Boat-control systems for walleyes have come a long way since the early days of backtrolling (the late 1960s). Bigger boats and outboard engines, high-power electric motors, crankbait trolling systems, and the quest for suspended fish have revolutionized walleye fishing presentations. Bass-fishing boat maneuvers pale in comparison to walleye trolling systems.
The key word is trolling. While you can position the boat and cast for both species, most walleye presentation systems involve a two-step approach: You position the boat, and the boat positions the lures. Precision boat control places multiple lines and lures at various depths. Done properly, they saturate the fish zone with fish-triggering offerings.
Primary boat control systems used in walleye fishing today each have their strengths and weaknesses. For consistent walleye success, select the one that best matches conditions.
Backtrolling Versus Forward Trolling
Backtrolling excels for precise vertical presentations where lures or baits must be placed accurately. Water pressure against the flat transom of the boat slows trolling speed, and slight left-right turns of the motor precisely position the boat. A vertical presentation directly beneath the boat follows every twist and turn along a drop-off or weedline edge. Anytime fish are oriented along a distinct edge or depth change, backtrolling is a prime presentation.
Forward trolling with an outboard motor is inherently less precise than backtrolling. Forward speed is harder to diminish since the bow slices through the water without much drag. Slight left-right turns of the outboard cause the boat to veer farther left and right, making it harder to follow a vertical edge precisely.
But forward trolling covers more water faster, expanding coverage without necessarily sacrificing depth control. It’s ideal for fish spread across flats, holding on gradual slopes, or suspended within a general depth range. The object is to cover a swath of water, not strain a small zone. Scrape bottom bouncers across the bottom, or troll diving lures or weighted lines for fish suspended at any depth.
Transom electric motors (12- or 24-volt) work best for backtrolling small to medium-size boats (14 to 17 feet) in light winds. Tiller outboard motors in the 35 to 100hp range perform better in high winds but are more difficult to troll slowly in calmer water.
Larger walleye boats (17 to 20 feet) generally are rigged with outboard engines from 75 to 225hp and have console steering. A big engine gets you there and back in a hurry but is difficult to troll effectively at slow speeds. A 7.5 to 15hp outboard kicker motor often is placed on one side of the transom for slow forward trolling. You can backtroll with a console walleye boat, but most of them aren’t rigged with splashguards, so they take considerable water over the transom when backtrolled in heavy waves.
Powerful 24- or 36-volt bowmount electrics provide the best precision boat control for larger walleye boats. They enable you to hover, control drift, or troll slowly with or against the wind. They provide more speed and power than transom electrics and usually are better suited for spinner presentations. Walleye tournament anglers often select foot-control bowmounts to keep both hands free for fishing.
Go slow and use vertical presentations for fishing precise edges; move faster with horizontal presentations for covering flats, gradual slopes, or for suspended fish.
