Best Fall Walleye Fishing Lures: Proven Baits and Techniques for Success

By: FishUSA Staff

October 17, 2024

Fall is an excellent time for targeting walleye as they feed aggressively in preparation for winter. The cooler water temperatures bring walleye to shallower areas and triggers them to feed, making them more accessible for anglers. However, using the correct lure for each situation is crucial to having success. Below is a guide to the best fall walleye fishing lures and how to use them effectively to catch more fish.

Best Fall Walleye Lures

Bink's Pro Series Spoon

SteelShad Original Blade Bait

Bandit Walleye Deep Divers

Berkley Walleye Rigs

Northland Whistler Jig

Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver

Keitech Fat Swing Impact

Rapala CrushCity The Mayor Swimbait

Rapala Jigging Rap

Rapala Rippin’ Rap Lipless Crankbait

Final Thoughts

Best Fall Walleye Lures

Bink’s Pro Series Spoon

Bink’s Pro Series Spoons are classic ice fishing and jigging lures that work exceptionally well in fall for walleye. The custom paint jobs and enticing flutter action on the fall triggers strikes from suspended or deep-holding fish. Clown, Pink Lemonade, and Yellow Glow are all colors that appeal strongly to walleye.

Buy Bink’s Pro Series Spoon

How to Use: Drop the lure vertically into deeper waters, then use a sharp jigging motion. This action mimics that of a wounded baitfish. Let the lure fall back and repeat. Bink’s Pro Series Spoons are ideal for vertical jigging over drop-offs and near structure like rock piles where walleye hold during colder months.

SteelShad Original Blade Bait

The SteelShad Original Blade Bait appeals to hungry walleyes looking for an easy meal. The flashy metal body of this blade bait draws a lot of attention and creates vibration that triggers a walleye’s predatory instincts. Blade Baits are especially effectrive when water temperatures drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Buy SteelShad Original Blade Bait

How to Use: The SteelShade Blade Bait can be fished similarly to the Bink’s Pro Series Spoon, lifting the rod to jig the bait. However, the SteelShad works just as well casted as it does fished vertically. Allow the bait to sink to the bottom, then lift the rod tip a few feet before pausing it and allowing the bait to fall back to the bottom. Strikes usually occur when the bait hits the bottom.

Bandit Walleye Deep Divers

Bandit Walleye Deep Divers are crankbaits designed to reach deeper depths, making them ideal for targeting walleye that are holding close to the bottom or are suspended over deeper water chasing baitfish.

Buy Bandit Walleye Deep Diver

How to Use: Troll these deep divers along the edges of drop-offs, humps, and other underwater structures. The wide wobble and deep diving capabilities are perfect for reaching walleye holding between 12 and 27 feet deep. Use a slow to moderate trolling speed, between 1-2mph, to maintain depth control and trigger bites.

Berkley Walleye Rigs

Berkley Walleye Rigs are pre-tied spinner rigs designed for live bait presentation. The slow thump of the Colorado blade draws hungry walleye’s in and a leech or nightcrawler trailed off the back gets them to bite.

Buy Berkley Walleye Rig

How to Use: Attach a leech or nightcrawler to the rig and slowly troll or drift it along the bottom near points, humps, or submerged vegetation where walleye are feeding. Weight can be added to these rigs using an egg sinker, or they can be trolled behind a diving device such as a Dipsy Diver. Adjust the weight to keep the bait close to the bottom while maintaining a slow presentation.

Northland Whistler Jig

Northland Whistler Jigs are known for their unique propeller blade, which adds flash and vibration to your presentation. This makes them highly effective in murky or stained water, a common condition in fall.

Buy Northland Whistler Jig

How to Use: Add a minnow, nightcrawler or soft plastic swimbait to the jig and cast and retrieve it near rocky structures or use a slow vertical jigging technique around deep weed edges. The blade creates noise and flash, enticing nearby walleye to strike, especially in low-visibility conditions.

Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk

Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerks are suspending jerkbaits designed to dive deep and stay in the strike zone. These lures are perfect for trolling or casting in deeper waters where walleye are feeding on baitfish.

Buy Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk

How to Use: Troll these baits in open water where baitfish are roaming or cast them off deep piers or rock walls, using a pause and go retrieve. The lure’s suspending action allows it to hover in the strike zone longer, which can be highly effective for enticing finicky fall walleye.

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver

Cotton Cordell Wally Divers are proven favorites for walleye anglers. They feature a tight wobble and dive deep, making them ideal for fall fishing when walleye are chasing baitfish in deeper waters.

Buy Cotton Cordell Wally Diver

How to Use: These lures work well when trolled slowly over deep structure. You can also cast them near drop-offs and retrieve at varying speeds to locate active walleye. The tight wobble mimics an injured baitfish, making it irresistible to predatory walleye.

Keitech Fat Swing Impact

Keitech Fat Swing Impacts are a soft plastic paddle tail swimbait that mimic the natural movements of baitfish. They’re available in a great variety of sizes and color patterns to match the hatch wherever you are fishing.

Buy Keitech Fat Swing Impact

How to Use: Pair the swimbait up with an appropriately sized jig head. Cast the bait and let it fall to the bottom, then begin to retrieve it slowly, never lifting it more than a few feet from the bottom. Keitechs work very well during calm conditions and a tough bite.

Rapala CrushCity The Mayor Swimbait

The Rapala CrushCity The Mayor Swimbait is a paddle tail like the Keitech Fat Swing Impact, but has a different profile and action. It’s taller body and tighter tail wobble makes it ideal for when walleye are feeding on baitfish like gizzard shad.

Buy Rapala CrushCity The Mayor Swimbait

How To Use: Just like the Keitech, pair the bait up with an appropriately sized jighead. Cast the bait and let it fall to the bottom, then begin to retrieve it slowly, never lifting it more than a few feet from the bottom.

Rapala Jigging Rap

Rapala Jigging Raps are designed for vertical jigging, but can also be cast and retrieved by hopping them along the bottom. These lures feature a unique darting action that imitates a wounded baitfish.

Buy Rapala Jigging Rap

How to Use: Drop the lure directly below the boat and use short, sharp jigs to create erratic movements. Let the lure fall back to the bottom before jigging again. If fish are suspended, use shorter snaps and keep the bait in the depth range that bait and walleyes are present. The lure can also be cast and hopped along the bottom.

Rapala Rippin’ Rap Lipless Crankbait

A Rapala Rippin’ Rap Lipless Crankbait is an important addition to any fall walleye arsenal. These lures are extremely versatile and are able to be vertical jigged, cast and retrieved, or fished around any type of cover. They feature lots of flash and loud rattles to trigger strikes from aggressive walleyes.

Buy Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait

How To Use: Cast the bait, let it sink to the bottom, and retrieve it slowly with occasional pops and rips. If walleye are holding near vegetation, allow the bait to hit the tops of the weeds before ripping. It can also be vertical jigged directly below the boat.

Check out our guide for the Best Walleye Crankbaits

Final Thoughts

Fall is a prime time for walleye fishing, but using the right lures can make all the difference. Whether you’re trolling deep divers, jigging spoons and blade baits, or using live bait rigs, each of these lures offers a unique advantage for targeting walleye in cooler waters. Experiment with different techniques and lures to find what works best in your local waters, and enjoy the productive fall fishing season.

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