Bonjour fellow angler, if you’re looking for the best walleye lures, you’re in the right place!
Walleye can be tricky at times. This predatory fish is known to be one of the pickiest about its food, which is why only the most attractive lures will get the job done.
The Acme Hyper-Rattle is my favourite lure. I’ve found that it works better than any other lure and even live bait for walleye.
If that didn’t float your boat, don’t worry, you’re spoiled for choice. Let’s begin!
Our Top 8 Picks
- Acme Hyper-Rattle (Best Overall Walleye Lure)
- Berkley PowerBait Ripple Shad (Best Versatility)
- Rapala Jigging Rap (Best For Jigging)
- Rapala Rippin Rap (Best For Ice Fishing)
- Rapala Super Shad Rap (Best Walleye Crankbait)
- Rapala Husky Jerk (Best Walleye Jerkbait)
- Reef Runner (Best Walleye Lure For Deep Waters)
- Berkley Gulp! Minnow (Best Soft Plastic Walleye Lure)
The 8 Best Walleye Lures
It doesn’t matter how fussy walleyes are. These lures will get even the most finicky walleyes to bite.
Best Overall
1. Acme Hyper-Rattle
First up is the Acme Hyper-Rattle. We chose this as the best of the best because of its efficiency. I can’t even describe how realistic it is. But as you can see from the picture, it’s incredibly realistic. With the combo of sight and sound that it produces, you’ll have a walleye at the end of your line faster than any other lure and even live bait. On top of these, it’s virtually indestructible.
Best Versatility
2. Berkley PowerBait Ripple Shad
This next lure is an all year rounder. No matter what season it is, this lure won’t fail you. The segmented body gives you more vibration and action. Not only that, the PowerBait scent is irresistible to fish. Finally, the lure is impressively lifelike. With such a lethal combination of these 3, you’ll have a deadly lure to catch walleye that’ll work in any season.
Best For Jigging
3. Rapala Jigging Rap
When it comes to jigging for walleyes, this lure is unbeatable. As you can see, it’s made to mimic minnows very realistically. When you jig it, its special structure creates a tempting circular motion. The bright colours also do wonders to attract walleyes.
Best For Ice Fishing
4. Rapala Rippin Rap
Light conditions are much dimmer than usual in the ice. To counter these, you need a lure especially good at reflecting light and creating flash. One look and you’ll notice that this lure is super shiny. Aside from that, like all Rapala lures, the action it creates is very appealing to fish. Together, those make this the best walleye lure for ice fishing.
Best Crankbait
5. Rapala Super Shad Rap
Another remarkably realistic lure, the Rapala Super Shad Rap is the best among walleye crankbaits. As a Rapala lure, it goes without saying that it has the classic Rapala action. But that’s not all. Its tough Balsa wood construction and heavy-duty hooks enable it to last for years. All in all, it’s able to perfectly imitate swimming baitfish and withstand strong bites.
Best Jerkbait
6. Rapala Husky Jerk
When you need a jerkbait for walleyes, the Rapala Husky Jerk is the lure you should go for. With its rattle chamber, it produces sound to attract walleyes that can be heard even from far away. The best part is that no matter how fast your boat travels it’ll still have a good presentation. Since many walleye anglers use jerkbaits for trolling in walleye fishing, this is a particularly useful feature for walleye anglers. And of course, it’s a Rapala lure and has Rapala action.
Best For Deep Waters
7. Reef Runner
Next up is a lure that will slice right through water to reach the floor in no time – the Reef Runner. Designed to cut through water with ease, this lure’s streamlined body allows it to sink much faster than other lures, making it ideal for deep diving.
Best Soft Plastic Lure
8. Berkley Gulp! Minnow
Last but not least, this lure is the best soft plastic lure a walleye angler can have for walleyes. Minnows are walleye magnets. A walleye will never pass up a minnow whether it’s a hungry walleye or not, which is why your lure needs to look and smell like a minnow. The Berkley Gulp! Minnow is 400 times better than other soft plastics at releasing scent. Coupled with its unbelievably lifelike structure, this lure outperforms even live minnows. Needless to say, among soft plastic lures, this is the best walleye lure.
What To Consider When Buying A Walleye Lure
Walleyes are freshwater fish. This means they can be found in rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and even ponds. Each of these are unique and have different currents, depths, and temperatures. This gives rise to the need for a variety of lures that will be effective in each of these waters.
Needless to say, you’ll want lures that are attractive. But once you’ve got that down, the next most important thing is to have different sizes. As mentioned earlier, you can find walleyes in waters of different depths. This means sometimes, you’ll be fishing near the surface while other times you’ll be fishing at the bottom. If your entire tackle box consists of only heavy lures, you’ll be going home empty-handed when walleyes are at the surface.
Ultimately, we all love having an assortment of beautiful colourful lures. However, it’s more important to have the right sizes.
FAQs
The more you know, the more walleyes you’ll catch. Here are some frequently asked questions about walleye fishing.
Where are the best places to fish for walleyes?
Once you’ve found a good freshwater spot where walleyes are plentiful, you’ll need to know exactly which part of the water to fish in. Similar to most fishes, walleyes like to stay near structures. This refers to rocks, weed beds, and ledges. This list isn’t exhaustive, so if you see somewhere that looks like good cover for walleyes, don’t hesitate to try your luck there.
Does colour really matter when choosing my lures?
You may have found that plain lures and brighter-coloured lures don’t make much of a difference. However, this is likely because the plain lure looks like some kind of baitfish. It isn’t because the brighter-coloured lure isn’t attractive. Brighter colours that can catch walleyes’ attentions will definitely give you a better chance at snagging walleyes.
What are the best tackle to use for walleye?
We’ve actually compiled this list of the best walleye rods. Unfortunately, we haven’t got around to making one for walleye reels. But fret not. This buying guide will teach you how to find a good reel. Even though it’s a buying guide for reels for bass anglers, it covers everything you need to consider when buying reels.
My Verdict
As walleyes have a reputation for being finicky, you’ll need to choose your lures wisely.
My number one recommendation is the Acme Hyper-Rattle. I can’t guarantee that you’ll catch walleyes with it because it comes down to your skill too. But I dare say walleye anglers will have the best odds with this lure.
