7 Best Walleye Fishing Lures of 2023 – Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

Last updated on August 18th, 2023

Leonard Friedrich

Walleye fishing is a thrilling activity, and the right lures can make all the difference. Whether you’re after shad, jerkbait or minnow-style baits for walleye fishing, we’ve got some great tips to help you find success. Learn how to choose the best walleye lures and get ready for your next adventure on the water. With our guide in hand, you’ll be sure to impress even veteran anglers with your knowledge of walleye fishing lures.

Table of Contents:

Best Walleye Lures Review
Walleye is a priced game fish to pursue on a fishing rod

An Introduction to Walleye Lures

There are many different types of walleye lures available on the market today. Some popular choices include crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, swimbaits, jerk baits, minnow-style baits and soft plastics. Each type has its own unique advantages when it comes to catching walleyes so it is important to choose the right one for your needs.

One major benefit of using walleye lures is that they can help you catch more fish than traditional bait alone would allow. Additionally, they often have built-in features such as rattles or scents that will attract more fish to your line than just plain bait would do on its own. Finally, some types of lures offer an added element of realism which can help convince wary walleys into biting your hook.

When choosing a walleye lure there are several factors you should consider including size (smaller ones tend to work better), color (bright colors tend to be more effective), action (choose one with plenty of movement) and depth rating (if you plan on fishing deeper waters). Additionally, make sure you select a lure made from quality materials that won’t break easily under pressure from larger catches.

Now that you know the basics, let’s jump right into the review of my favorite walleye lures.

Best Walleye Fishing Lures of 2023

Disclaimer: All products in this article were independently researched and reviewed by our team of experienced anglers. We use so-called affiliate links in this article offered by program such as the amazon associates program. This means that if you click on one of the links provided in this article and end up making a purchase, we might earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. We only recommend products we’ve tested and believe in.

Bandit Walleye Minnow Jerkbait

Bandit Walleye Minnow Jerkbait: On of the best walleye lures for trolling
Bandit Walleye Minnow Jerkbait

Why I picked it for this review:

The Bandit Walleye Minnow is one of the my all time walleye favorites and definitely one of the most effective walleye lures for trolling.

Specs:

  • Size: 4.5″
  • Weight: 1 ounce
  • Multiple colors
  • Three treble hooks
  • Depth: up to 12ft

Key Features:

The Bandit Walleye Minnow has several key features that make it an excellent choice for walleye fishing enthusiasts. Its unique design allows you to cast farther than other lures, allowing you to cover more water and increase your chances of success while out on the lake or riverbank. I particularly like its lifelike swimming action mimics natural baitfish movements, which attracts hungry walleyes from far away distances and entices them into striking.

Pros:

  • Easy to use – no need to be an expert fisherman; even beginners can have success with this lure!
  • Durable construction – made from high-quality materials so it won’t break easily during casts or retrievals
  • Realistic action – designed to mimic natural baitfish movements which attract hungry fish from far away distances

Cons:

  • Expensive compared to other lures on the market
  • Not suitable for shallow areas due to its diving nature

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Walleye Crankbait

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver: One of the best walleye fishing lures
Cotton Cordell Wally Diver

Why I picked it for this review:

The Cotton Cordell Wally Diver is a popular lure among walleye anglers. It’s designed to dive deep and swim with an erratic action that mimics the movements of a wounded baitfish, making it irresistible to walleyes. This crankbait has become one of my go-to lures over the years and still proves to be highly effective.

Specs:

  • Size: 2 1/2″ to 3 1/8″
  • Weight: 0.25 to 0.5 ounces
  • Multiple colors
  • Two treble hooks

Key Features: One of the key features of this crankbait is its diving lip which allows it to reach depths up to several feet depending on how fast you are retrieving it through the water column. Its unique body shape also helps create an erratic swimming motion as you retrieve it across structure or along weedlines where walleyes like to hide out during certain times of year. Additionally, the Cotton Cordell Wally Diver casts far distances due to its weight construction so you can cover more water quickly while searching for active fish throughout your day on the lake or river system. In my eyes it is one of the best walleye lures for trolling out there on the market.

Pros:

  • Covers a lot of depths
  • Good castability
  • Very realistic imitation of baitfish

Cons:

  • Doesn’t get as far down as the Bandit
  • Stability on retrieve could be improved

Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft

TRUSCEND Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft Fishing Lures
Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft

Why I picked it for this review:

In my eyes the Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft is one of the best soft plastic lures out there for walleye and bass alike. Its bouncing action can trick walleye that you didn’t entice before.

Specs:

  • Size: 3.5″
  • Weight: 0.45 ounces
  • Multiple colors
  • Very sharp hook
  • Set includes 6 color ways

Key Features:

The most striking thing about the Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft is its realistic design, which helps them look like natural prey for walleye. You have to see their lifelike swimming action when retrieved with your own eyes to believe how real it is. I like the fact that they come pre-rigged so you don’t have to spend time rigging them yourself before going out on the water. Additionally, they are lightweight yet durable enough to withstand multiple catches without needing replacement.

Pros:

  • Incredibly true to real life bait
  • Very durable rubber lasts for multiple fish
  • Different colors included in the set

Cons:

  • The eyes tend to be a weak part of this lure and sometimes come off before the rubber is finished

Qualyqualy Soft Plastic Swimbait Paddle Tail Shad

QualyQualy Soft Plastic Swimbait
Qualyqualy Soft Plastic Swimbait Paddle Tail Shad

Why I picked it for this review:

The Qualyqualy Soft Plastic Swimbait is an excellent choice for catching walleye, as it has been designed to replicate the natural movements and behavior of prey fish. One of its strength is the shimmering nature of its surface.

Specs:

  • Size: 2.75″
  • Weight: 2.5 grams
  • Multiple colors
  • Pack includes 6pcs

Key Features:

The Qualyqualy Soft Plastic Swimbait features a realistic profile with lifelike eyes, fins, and scales that are sure to attract any hungry walleye. My favorite color way is the one pictures above (#1) as it is a real life imitation of a small bait fish. But I’ve had days when more flashy colors like bright orange or green did the trick. The paddle tail design creates a unique swimming action that mimics small baitfish perfectly. This makes it irresistible to walleye!

The Qualyqualy Soft Plastic Swimbait works well with jigging techniques such as vertical jigging or trolling along structure like rocks and weeds – making it ideal for targeting finicky feeders like walleyes!

Pros:

  • Realistic profile & lifelike eyes & fins & scales
  • Durable plastic material won’t tearbreak easily

Cons:

  • Not suitable for fast-moving currents

Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lures

Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lures
Rapala Jointed Walleye Fishing Lures

Why I picked it for this review:

The Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 is one of the most effective and versatile lures for walleye fishing. But I like it so much because of its versatility. It is just as great a lure for pass or even pike and musky.

Specs:

  • Size: 2″
  • Weight: 0.04 lbs
  • Multiple colors
  • Two treble hooks
  • Depth: Suspending

Key Features:

The key feature of the Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 is its jointed design, which allows it to move naturally through the water like a real baitfish would do when swimming or fleeing from predators. This action attracts predatory fish such as walleyes by triggering their instinctive feeding response.

Additionally, the Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 can be fished at different depths depending on how fast you retrieve it – slow retrieves will keep the lure near the surface while faster retrieves will send it down into deeper waters where bigger walleyes tend to hang out during certain times of year.

Pros:

  • Great versatility in terms of dephts
  • Basically indestructible even after many fish

Cons:

  • The only downside to using this type of lure is that they may not work as well in very shallow waters since their jointed design makes them less maneuverable than other types of lures (such as spinnerbaits).

Mister Twister 4Tsf20-1 Twister Tail Grub

Mister Twister 4TSF20-1 Twister Tail Grub
Mister Twister 4Tsf20-1 Twister Tail Grub

Why I picked it for this review:

The Mister Twister 4Tsf20-1 Twister Tail Grub is a great lure when the walleye are fickle. It’s made from soft plastic, which gives it a realistic look and feel in the water.

Specs:

  • Size: 4″
  • Pack of 20
  • Color: white
  • Twister Tail

The Mister Twister 4Tsf20-1 Twister Tail Grub has a tail that moves in the water, creating an enticing action that attracts walleye. The tail also helps to create vibration in the water, further increasing its effectiveness as a lure. My favorite color for this lure is white but you can get in in other color ways including blackchartreuse, whitechartreuse and brownorange. This variety allows you to choose the color that best matches your local conditions or baitfish present in the area you are fishing.

The grub measures 4 inches long and is very lightweight making it ideal for casting with light tackle. Its small size makes it perfect for targeting smaller walleye but still big enough to attract larger fish as well.

Pros:

  • Soft plastic construction creates realistic look and feel
  • Tail creates an enticing action

Cons:

  • Needs some practice in the beginning to get the retrieve right, slower is better

Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft

TRUSCEND Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft
Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft

Why I picked it for this review:

The Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft is one of the best walleye lures due to its combination of a heavier head and the wiggle tail that gives it an incredibly movement when retrieved with a bouncing motion.

Specs:

  • Size: 3.5″
  • Multiple colors
  • Main hook on the back and treble hook at the bottom
  • Pack includes 1 piece
  • Slow sinking
  • Weight: 0.5 ounces

Key Features:

One of the key features of this jig head soft lure is its realistic body shape and coloration which makes it look like real prey to walleyes lurking beneath the surface. Its unique tail design also helps create an enticing swimming motion that will draw fish from far away to take a bite! Additionally, the Truscend Pre-Rigged Jig Head Soft comes pre-rigged with a 40 hook so there’s no need for extra rigging work before heading out onto your favorite fishing spot!

Pros:

  • Very lifelike body shape and coloration attracts more strikes from wary fish
  • Comes pre-rigged

Cons:

  • Value for money is not great. Expensive for a single lure

Shad Lures for Walleye Fishing

Now that you know about some of the best walleye fishing lures on the market, we want to give you a little more insight into the different kinds of walleye lures and the situations they can be most effective in.

Shad lures are a great way to catch walleye, and they can be used in many different ways. Rigging shad lures for walleye fishing is an important step in ensuring success on the water. The best way to rig shad lures is by using a jig head with a hook size that matches the size of the lure. This will help keep your bait near the bottom where walleyes like to feed. When rigging, make sure you attach your line directly to the eyelet of the jig head so it won’t come off during casting or retrieving.

Techniques for using shad lures to catch walleyes vary depending on what type of water you’re fishing in and what kind of presentation you want to give your bait. In shallow waters, try slow-rolling or dragging along bottom structure such as rocks or logs; this will allow your lure plenty of time to entice nearby fish into striking it. For deeper waters, use a faster retrieve while keeping contact with bottom structure; this will create more action and vibration which can attract bigger fish from further away.

The best times and places for using shad lures for walleye fishing depend largely on weather conditions and seasonal patterns, but generally speaking, early morning hours before sunrise tend to be most productive when targeting active feeding periods throughout springtime months. Spawning activity peaks around shorelines and weed beds are plentiful near drop-off points along rivers or lakesides during this time. Additionally, nighttime angling under moonlit skies often yields good results as well since visibility is increased due to natural light reflecting off surrounding surfaces which makes it easier for predators like walleyes to detect their prey from afar.

Key Takeaway: Shad lures are a great way to catch walleye and should be rigged with a jig head that matches the size of the lure. Optimal times and places for using shad lures include early morning hours before sunrise, spawning activity near shorelines or weed beds, and nighttime angling under moonlit skies.

Jerkbait Lures for Walleye Fishing

Jerkbait lures are an effective way to catch walleyes. They’re a great choice for anglers looking to target these fish in shallow water or during the spring spawning season. When rigged correctly, jerkbaits can be used to cover large areas of water quickly and efficiently. Here’s how you can rig them up and use them effectively for walleye fishing.

How to Rig Jerkbait Lures for Walleye Fishing:

The most common rigging method is with a split-ring swivel attached directly onto the lure body, followed by a leader line tied on one end of the swivel and your main line tied on the other end. This allows you to cast farther and keep your bait from tangling as it moves through the water column. You can also add additional weight if needed depending on depth or current conditions.

To effectively use jerkbait lures to catch walleyes, start by casting out your lure and allowing it time to sink down. Then, with sharp pulls of the rod tip while keeping tension on the line at all times, jerk the bait back towards you. Repeat this process until either something bites or until you feel like its time move onto another spot/area in search of more active fish.

Springtime is prime time when using jerkbaits since they mimic small prey species such as minnows which are abundant during this period due to their spawn run activities occurring around lakeshores and riversides alike. Shallow flats near weed beds and rocky points tend to be hotspots where walleyes hangout waiting to ambush unsuspecting meals, so focus efforts there first if possible. Also remember that trolling along deep drop offs will help increase chances of success too, as long as lines remain tight throughout the retrieve motion (i.e., no slack).

Jerkbait lures can be a great tool for walleye fishing, as they are versatile and effective in many different conditions. Now let’s take a look at minnow-style baits for walleye fishing to see how we can use them to target these fish.

Key Takeaway: Jerkbait lures are a great choice for walleye fishing, especially during the spring spawning season. Rigging correctly and trolling deep drop-offs can increase chances of success. Key elements: split-ring swivel, leader line, main line, sharp pulls of rod tip while keeping tension on line, shallow flats near weed beds & rocky points.

Minnow-Style Baits for Walleye Fishing

Minnow-style baits are a great way to catch walleye. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them ideal for different types of fishing conditions. Rigging minnow-style baits correctly is key to catching walleyes. Here’s how:

When rigging minnow-style baits, it’s important to use the right hook size and weight for the bait you’re using. For example, if you’re using a small jig head with a live or artificial minnow attached, use an appropriate size hook that won’t overpower the bait or make it difficult to set the hook when a fish strikes. It’s also important to choose hooks that will hold up well in water with heavy vegetation or other debris that could cause snags while fishing.

Trolling is another popular technique for catching walleye with minnow-style baits. This involves dragging the lure behind your boat at various speeds, while keeping an eye out for any signs of activity from nearby fish such as splashing or tailing near surface level which could indicate feeding behavior from larger predators like walleye below them searching for their next meal.

Key Takeaway: Rigging minnow-style baits correctly is key to catching walleye: use an appropriate hook size and weight, choose hooks that will hold up well in debris-filled water, and try trolling at different speeds for feeding behavior.

Conclusion on the Best Lures for Walleye

Walleye lures come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Whether you’re looking for shad lures, jerkbait or minnow-style baits, there’s something out there to help you catch the walleye of your dreams. With the right lure and technique, you can make sure that your next fishing trip is one to remember.

Are you an angler looking for the best walleye lures? Look no further! Our project offers a comprehensive guide to finding and using the most effective fishing tackle, lures, and techniques for catching walleyes. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced fisherman, our experts will provide tips on how to catch more fish with every cast. Take advantage of our resources today and start your journey towards becoming an expert walleye fisher!

Best Walleye Lures

FAQs in Relation to Walleye Lures

What is the best lure to use for walleye?

When it comes to walleye fishing, the best lure to use is a jig. Jigs are versatile and can be used in various water depths and conditions. They come in many different sizes, colors, and styles so you can customize your presentation for the specific situation. When using a jig for walleye, try adding a minnow or soft plastic bait on the hook to increase your chances of success. Additionally, when trolling with jigs make sure they are bouncing off bottom structure as this will help trigger strikes from walleyes that may be lurking nearby. With the right technique and lure, you can be sure to have a successful walleye fishing trip.

What color do walleyes see best?

Walleyes have excellent vision and are able to see a wide range of colors. They can distinguish between shades of yellow, green, red, orange and even ultraviolet light. Walleyes tend to be most attracted to bright colors such as chartreuse or fluorescent pink. These colors stand out in murky water and attract walleye from a distance. In addition, dark colors like black or purple also work well for walleye fishing since they provide contrast against the lighter colored bottom of lakes and rivers.

What are the best walleye lures from shore?

When it comes to walleye lures from shore, there are a few options that consistently produce good results. Jigs and minnows are the most popular choice, as they can be casted long distances and have great action in the water. Spinnerbaits also work well when targeting walleye from shore, as their spinning blades create vibrations that attract fish. Soft plastic worms and crankbaits can also be effective if you’re fishing in deeper waters or around structure like logs or rocks. Experiment with different colors and sizes of lures until you find what works best for your situation.

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