action, then letting the fish decide. The good news: both crankbaits and spoons can win, but they shine in different situations. Here’s how to stack the odds in your favor this season, with practical gear picks you can actually use on the water. 🎣
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When to reach for crankbaits first (shallow to mid depth, 6–14 ft):
- Why they shine: Crankbaits dig through the upper part of the water column where staging fish often cruise along weed edges and near structure. They’re fast to cover water and provoke aggressive bites when walleyes are actively feeding.
- Tactics: Troll 1.2–2.0 mph with a steady, wobbling cadence and shallow-running bodies that dive into that 6–14 ft zone. Use chartreuse, clown, or fire-tire colors in clearer water; brighter colors help in stained water. One solid option is the Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Walleye Crankbait, a proven shallow-wobble performer. Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Walleye Crankbait
- Alternative: Bandit Walleye Minnow is a classic trolling crank for mid-depth hits and tight wiggles. Bandit Walleye Minnow Jerkbait
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When to switch to or add spoons (deeper water, suspended fish, dirty water):
- Why they shine: Spoons excel for hitting deeper columns (15–30+ ft) and for suspending fish or those feeding aggressively in stained water where flash and vibration matter. They sweep wide, vibrate violently, and you can tune depth quickly by weight or board setup.
- Tactics: Troll spoons at 1.5–2.5 mph, or a touch faster if you’re trying to pull fish off deeper structure. A Moonshine Lures Spoon (Wonder Bread) is a go-to for bright flash and reliable action. Moonshine Lures Salmon Walleye Trout Striper 4" Spoon Wonder Bread
- Budget-friendly option set: a 5pcs Fishing Spoons Kit gives you multiple sizes/colors to dial depth and flash on the fly. 5pcs Fishing Spoons, Metal Jigging Casting Lure
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A practical, hands-on plan for mid-spring:
- Start with a two-rod/line setup: one line with a shallow-running crankbait (like a Wally Diver or Bandit) hitched on weed edges or contour breaks in 8–12 ft, and another line with a deeper, high-vibration spoon on a lead core or downrigger to target 15–25 ft.
- Color/select color by water: clear water = natural/chartreuse blends on cranks; stained water = brighter spoons with UV or silver flashed finishes.
- Depth strategy: use depth-control gear (downriggers, lead-core, or planer boards) to manage the exact hit on each lure, then vary speed slightly to fine-tune bite windows.
- Retrieve and presentation: keep cranks on a steady cadence with occasional micro-twitches; spoons respond to slight pull-and-release cadences, especially when walleyes are chasing aggressively.
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Quick tips you can rely on right away:
- Have 2–3 depth targets covered at all times; this gives you data on where the bite is today. 🧭
- Don’t overthink colors in spring: brighter for stained water, more natural in clear water.
- If you’re in a hurry to put fish in the boat, start with a spoon and a crank, then adjust based on what the sonar tells you about depth and fish holds.
For mid-spring, the smart play is a mixed spread: crankbaits to school the shallower players, spoons to invite the deeper, suspended, or stained-water fish. Once you dial in depth and speed, the bite tends to follow. You’ve got this—good luck on the next trip, and may your lines stay tight and your smiles stay wide! 🚤🐟
