Steep breaks are favorite spots for fall walleyes and pike where schools of baitfish like perch huddle up. Active gamefish travel along the breakline looking for those schools, scarfing them down, or spooking them up shallow near the break where they slurp them up.

  I approach these fish with a one-two punch: deadsticking and casting jig-n-plastics. 

Basically, deadsticking is baiting up and setting your rod in the holder and waiting for a bite. When a fish bites, I open the bail, take the rod out of the holder, close the bait, reel down until I feel the fish and then slam the hook home.

  These deep-water fish tend to be finicky. You need a precise presentation—not just let down the jig and put the rod in a holder. Sometimes, fish hug the bottom; other times, they might suspend up a foot or more. 

The lightest jig is usually the best choice. I use 1/8-, 3/16- or 1/4-ounce unless it’s windy, I’m fishing deeper than 35 feet, or the bait is so large that it won’t drop to bottom. BFishN Tackle makes a great jig that gets the job done: Their H20 jigs come in a variety of colors, nine different weights and have ultra-sharp hooks.

  If the water is still above 60 degrees, I might try a half-crawler, but I usually use extra-large fatheads, small suckers or blacktail chubs. Bigger is better; I have caught some great walleyes and monster pike on 10- to 12-inch-long chubs.

  While the deadstick rod sits in the holder, I make casts up shallower with a jig-and-plastic combo featuring a BFishN AuthentX Pulse-R, Moxi or Ringworm. A 1/4-ounce jig is usually the right weight, but you might have to go heavier in windy conditions or if fish prefer a faster moving bait. You never know unless you keep switching things up and fish get caught.

I use St. Croix Eyecon Walleye rods. Their Snapjig rod is great for casting jig-and-plastic combos or sitting in a rod holder with a big chub. Add a 2500 series Seviin spinning reel spooled with 10-pound, Hi-Vis green Power Pro line and a fluorocarbon leader to handle fall trophy fish.

  Experiment with color, jig weight and plastic style. I like a Moxi best in fall since it has the largest tail and has great action; it’s a big-walleye bait! The Pulse-R is the most popular of the three with millions of walleyes caught on it. The Ringworm is definitely a walleye “numbers” style of plastic; if you can’t catch a walleye on a Ringworm, they just aren’t biting!

  If fish don’t seem to be biting on steep drop-offs, then it’s time to try shallow. Walleyes like rock piles. And shallow, rocky shores can be walleye magnets, although many anglers seem to forget about these spots in fall. On lakes that experience a turnover or deal with oxygen depletion, shallow, rocky areas are go-to spots, particularly when wind-blown.

  B-Fish-N Tackle’s Moxi collection includes both 4-inch and 3-inch baits. Moxis have a much bigger body than standard ringworms as well as a larger thumper tail. Use the 4-inch when fish are really aggressive and the 3-inch when they are not.

  You want to use a jighead that holds the Moxi tight to the head and doesn’t hang up in the rocks and junk on the bottom. B-Fish-N H20 jigs fit the bill nicely. Their wire “keeper” is molded into the jighead and holds the plastic fast to the head. Add a touch of Super Glue to guarantee security. I have caught three walleyes, bang, bang, bang, without even adjusting the bait!

  H20 jigs come in a variety of sizes and have a unique head design that hangs up less than standard round “ball” jig heads. Jig weight makes all the difference in the action of the Moxi; just enough is all you need. H20 jigs come in nine different weights between 1/16- and 5/8-ounce. Plus, the weight of each jig is stamped right on the head, for easy selection.

  In lakes, walleyes and pike will hold up on gravel shorelines, gravel bars, and reefs. Pitch the Moxi up shallow and pump the rod on the retrieve, trying to keep it just off bottom. I have caught some great walleyes and bonus pike in these often-overlooked areas.

Walt Matan has been a writer and television host for MidWest Outdoors for 30 years. An avid ice and open-water fisherman, he currently lives in the Quad Cities on the shores of the Mississippi River. He is the chief lure designer for Custom Jigs & Spins and B Fish N Tackle. Follow Walt on Facebook by searching Walleye College.