Interesting Read
I'm surprised that using a slip bobber hasn't been mentioned.
When you're fishing from shore the strucural elements are rising towards you. The short comings of all bottom oriented tactics are sure to result in a ton of snags and lost tackle.
Jigs, rigs and crankbaits are better suited to open water presentations.
A higher percentage option is to utilize a slip bobber.
The simple reason being walleye feed up and a bait hovering overhead is guaranteed to attract interest.
Rigging a slip bobber is easy:
http://www.hloutdoors.com/swami.htm
Another overlooked practice especially if evening fishing is to use a floating crankbait and snap jerk it back to shore. By design these baits only dive to about 2' so they will attract a walleye bite at dusk.
Excitement is assured.
Bill
Walleye on artificial bait ?
I find that jigging for walleye can be quite effective, when you can find a good # of fish in schools stacked beneath your boat, which in most cases just doesn't happen, more so with the walleye. Unlike bass, walleye move around alot to forage rather than ambush. To stay with a school can take tremendous effort and at that takes away from fishing time. Backtrolling a a great technique for this as you can hover over sharp drops and rockpiles.
For me I have to be moving around in the search for them, in a boat or not. I like to cast Rapala Shad Raps and Husky Jerks on the Ottawa R...I match the bait that seems to be the most present. For instance, I was throwing a golden shinner pattern Bomber crankbait last night for walleye and could not buy a bite. Switched over to my jig rig and whaled out a few casts into the deeper pools when I finally hooked into a walleye. When trying to remove the swallowed hook from the gorge of it's gullet, I found an emerald shiner. Pulled the minnow out to identify it with the the pliers. Cool...So I swapped baits and continued to throw some swimbaits that resemble emeralds...on my third cast with the bait I caught a rock bass, then the walleye started taking a liking to it. I found that no matter where the heck your fishing, match the present food the fish are feeding on and catch more fish...so simple. A few baits I can suggest would include the Bomber Long A and Husky Jerks from Rapala when hunting shoreline walleye. Shad raps or any other bottom ticking crankbait will also prove to be lethal when retreived at the right speed. There not the only baits I use, just to give you and idea. And you won't loose as many baits by matching the depth your fishing to the lip on your bait.
-Andrew
For me I have to be moving around in the search for them, in a boat or not. I like to cast Rapala Shad Raps and Husky Jerks on the Ottawa R...I match the bait that seems to be the most present. For instance, I was throwing a golden shinner pattern Bomber crankbait last night for walleye and could not buy a bite. Switched over to my jig rig and whaled out a few casts into the deeper pools when I finally hooked into a walleye. When trying to remove the swallowed hook from the gorge of it's gullet, I found an emerald shiner. Pulled the minnow out to identify it with the the pliers. Cool...So I swapped baits and continued to throw some swimbaits that resemble emeralds...on my third cast with the bait I caught a rock bass, then the walleye started taking a liking to it. I found that no matter where the heck your fishing, match the present food the fish are feeding on and catch more fish...so simple. A few baits I can suggest would include the Bomber Long A and Husky Jerks from Rapala when hunting shoreline walleye. Shad raps or any other bottom ticking crankbait will also prove to be lethal when retreived at the right speed. There not the only baits I use, just to give you and idea. And you won't loose as many baits by matching the depth your fishing to the lip on your bait.
-Andrew