this year i will be specifically targeting the big suspended walleyes on lakes with cisco as the main forage base. i have a pretty wide array of cranks that i intend to use for this application already, however i would like your insight on what specific lures you guys would suggest.

i am a big believer that rattles are an important feature in a lure for attracting fish, especially with schools of cisco roaming the water. the concept of the rattle is because apparently thats the noise schools of baitfish (shad, cisco) make.

with that said, my main crank selection includes rattles. taildancers are my personal favorite because they combine an attractive body profile with a rattle and dive to the depths i think are key for finding these fish.

i have a few x raps with the shad body because they have the rattle as well as the larger shad shape displacing more water than their minnow counterparts and also provide a more easy to locate profile.

i would also like input on what you guys think is the more productive color pattern when it comes to targeting those fish. we have had luck with every color pattern i can think of and none really seemed to outproduce the others by any sort of discernible margin.

ive heard people say that for cisco forage lakes you should stick with purple/pearl, blue/silver, black/silver because it more closely imitates the look of the cisco. firetiger is always a productive color and looks extremely unnatural. rapala's new x rap color pattern of 'moss shiner' looks extremely realistic so i added one of those to my arsenal. what are your thoughts when it comes to matching the local forage or going out on a limb and looking different. i dont think you want to blend in TOO much because then there is no reason for the fish to hit your bait. is there such thing as too different from the others that would discourage strikes?

the guys on the walleyecentral.com forum swear by flicker shads, but i think they might be a bit too small. their discussions focus mainly on lake erie.

im pretty much a rapala guy, so i dont have much experience on anything they dont make. any other brands that consistantly produce?

id really like to hear some opinions on size, color pattern, shapes, different models, brands, etc. im a firm believer that as long as you have a lure in the water you will catch fish up there, but id like your personal opinions and favorites and discuss any merits you can think of.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) were mentioned in the "2nd Week in June" thread.  I ordered a few of the 4 3/4" baits (Perch, Tiger Perch, Bombay & Lime, and Blue Streaker) to try out this year.  When I bought them, they were $3.34 each, but are now on sale for $3.99. These have rattles fore and aft and supposedly have a maximum trolling depth of 28 feet.

Since my on-line purchase, I've made a trip to the local Cabela's store where I picked up a blister pack of 6 3 1/2" Walleye Runners  in a variety of colors for $8.89 in the Bargain Cave.  These have a single rattle toward the head end and troll down to 21 feet.  All versions float.

Hope they produce fish!

dd

ugh! it just figures that you would use a rainbow trout pattern bait! i hear they are quite effective; however, i like trout and dont want to see baby ones get eaten! ive always shyed away from using trout paint patterns for that reason because im weird like that.

I guess I forgot to mention what lure is my "go to" lure.  That would be the (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) at 4 3/8" (or longer) in Clown or Blue/Silver.  This lure is rated to run 20' deep.  Unfortunately, it catches all game fish in northern waters.

If I'm headed in early season, I'll load up on jig heads (mostly white or yellow and a few black) with 5" twister tails (mostly white, with a few pearl or black).  I fish them by jigging, casting and trolling.  Again, this lure is not selective.  I've caught the slam in one day on one lake with this jig but then fish will be more concentrated in the upper layers of the water column.

dd

DentonDoc wrote on May 5^th, 2011 at 9:27pm:


DD -

I'm almost certain you will not be dissapointed! Without question this is the #1 lure in my box for deepwater walleye......and everything else.
I fish a few lakes that contain ciscoes as the primary forage base and the 4 3/4" model in nat. minnow has accounted for several same day, same lake slams.  

Like you, I also purchased a pack of the 3 1/2" lures that I plan on using on our spring trip in a few weeks. If these produce in 15' like the 4 3/4" version produces in deep water, we'll be happy campers.  

Similar to what MT noted in his thread, we routinely catch large, suspended walleye while trolling these lures (fast) over 60-70' main lake basins in early fall.