John Hageman has some spring walleye fishing tips to help increase your catch this season.

During May and June, veteran fishermen dig into their tackle boxes and tie or snap on one of their vintage, weight-forward spinners made popular during the last walleye population boom in the 1980s.

Erie Dearie, Big John, Gold Nugget, Parrish Pea, Tom’s Lures and Reef Runner lures were all popular, and all that some anglers knew and used…until national walleye tournament pros came to town and showed the locals how to catch fish trolling crankbaits, regardless of the seasonally cool water temperature.

However, especially for many old-timers, “trolling isn’t fishing,” and they are content to land fewer walleyes if they can “fish” for them instead of just “drag them around.”

Today, there are still enough charter captains around who feel the same way and have elected to stick with casting and drifting trips. The next generation of anglers is getting a taste of this method—and liking it!

Instead of the antique weight-forward spinners, most walleyes caught by casting are taken on a now more popular single-hook spinner rig design locally called a “Mayfly Rig” or Lake Erie “Weapon.”

Essentially, they are live bait spinner rigs made at home upon demand by do-it-yourselfers during the short “off-season,” now that walleyes are routinely caught from boats during all 12 months of some years.

I have been tying my own spinners for several years now and can attest that catching fish on one’s own creation enhances the fishing experience. It provides primeval satisfaction to fool a creature with a brain the size of a raisin into thinking pretty beads and blades are a minnow—especially when added flavor in the form of a nightcrawler is used to confuse them even more.

Spinners of all colors and configurations can also be purchased pre-assembled at bait stores. For Captain Mark Cahlik’s “Green Phantom” spinner rigs being sold at his Bays Edge Bait and Tackle Shop in Port Clinton, he has instructed his lure makers to use larger and more effective 8mm glass beads.

Leading bead colors include the chartreuse, yellow and green hues familiar to generations of fishermen who have seen walleye response to these tried-and-true shades. He also offers blades painted on both sides. But if forced to choose only one color of spinner blade, he recommends using a #4 gold Colorado-style, which in his experience works the most often.

They use a single hook on 18-inch leaders on spinners designed to be cast, and two hooks on a 36-inch leader for those to be drifted behind bottom bouncers. He uses single “Death Hooks” which are gaining a reputation of good hookup rates.

Captain Mark Cahlik offers winning tips to try during May when Lake Erie walleye fishing is what he calls “stupid easy.”

Winning Tip #1

Use lighter bottom bouncers on the windy side of the boat to avoid interfering with the lines under the boat from the other side, pulling heavier bottom bouncers. Use bottom bouncers ranging from 1 to 4 ounces, depending on wind speed and wave conditions.

Winning Tip #2

Use whole nightcrawlers in the early season when casting or drifting spinners, when walleyes are looking to rebuild their strength after spawning. Later, switch to pieces of worm to “match the hatch” when mayflies begin emerging in early June, and later in summer when feeding attention is directed toward this smaller prey.

Make sure you do not miss this fantastic experience while it lasts, which based upon mortality and longevity rates, should be for at least 5 to 10 years—and longer if the excellent hatches continue to be produced during most springs.

Winning Tip #3

Use whole nightcrawlers in the early season when casting or drifting spinners, when walleyes are looking to rebuild their strength after spawning. Later, switch to pieces of worm to “match the hatch” when mayflies begin emerging in early June, and later in summer when feeding attention is directed toward this smaller prey.

For more walleye fishing insight, whatever the season, check out every issue of MidWest Outdoors. Subscribe on our website.