One of Max Wilson’s favorite techniques for targeting fall walleye is casting shallow diving crank baits. In the fall, walleye migrate into the rivers following bait to warm water discharges. They’ll sit in these locations all fall and winter to feed on shads. One of the best ways to target these feeding fish is with shallow diving cranks.
In this video, Wilson is using a shallow diving Berkley Flicker Shad in roughly 3 feet of water. As far as cadence goes, he recommends casting up into the current as far as possible. What’s happening is the fish are setting up in the current waiting for bait to come down, therefore the key is to bring the bait down in front of the fish. When casting up current it is important to speed up the cadence on the retrieve, burning that bait back.
When setting up for this presentation, Wilson recommends using a quick-change clevis to easily swap cranks, making it easier to dial in factors such as color.
As for choosing color in stained water, Wilson will often go with crawfish shades like black and red to help the bait stand out. A 15 lb leader works well, especially in shallow areas where there are snags. Additionally, using a swivel to help cut down on line twists makes it easier to re-tie if needed. For backer, use something heavy enough to pull out of snags but light enough to really whip it out – Max recommends 10 lb braid.
When working shallow cranks, he recommends using a medium light, extra fast action rod with enough length to help cast those baits into the current and enough forgiveness to not rip the baits out during the hookset. For his reel, Wilson opts for a 6.2:1 ratio. Ultimately, he recommends choosing something with good line pickup to burn cranks without getting fatigued.
There are many different ways to target walleye, but casting a crank bait is a great way to catch a lot of fish and trigger a lot more bites this fall.
