What size bait should I use for walleye?
Track the forage, which grows all season. In spring the lake's young-of-year baitfish do not exist yet and last year's survivors are the small ones, so 5–8 cm (2–3 in) minnows and compact jigs match what fish see. By October those young-of-year perch and shiners have doubled, and the walleye — now bulking for winter — want 10–15 cm (4–6 in) offerings, with genuine giants taking 20 cm (8 in) minnowbaits at night. The perch-shaped caveat: walleye are not gape-limited monsters like pike, and a 75 cm (29.5 in) fish still happily eats an 8 cm (3 in) minnow, so upsizing is about selecting for bigger fish and matching fall forage, not a requirement for catching them. When bites are tough, downsizing remains the first lever to pull, all year.
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