When lure manufacturers developed suspending minnowbaits, we pigeonholed them as smallmouth lures. Well, surprise, surprise--slashbaits catch walleyes. Ever since the appearance of Rapala Husky Jerks and Smithwick Suspending Rogues--two of the first minnowbaits designed to suspend on the pause--we've caught amazing numbers of shallow walleyes.
The classic retrieve with a suspending minnow is the sweep-pause, which requires a longer rod. A 6 1/2-foot spinning rod is fine, but a 7- or 7 1/2-foot medium-power rod with a moderate action is optimum for longer sweeps, better lure control, and better hooksets. Combine the longer rod with a slightly oversized spinning reel for added casting distance. Reels with the spool capacity of the Daiwa 1600 Tournament SS are about right.
The trick is to draw the lure down quickly. Cast, draw the line tight, reel two or three cranks, and sweep the rod tip down and off to the side. Let the lure sit while reeling up the slack and returning the rod tip to the starting position--straight out in front with the tip pointing down. Experiment with the length of the pause. Sometimes it's a few seconds, and other times it takes 30 seconds or longer before reluctant biters close on the lure. But the basic retrieve is a simple sweep, pause, sweep.
The advantages of suspending baits are magnified by long casts and low-stretch lines. Using a superbraid main line adds casting distance, triggering power, hooksetting power, and a little depth, but the system isn't complete without a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. Attach the leader to the braid by first tying a spider hitch in the braid, creating a three-foot section of doubled line. Tie the doubled braid to the leader with back-to-back uni knots (see knots on the Reference Desk section of this site). Braids testing 14 to 20 pounds are thinner than 10-pound mono, and they cast farther, but a fluorocarbon leader is less visible than braid. It also acts as a shock-absorber, providing a modicum of stretch for dealing with behemoth 'eyes, rogue smallmouths, and pike.
With braids, the lure moves almost the same distance as the rod tip with each twitch, snap, or pull. Pause a suspending minnowbait, feed it a little slack, snap the rod tip forward, and the lure turns sideways. Modify the force of the snap, and it ultimately becomes possible to dance a Husky Jerk in place six feet under the surface. Try that with mono, and at the end of a long cast, the lure barely moves, due to line stretch.
Suspending minnowbaits are hot for spring walleyes.
Walleyes don't concentrate at the same depths in all bodies of water in spring. In the Great Lakes and in clear southern reservoirs, finding walleyes 12 to 15 feet down is common. Suspending deep divers, such as the Rogers Deep Slim Jim, or Smithwick Suspending Rattlin' Rogue can cover these depths on the cast. But keep in mind that walleyes will rise way up for suspending baits in clear water. In clear water, concentrate on shallow windy banks first, where the wind is blowing onto points or weedbeds on the main body of the lake. On calmer days, walleyes sometimes rise 10 feet for a shallow-diving suspending bait. When they refuse, try the deep divers. Get them down to running depths and use the same pause-sweep-pause that works with shallow divers.
Suspending baits are dynamite in spring and summer when the wind blows. In spring, wind blowing into a shallow flat is key. In summer, wind across reefs, points, and other main-lake structure is prime. The perfect day is windy. Put the wind at your back and launch these suspending baits way far. Distance casting maintains maximum depth for the longest possible time. Walleyes follow these baits long distances, so long casts not only cover more area, but also create more time to trigger following fish. Always wear polarized glasses, and keep an eye on the water immediately behind the lure as it approaches the boat.
What could be more effective for shallow water? Jigs hang up in rocks, costing too much time on rocky lakes and reservoirs. Retrieves are slower; casts are shorter. With suspending baits, just identify the pattern and run from one spot to the next, weeding through the aggressive biters all day long.
