Locating Big Walleye vs. Small/Average

[Vitreus]

Does anyone have insight into the type of structure larger walleye may relate to in relationship to the hoardes of smalleyes? Will they necessarily congregate near smaller walleyes? Or are they a separate entity altogether?

[Northlander]

Unless Im on lake superior most of my truely big walleyes, over 28", come from shallow water or suspended over deeper water in the fall.

[RiverFish]

Spring and Fall are great times for larger walleyes. Also changing your tactics. Go larger with baits.

[JohnMickish]

It has been my experience that on Minnesota inland lakes, your larger eyes will be at most in a group of three or less, not schools like smaller fish. They can be deep, suspended or shallow, on rocks or mud. The only constant that I have found is that food will be close.

In the last three weeks the people I fish with have boated about 20 over 25" (all released), mostly caught on 6" or bigger creek chubs with a few on leeches.

The best way to locate them is with your electronics, good electronics and work it until it bites or you give up. If it bites, make sure you let her go.

[Ed Carlson]

That depends greatly on the system? I would very likely have a different notion about many lakes due to there age and overall system dynamic.

Many MN lakes offer the best chance at big eyes in the summer on isolated humps or saddles in or near deep water. Either rigging or trolling over the tops of the humps with cranks.

Rivers...I shoot for late fall as true sumo walleye time. This is the best time for hungry big eyes in my book, far better than spring. Very often trolling cranks is the best way to tune them in...s-l-o-w trolling wide wobbling large minnow bait style cranks...very often at night. Dirty running rivers often it is a day time bite in the fall for cranks with jigs fished vertically a very common way to pick them off when its slow. The clearer the water, the more prone they will be to feed at night....as they can hunt better.