What type of bait when for eye's

[pulleye16]

I know this is generic and different for lakes but when do most of you switch from minnows to leeches? Or do you even? How about night crawlers? I tend to use shinners in the spring then switch to leeches by mid June but will use Fatheads at all times of the year. Any of you have a system or do this and why?

[mainbutter]

The only time I've caught eyes in MN was fishing worms on the bottom of rivers chasing carp, so I'd say worms probably work in spring at least.

[Esox_Magnum]

I pretty much only troll cranks for them anymore, if I had to pick 1 type of livebait it would be leeches. Every lakes different of course, crawlers would be my last choice for my home waters.

[PerchJerker]

I also use mostly cranks or plastics for walleyes, but if / when I use live bait I usually follow these guidelines....

Shiners in the spring when the shiners are spawning and the walleyes are shallow.

I don't use minnows much in summer, except maybe for deep vertical jigging. All year long I'd start with bigger minnows over smaller minnows. Light pike sucker minnows are an AWESOME walleye bait.

Leeches if I'm rigging slow, crawlers if I'm moving faster with spinner rigs ---- although sometimes I fish slower with crawlers and faster with leeches.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Massive Bullheads.

[Finlander]

Here is a generic answer!

Bring all live bait that you can afford.

Fatheads for jig fishing, shiners for bobber fishing and rigging, leeches for bobber fishing and rigging, crawlers for jig fishing, bobber fishing, and rigging, and spinner rig with trailer treble for short stikes.

I've been fishing and have seen a hot bite on a certain bait and if you don't have that live bait in the boat, you'll miss out!

[mrklean]

yeah it changes a lot i like worms and leechs best, never caught much on minnows except during ice season but im sure some guys only use minnows just depends on whats workin best

[KyleM.]

I know this is generic and different for lakes but when do most of you switch from minnows to leeches? Or do you even? How about night crawlers? I tend to use shinners in the spring then switch to leeches by mid June but will use Fatheads at all times of the year. Any of you have a system or do this and why?

If money is a big issue for you most of the time spring through fall you can get away with using nothing but nightcrawlers (harnesses for more active fish) to pick up walleyes.

That being said the biggest key is versatility, so if you can afford it bring leeches, crawlers, and a few minnows. also have a large assortment of jigs, crankbaits, rapala original floaters, xraps, to name a few in assorted colors.

There are times when they only seem to hit crankbaits and others when they will only hit live bait.

a good trick is to have a few people in the boat and each have different lure or live bait on to determine if they are favoring one over the other.

[sdpikehntr]

I like worms, they keep for a long time in the fridge, are cheaper than minnows, and they catch fish. if the eyes are slow, cut a chunk off and catch some panfish. good all around bait. Minnows through the ice though.