Live bait rigging (also known as Lindy rigging) is perhaps the most effective system for fishing walleye ever developed. Yet, it comes with its own set of nuances that can be crucial for success. In this tip, long-time guide and tournament angler Toby Kvalevog breaks down live bait rigging from choosing the right weight to setting the proper speed for success.
Live bait rigging was designed to put fresh bait in front of bait in the most lively way possible while covering water. That means dragging away from the boat with few simple components: a sinker, a swivel, a leader line, and a hook. Different types of bait (leeches, minnows, or worms) require slight equipment modifications with the same set of components.
Choosing The Right Weight
The weight you use depends on the conditions. In shallow water or low wind, a lighter weight is desired to keep the bait from dragging on the bottom. Keep in mind that leeches, in particular, require lighter weight to avoid impeding on their natural swimming action. Upsize your weight as you increase depth and wind speed. In clear water, you also want to get your presentation away from the boat, and controlling your weight can help you do that effectively. Generally, 1/8oz is good for 6-8 feet of water, 1/4oz for 8-15 feet, 3/8oz for 15-20 feet, and 3/4oz for anything deeper than 20 feet.
Hook Sizes
A number 2 octopus hook is excellent for minnows and sometimes crawlers when dealing with larger walleye. A bigger hook means a bigger hook gap for the wide nose of creek chubs, for example. They are often thicker gauged, so they better hold on to big walleye, too. That being said, there is such a thing as too heavy of a hook, especially regarding leeches. Downsizing to a number 8 octopus hook, for example, helps keep the leech swimming naturally. Overall, a number 4 octopus hook is good for fishing with a crawler, but again, you can upsize when targeting larger fish. This is because you create the action more with a crawler by gently sweeping the road occasionally to compensate for the fact that worms don’t naturally swim in the water. Upsizing the hook with leeches leads to dragging and balling up the leech or collecting moss and debris on the bottom.
Considerations for Line
Your leader material choice depends on the bait. For crawlers and minnows, fluorocarbon is fine, but for leeches, you’ll want to switch to monofilament leaders. This is because minnows attract toothy critters like pike and tend to run closer to the bottom, where they’re more likely to run into the sharp edges of Zebra Mussels. Fluorocarbons’ abrasion-resistant properties limit break-offs from these hazards. You can and should also add air to the night crawler with a worm blower to keep them up off the bottom. Fluorocarbons’ downfall with leeches is that it sinks and drags leeches to the bottom and weighs them down. Kvalevog uses a 6-pound monofilament for leeches as it tends to float and keep the leech up and swimming naturally.
Setting Your Trolling Speed
Another way to keep your bait looking natural is to utilize the right speed according to both the wind and your bait choice. Leeches should be allowed to swim as freely as possible, so a good mark is to slow your speed down to around 0.4mph. Minnows can be trolled up to 1mph, but you should always pay attention to what you feel from your minnow on the end of the rod. If your minnow gets nervous and starts swimming harder and more frantically, that’s your cue to slow down, as a fish is likely approaching and making that minnow want to flee. For crawlers, 0.8-1mph is a good target as you are actively imparting the action by slowly dragging or sweeping your rod and letting it fall back on semi-tight line. This dragging motion creates spin, and when you stop, the air in the crawler floats up, provoking strikes from walleye in pursuit.
The Setup: Rod & Reel
Size 2500-3000 spinning reels are excellent for live bait rigging as you often let a lot of line out. Kvalevog spools 6-pound mono for most of his live bait applications. The light line again allows live bait to swim freely. A longer, lighter, tipped rod is preferred as you feel for both strikes and what your bait is doing down there. Feel is a big deal when detecting a lively minnow, spiraling crawler, a bound-up leech, or recognizing subtle bites.
