In this action-packed video, Doug Wegner, accompanied by his wife Jessie Baker and friend Luke Lovrek, ventures onto Green Bay to target post-spawn walleye in shallow water. While Sturgeon Bay smallmouth bass get a lot of the attention on the east side of the bay, Wegner shows that quality multi-species fishing is yours for the taking if you know where to look. He discusses how to find key spots to target walleye and smallmouth bass using a handful of tried and true minnow-imitating plugs, including the ever-popular Rapala Husky Jerk.
Featured Tackle
- STICKBAIT – Rapala Husky Jerk 14, color – Voodoo Haze: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- ROD – Thorne Bros Predator Custom Bass & Walleye Rods, 7’10” MHF: Buy at Thorne Bros
- REEL – Daiwa Tatula MQ LT Spinning Reel (4000D-CXH): Check out at Daiwa | Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- LINE (braided mainline) – Sufix 131 G-Core Braided Line, 10-pound: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon Leader, 15-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
Locating Post-Spawn Walleyes
As the final video in our Green Bay Spring Walleye Fishing Masterclass series, Wegner focuses on steep rock-covered break lines adjacent to spawning bays. These areas are easily identifiable with mapping — side imaging and 360 sonar further refine his search by revealing big boulders and rock-to-sand transitions adjacent to the drop-off.
Effective Casting Techniques
Wegner employs a controlled drift, adjusting his trolling motor to keep the boat off the break. With his boat perpendicular to the shore, he and his clients pepper the flats at different depth zones. Casting semi-parallel to the shoreline keeps the bait in the strike zone longer than perpendicular casts — your bait remains in productive water throughout the retrieve, a plus when targeting walleyes, which commonly trail baits long before committing.
Preferred Lures and Modifications
Minnow plugs typically fall outside the list of top spring walleye baits on Green Bay, but it’s a mistake to overlook them when the fish are positioned along wind-blown shorelines. Wegner relies on casting plugs like the Rapala Husky Jerk in various colors. He modifies his baits with SuspenStrips to achieve neutral buoyancy, keeping them in the strike zone longer. Color selection is crucial; experimenting with different colors and patterns helps dial in fish preference on any given day.
Doug’s Boat Setup
- MAPPING – Humminbird LakeMaster Premium VX Digital Map Chart Card: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- BOAT – Lund 219 Pro-V GL: Check out at Lund Boats
- MOTOR – Mercury Verado 400hp 5.7L V10: Check out at Mercury Marine
- TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ulterra (Item # 1358503): Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- CONSOLE GRAPH – Humminbird SOLIX 15, replaced with Humminbird APEX 16 CHIRP MEGA SI+: Buy at Humminbird
