7 Best Walleye Lures To Crush Big Walleye!
These top 7 walleye lures will help you catch more walleye.
Walleyes are a popular game fish that can be found in many lakes and rivers across North America. A walleye angler will often seek out walleye because they are considered a challenging fish to catch. In order to increase your chances of landing a walleye, you need to use the right bait. In this product review, we will take a look at some of the best lures for catching walleye. We'll help you decide which one is best for you!
There are so many choices to make, you don’t have the time to wade through the options. Do you choose a crankbait? A stick bait? A soft plastic? Or do you go with one of the blade baits?
No worries, we have you covered with our research so you can make an educated walleye lure buying decision quickly.
With the right lure, landing a walleye is within reach.
How We Choose
We know that the only thing better than having the best lures you can find is the peace of mind that comes with it, knowing you don’t have to worry your gear.
Our team has read through thousands of user reviews and star ratings to come up with a list that makes it easier for you to decide what is the best walleye lure that works for you. Don’t bother spending lots of time reading over many many reviews, we’ve done it for you and have come up with the top 7 walleye lures to help you get the most out of your next fishing trip.
There’s a walleye lure here that’s best for you! Read below for details and then go check the price on the one that you like. Let's go!
Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Walleye Crankbait
Best Walleye Lure Proven On The Great Lakes
Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Walleye Crankbait
Why we love it
The Wally Diver is a simply irresistible trolling bait for walleye anglers everywhere. A lot of walleye hunters say this is the best producing lure in their tackle box, with the black and silver being one of the top choices. Many types of fish will hit this, from smallies to lake trout and even a muskie.
These can be trolled slowly so its slender profile and tight wiggle can drive walleye wild. The Wally Diver's fame began on the Great Lakes, where its quickly become a legendary walleye lure. These days, you can find the Wally Diver being used to great success in many areas.
When it comes to choosing the right size lure, there are two factors to consider: how deep you want the lure to dive, and how big the fish you're targeting are. If you're after big fish, then the 3.37 inch size is the way to go. It can reach depths of up to 18 feet when trolled. However, if you're after smaller fish, or you're fishing in shallower water, then the 2.5 inch size is a better option. It dives to a depth of 8 feet on the cast, or 11 feet when trolled, making it perfect for fishing in more shallow waters.
The Wally Diver comes in many different color patterns designed to appeal to walleye feeding instincts, including fluorescent red/black, chrome blue/black, and chartreuse perch.
Here’s what to know
Slender profile and tight wiggle produce big walleye and bass
Tight compact action increases hooksets
Equally effective whether cast or trolled
Proven on the Great Lakes and other walleye waters
Cotton Cordell's most popular lure
Multiple size, styles and color patterns
Kalin's Sizmic Jerk Minnow 5" Lure
Best Walleye Bait That Attracts Multiple Species
Kalin's Sizmic Jerk Minnow 5" Lure
Why we love it
The Jerk Minnow features a slightly split tail that delivers a swift and lifelike action that mimics the swimming motion of common baitfish. The baitfish profile that the Jerk Minnow offers, along with the spilt tail action will prove to attract almost every species of fish. The versatile bait can be rigged in a diverse set of ways to give the fisherman multiple different options for fishing. It comes in a pack with 10 baits per pack.
Here’s what to know
Split tail design
Lifelike action mimics baitfish
Multiple rigging options makes this a very versatile bait
10 per pack
Acme Tackle Company Hyper-Rattle Jigging Lure
Best Walleye Lure With A Sonie Rattle Chamber
Acme Tackle Company Hyper-Rattle Jigging Lure
Why we love it
The Hyper Rattle is the perfect bait for anyone looking to trigger an aggressive bite. The HD high definition finish and sonic rattle chamber are built to "put out the vibe" to call fish in from a distance, and the bait's balanced, life-like swimming presentation is sure to trigger an aggressive bite.
One suggestion would be to use a snap or snap swivel. This lure has so much action that we could see it wearing out knots, especially on braid. One indication that this lure is a gem is that local tackle shops are finding them hard to get. You'll have better luck finding them online, so click the button below its picture above to check Amazon.
Here’s what to know
Available in 16 colors and 3 sizes
Creates a unique combination of sight and sound that triggers more bites
HD2 (high-definition/high durability) finishes
Feature glow and UV to optimize visibility
Acme Tackle's most innovative lure
Rapala (W9PD) Jigging Rap 09
Why we love it
This lure was originally designed for ice fishing, but the Rapala Jigging Rap® really is a lure that you need to keep in your tackle box because it's also great in open water. When you jig it, this lure actually swims around in a circle and creates the action that walleyes love.
It features a balanced, weighted minnow profile, and single reversed hooks with center treble and eyelet. It's a different profile than most lures. You can bottom bounce it like a yo-yo with which works really well. There's a wide range of sizes and color patterns so you can grab several of them, so you're covered in all types of conditions.
Here’s what to know
Minnow profile, balanced design with center treble hook
Natural, UV and glow colors
Fished with quick snap technique & vertical jigging
Great for Walleye but works for other species
Single reversed hooks, center treble & eyelet
Rapala Shad Rap 07
Best Walleye Lure With Legendary Swimming Action
Rapala Shad Rap 07 For Walleyes
Why we love it
The Rapala Shad Rap is the world's best running hard bait. That's not just our opinion - it's a fact, backed up by years of testing and customer feedback. The Shad Rap closely resembles many baitfish, making it an effective lure for a wide range of fish species.
But what really sets the Shad Rap apart is its legendary wounded minnow action. Whether you're casting or trolling, this lure is designed to perform at ultra-slow speeds to super-fast speeds. And the double hooks ensure that when the fish strikes, you're guaranteed an effective hook set. The Shad Rap needs to be in your tackle box, and it gets our "Bert's Best".
There are literally hundreds of different walleye crankbaits on the market. The SR07 model linked here has a running depth of between 5 and 11 feet, which you can control by altering the speed of your retrieve. You can't go wrong with Crawdad, Gold, Silver, Perch, any of the Shad colors, and FireTiger UV. They run true and really don't need any tuning out the box.
It's made from premium balsa wood, and the lure has a detailed paint finish in a range of proven fish-catching patterns. Some of these (like shad, bluegill, and perch) are incredibly realistic, while others (like purpledescent and hot tiger) are designed for greater visibility in stained waters.
All sizes feature a diving lip and two sharp VMC black nickel treble hooks.
Here’s what to know
The world's best running hard bait
Hand-tuned and tank-tested at the factory
Balsa Wood Construction
Natural Baitfish Profile
Legendary Rapala wounded minnow action
Excellent for casting or trolling
Designed for ultra-slow speeds to super-fast speeds
VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig
Why we love it
These are the most unique jig heads out there, and one of the best-selling. It's presentation also make your soft plastic pop out more and provide a realistic look, and the baitkeeper on the hook keeps your plastic on the jig. It's a must have in your arsenal.
In a recent podcast, a prominent fisherman, from a prominent fishing family was asked what was the best setup he would use to catch the most amount of fish if he could only have one setup. And almost instantly he said "VMC Moon Eye Jig." as the lure he'd want in his best setup. That says a lot for us, it's why the VMC Moon Eye jig is on our list.
This VMC® upgraded version of the traditional Aspirin-shaped head provides added control. And the 3-D holographic eyes create the illusion of a wider profile while adding realism. VMC makes this with a VMC® Premium high-carbon steel hook with top-of-the-line black nickel finish.
The wide range of colors includes UV Bright finish colors that guarantee you to catch more fish in all water conditions. Pair with Keitech swing impact swimbait and you have a deadly combination.
Here’s what to know
Premium hi carbon steel hook
Black nickel finish
Aspirin shaped head design provides added control
Shape also gives the illusion of a wider profile
UV BRIGHT finish reflects more light energy for greater visibility
Vexan Variety Six 2-Packs (12 Total) Glow Walleye Crawler Harnesses
Best Walleye Harness With Glowing UV Beads To Attract More Fish
Vexan Variety Six Pack Glow Walleye Crawler Harness
Why we love it
A crawler harness is a staple for Walleye fishing. We had massive success with a harness and live bait trolling in Lake Erie, limiting out after just a few hours. Even a "natural plastic" we put on the harness produced nice sized fish.
This Vexan Harnesses is the perfect value in a harness rig. The bold, bright UV color blades and glow in the dark beads are designed to trigger fish into striking. These Crawler Harnesses are sure to give you the edge you need to catch more fish. The premium #4 Colorado blades create optimum thump and vibration, making these blade baits easy for fish to find.
No walleye lure list is complete without a crawler harness, and the quality and value of the Vexan variety pack is why this makes our list.
Here’s what to know
Included colors: Perch, Holo Purple, Gold, Purple Haze, Fire Ant, Crazy Corn (2 Packs Each)
Premium #4 Colorado blades for optimum thump & vibration
Glow In the Dark UV Beads & Paint
Industry standard 48” Long 14l b Mono Leader
RED #2 Hooks for extra flash and trigger strikes
Best Walleye Lures FAQs
Fishing for walleye can be a lot of fun, but it's also a challenging sport. And it's different too, as walleye anglers are different from bass anglers, who are different than snook anglers. Walleye fishermen can be so focused that they actually get ticked off when another species hits their lure!
There are so many lures on the market, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Do you buy the expensive lure that promises to catch fish every time? Or do you go with a cheaper option that might not work as well?
We’ve created a buyer’s guide of frequently asked questions to help you choose the best walleye lures for your needs. This guide will help you understand what to look for when choosing the best lures for your next walleye excursion.
What is the best lure to use for walleye?
These are the ones we like. You're not going to go "fishless" with any one of these:
Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Walleye Crankbait Fishing Lure
Kalin's Sizmic Jerk Minnow 5" Lure
Acme Tackle Company Hyper-Rattle Jigging Lure
Rapala (W9PD) Jigging Rap 09
Rapala Shad Rap 07
VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig
Vexan Variety Six 2-Packs Glow Walleye Crawler Harness
What color lures are best for walleye?
The most basic and most productive colors for targeting walleye are purple and green. These colors come in a variety of shades and can be used in a large range of depths. For sunny days, select bright or flashy purple or green, and for cloudy days try a solid, darker green or purple
What color is most visible to a walleye fishing?
Research biologists have documented which spectrums of color walleyes are best able to identify. The colors of red, yellow, orange and green are among the most visible to walleyes. Darker colors such as blue, purple and violet are less visible to this species.
What size lures for walleye?
Developed in 1936, the Rapala Original Floating Minnow remains a reliable walleye bait. Popular sizes are the 3-1/2” (F09) with a running depth of 3 to 5 feet and the 4-3/8” (F11) or 5-1/4” (F13), each with a 4 to 6 foot running depth.
Why are walleyes so hard to catch?
It's not impossible, but walleye seek out deep water and shade to avoid the harsh sunlight, and they tend not to feed actively during these conditions, so you'll have to adapt your fishing locations and tactics accordingly.
Are spinnerbaits good for walleye?
A spinnerbait is a simple lure and at times there's no wrong way to work it. Like other lures, spinner rigs don't always work, but when it's on, it can load the boat with big walleyes.
What colors can walleye not see?
A walleye lacks the blue and yellow cells, so its color vision is similar to that of the rare human beings with blue and yellow color blindness. What this means is a walleye most likely can see all colors as some shade of red or green
What time are walleye most active?
Big walleye especially, are usually most active from sunset to sunrise with the dawn and dusk hours being the hottest. At night, walleye move into shallower water where they are actively feeding on sheltering prey. It's generally harder to catch walleye during the way, because they move much further offshore into deeper water.
What is a walleyes favorite food?
Walleye feeding instincts differ during the day than they do at night. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. Try fishing from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer. Use bait, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, ice jigs as well as plastic worms and grubs. Trolling is often a very effective way to fish for these tasty fish.
The Best Walleye Lures - Last Word
So what’s the right walleye lure? The answer to that may vary from person to person but we’ve tried to provide a variety of best options for you based on thousands of reviews. We hope you find this information helpful to find the best walleye lures.
All you have to do now is just click the orange button to check the price on the best lures for you to catch that lunker walleye. Thanks!
Cheers to the outdoors,
Bert
You may also like:
Bert Martin