Pro bass angler and multi-species guide, Adam Rasmussen, heads out on sprawling Green Bay to target scatted spring walleyes using moving baits. Top spring walleye baits such as jerkbaits and paddle tail swimbaits allow you to cover water fast and trigger aggressive reaction bites.
Tackle Used
- JERKBAIT – Rapala PXR Mavrik 110: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- SWIMBAIT – Rapala Crush City Mayor Swimbait, 3-inch: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at FishUSA | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – 13 Fishing Envy Black III Spinning Rod, 7’3” Medium – Fast: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- REEL – 13 Fishing Axum Competition Spinning Reel, 3.0: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE (braided mainline) – Sufix 131 G-Core Braided Line, 10-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at FishUSA | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE (fluorocarbon leader) – Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- HAT – Humminbird Limited Edition Richardson Rubber Patch Hat: Check out apparel at Humminbird
- HOODY – CrushCity Athletic Hooded Sweatshirt White Logo: Check out at Rapala
Fishing Post-spawn Walleye In Cold Water
Following the spawn, walleyes often hang around warmer, shallow waters to recuperate and feed. Rasmussen targets 6- to 8 feet of water, where the fish are most active. Despite the cold temperatures, these fish still respond aggressively to reaction baits like jerkbaits, blade baits, and paddletails. Rasmussen explains how aggressive presentations used in conjunction with fish finder tech such as mapping, side/360 Imaging, and forward-facing sonar help anglers contact fish quickly and efficiently.
Figuring Out Green Bay
Green Bay is vast—miles of shoreline, shallow flats, and regularly impacted by strong winds and big waves. It might all look the same, but there’s a lot of dead water with pockets of fish relating to prime structure and cover. Rasmussen’s strategy to find Green Bay walleyes focuses on using his electronics to home in on good-looking areas, and then targeting fish with a power fishing baits.
Boat Setup
- FISH FINDER – Humminbird APEX 13 MEGA SI+ CHARTPLOTTER: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- MAPPING – Humminbird LakeMaster Premium VX Digital Map Chart Card, Great Lakes v1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Humminbird
- 360 SONAR – Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- FORWARD-FACING SONAR (FFS) – Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR – Minn Kota Talon 10′ Bluetooth Anchor: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- BOAT – Vexus VXs20: Check out at Vexus
- MOTOR – Mercury Pro XS 250 hp: Check out at Mercury
