Big water trolling is often the most productive ways to catch Walleyes, which are one of those fish that often roam over vast flats and lake basins—searching for forage.
Big water trolling patterns occurs from late spring throughout summer in many lakes across the north country. Fish can be found relating to the bottom and suspended somewhere in between — depending on the forage location.
When walleyes spread out, classic walleye techniques like rigging and jigging tactics are not the top option. Trolling is unquestionably the best tactic that enables you to duplicate a specific depth level and simultaneously comb lots of water. In these conditions, spinner rigs and crankbaits shine to put large walleye in the boat.
Let’s Join Angling Edge’s Jeff Simpson and Ty Sjodin with a primer on big water walleye trolling.
Chasing Roaming Walleyes Across Vast Flats
Angling is a game of efficiency, especially when targeting fish like walleye that are notorious for roaming vast open-water flats and deep lake basins in search of forage. This nomadic pattern emerges in many lakes across the North Country beginning in late spring and intensifies through the summer. During this time, walleyes may be either bottom-oriented or suspended, depending on the location and type of baitfish they’re targeting. In these situations, traditional jigging or rigging tactics often fall short. Instead, trolling becomes the undisputed king of techniques—allowing anglers to replicate precise depth levels while efficiently covering large expanses of water.
Trolling for Giants: Tools of the Trade
Spinner rigs and crankbaits are the go-to presentations when trolling for big water walleyes. These lures shine when fish are scattered, making them perfect for enticing strikes from suspended or bottom-hugging giants. In this case, Angling Edge’s Ty Sjodin and Jeff Simpson take to the legendary Lake of the Woods—a walleye haven known worldwide for its trophy-class fish. Their weapon of choice? Number 14 Deep Down Husky Jerks, towed behind planer boards and line counters to reach depths of 25 to 30 feet over expansive mudflats and reef edges.
First Strikes and Fine Tuning
Early action proves the effectiveness of their setup. Using Daiwa line counter reels, they precisely monitor how much line is out—typically 200 feet or more—and clip on their planer boards with an additional 25 feet of leader. This setup spreads their presentations away from the boat, reducing spooked fish and covering more ground. When Ty connects with the first big walleye of the trip, the evidence is clear: crankbaits in the right zone trigger big bites. A UV Green Fire Tiger pattern proves to be a hot color, highlighting the importance of lure selection when dialing in an open-water program.
Years of Experience and Digital Innovation
The camaraderie between Ty and Jeff goes back over two decades to their early careers at In-Fisherman, a legacy media brand that helped pioneer modern angling education. Jeff, a digital media expert, stayed on and helped evolve the brand’s digital presence, while Ty pursued work with another outdoor television producer before rejoining forces with Jeff at Lindner Media. Now, they blend their professional media expertise with a shared passion for fishing—both on and off the clock.
The System: Dialing in the Spread
Efficiency is the name of the game when open-water trolling. With three licensed anglers in the boat, they can run three lines simultaneously. This setup includes two planer boards running baits 200–250 feet behind the boat and a long-lined crankbait trailing directly behind. Once a productive depth and lure combination is identified—such as fish consistently showing up at 27 to 28 feet—they replicate the formula with precision, often triggering repeat success.
Line counter reels are critical here. With exact measurements of line length and bait dive curves, they can confidently run lures at consistent depths. Each boarded fish adds a new data point, helping them further refine their presentation.
Boat Control: The Key to Trolling Success
The duo uses a 9.9hp kicker motor to maintain forward propulsion and control trolling speed. Steering is handled by a bow-mounted trolling motor equipped with a remote, enabling subtle left or right adjustments from anywhere in the boat. This two-motor system offers excellent versatility, allowing them to maintain a perfect line without having to stand at the stern.
Locking mechanisms on the kicker keep it running true, while the remote-controlled bow mount acts as a precision rudder. It’s an elegant system that maximizes efficiency and comfort—making open-water trolling not just effective, but enjoyable.
Gear, Waves, and Walleyes: Dialing in the Final Pieces
As any seasoned angler knows, trolling across a massive body of water like Lake of the Woods means preparing for conditions that are anything but flat and calm. Wind and waves are inevitable, and even modest forecasts can turn into choppy rides. That’s why comfort and safety gear—like Smooth Moves adjustable boat seat suspensions—are more than just luxuries. They’re essential.
Smooth Moves seats absorb impact from rough water, protecting your back over long trolling runs. But it’s important to adjust them correctly based on body weight. For instance, Ty sets his to level 3, while Jeff, being a bit heavier, uses a different setting. As Ty wisely puts it, these seats are back-savers—but smart boat handling is still necessary on big, unpredictable water.
More Marks, More Fish
Just as they discuss the comfort of their ride, another strike hits. After cruising over a promising school, Jeff hooks into a strong fish. With Mega Imaging Plus from Humminbird, they have a crystal-clear view of what’s beneath and to either side of the boat—up to 200 feet in each direction. This high-frequency sonar not only pinpoints fish but helps differentiate species, making it a game-changing tool for open water fishing.
Equipment That Makes a Difference
High-tech electronics and sonar are just part of the equation. Having the right rod setup is equally important. Ty uses the 8’6” St. Croix Icon trolling rod, medium power with a moderate action. This setup—paired with 10 lb. Suffix Pro-Braid and a fluorocarbon leader—provides the ideal balance between strength and forgiveness, reducing the risk of tearing treble hooks out of a big walleye’s mouth.
As the day progresses, the duo focuses more and more on refining their system, with color becoming a critical piece of the puzzle.
The Color Factor: UV for the Win
One of the biggest keys to consistent success on this trip was color selection. While they began with a mix of lure colors, Ty soon noticed that UV patterns were consistently drawing strikes. The water had a noticeable stain—likely due to late-summer algae bloom—which made brighter, UV-reflective baits stand out more effectively.
Jeff and Ty leaned heavily on the Rapala Deep Down Husky Jerk #14, which not only runs deep but comes in a wide array of productive colors. New UV colors released last year proved especially deadly on big walleyes in the stained waters of Lake of the Woods.
Boards, Bouncers, and Going Deep
Planer boards were instrumental in spreading lines and increasing coverage. Some lines were rigged with just deep-diving crankbaits, while others incorporated bottom bouncers to get the baits closer to the 32-foot depths where many of the walleyes were holding. This multi-depth, multi-angle spread allowed them to fine-tune their presentation and stay in the strike zone throughout the day.
When a board surged back and a reel began screaming, it was clear that another trophy walleye was on. Fish like these—big, golden, powerful—are what anglers dream about when planning a trip to Lake of the Woods.
Capitalizing on the Late-Summer Pattern
Late summer is a prime window for open-water trolling. Walleyes tend to migrate off shoreline structure and roam the deeper basin areas. Once the location, depth, bait profile, and color are dialed in, the results can be outstanding. Ty and Jeff capitalized on this pattern to boat multiple quality walleyes, using a system honed by years of experience and refined by today’s best gear.
Final Thoughts: Proven Tactics for Big-Water Success
Open-water trolling on big lakes like Lake of the Woods isn’t just a method—it’s a system. It’s about preparation, precision, and teamwork. From line counter reels and planar boards to sonar technology and trolling motor control, every piece of gear plays a role. And when it all comes together—when the board dips, the rod loads up, and another big walleye breaks the surface—it proves once again that this is one of the most effective and rewarding techniques in freshwater fishing.
Big walleyes, refined gear, and good company. It doesn’t get much better than this.
