09/02/2026
Spring and fall bring major migrations of walleyes up rivers across the country. Spring means spawning and fall means feasting. Throughout these migrations, walleyes seek deeper pools among swift shallow runs to rest and feed. Again, the biggest challenge is gaining access to these locations, many of which are not conducive to boating.
Kayak angling is the most practical way to target walleyes in skinny water settings. These lightweight craft can be hauled into tight spaces and launched anywhere without a boat ramp.
Since shallow walleyes can be spooky, the best time to target them is at night or during dusk and dawn periods. Most of these spots can be located by reading the surface of the water to spot current seams formed by rocks, logs, or small points along the riverbank or on bottom. Other obvious areas include bridge abutments and other large structures in the river. Each slack area can potentially hold walleyes.
Water temperature and depth suggest lure selection. In colder, shallow water (less than 5 feet deep), stickbaits such as Smithwick Rattlin' Rogues, Rapala Husky Jerks, and Storm ThunderSticks excel. They have an enticing side-to-side wobble, even at very slow retrieve speeds. Cast the entire pool, working from the upstream to downstream portion.
Make short casts, quartering across current, keeping the rod tip high and working the lure lowly all the way back. Fish often strike within the last rod length of the retrieve so finish each cast by lowering the rod as the lure approaches.
When water temperatures are above 50°F, shad-style lures often are more effective. In shallow areas, hold the rod high to keep them from snagging, as many can dive to 6 feet. When fished along the edge of current seams, you can catch walleyes by holding a Rapala Shad Rap or Salmo Hornet stationary in current. It wobbles frantically in place as the current moves it erratically from side to side.
Avoid casting cross-current with deeper-diving baits since they're more prone to snagging when swung across shallow rocky areas. Instead, cast downstream and slowly work the lure back up, probing each rock and pocket you encounter.
Where woodcover makes it impractical to work lures with treble hooks, softbaits like the Berkley Rib Shad, Kalin's Sizmic Shad, and Owner Rib Eye Swimbait rigged on a bullet-head jig or wide-gap swimbait hook can be fished without snagging. The paddletails on these baits create considerable vibration, which helps draw strikes in murky, fast water.
By matching these softbaits with an appropriate jighead or belly weighted hook, they can be swung cross-current and either slowly retrieved upstream with a hopping retrieve or held steady and allowed to vibrate in place.
Steve Ryan, In-Fisherman
