The 4 C's to being a successful Walleye Angler
by Derek Johnston & Scott Steil

Over the years I have learned that having a plan of attack has really helped me up my odds when I hit the water. Whether I am exploring a new lake prior to a tournament or just trying to stay on a hot bite, I like to have a mental plan. I have broken down my plan into what I call "the 4 C's". Here are the 4 C's that I believe can make your day on the water more successful.

Concentrate- Any type of angling requires some type of mental concentration. Successful walleye angling can be very demanding. It is extremely important to pay attention to detail, as often it is the small details that yield big results. When you hook a fish are you immediately checking the depth, marking a waypoint or throwing a buoy? What type of bottom do you have? What do you see that is different from the areas that aren't holding fish? Look at your surroundings and draw a mental picture in your mind of the bottom. Study the map of the lake you're fishing. It is all these small details that may help you unlock the mystery of the bite.

After boating a fish you want to use the information you gathered above to produce other spots similar to that where you just got bit. Try to think like a fish. What is it about this spot that is holding fish? You will begin to follow contour lines, work edges of flats, points and weed lines better when you visualize what is underneath you as you read your finder. Your mind will start to put the boat where you want it. This plays a huge factor in boat control, which will be discussed later.

Many times we see fish spitting up baitfish such as small perch, shiner minnows or crayfish. You can even find these specimens in their stomachs when cleaning the fish, which can be valuable information if you are fishing the same lake for several days. Sometimes you may see cuts and wounds on the top of a Walleye's head, this is an indication he has been feeding and pulling Crawfish from rock beds. It's these little things, if we remember, that can make a huge difference. Keeping a log of your days on the water can also help you. I keep a journal of each day I fish. I use this data to help me find patterns in fish activity and movement. Walleye are constantly on the move in search of the next meal. If you can narrow their movement, your chances of contacting fish are much better.

There are many times when we can get distracted when angling. Jet skis, water skiers and cell phones to name a few. We can also lose interest on the water when the bite can be slow. When the action isn't hot, this is a great time to experiment with your finder to get the best out of it. Try to keep yourself focused. Keep your line in the water at all times. I see so many people trolling crank baits and spinners and when they come to the end of their run, they reel up the lines, turn the boat around and then start the run again. Often times while trolling crank baits in fall you will only get hits while the boat is turning. Many of my clients believe this is because we are turning the boat over a hot spot. Actually I am paying attention to which lines are being hit during a turn, are the they the inside lines which are moving slower or the outside lines that are moving faster in the turn? If I notice a pattern I may adjust my trolling speed accordingly. Again concentrating on the small things can yield big results.

Control- This is a major factor in being a consistent successful Walleye angler. What I mean by control, I'm talking boat control. Boat control is simply keeping your boat on top of fish whether it be trolling, drifting or even bobber fishing. Your line goes where the boat goes. Keeping your presentation in the strike zone is the success of becoming an advanced Walleye angler. Other species of fish allow you to fish from your boat.

Walleye angling, especially trolling and drifting, force you to fish with the boat. Mastering the art of boat control will quickly increase your angling consistency. Learning boat control takes many hours and days on the water to grasp. Having the proper equipment is also key.

Today's trolling motors are bigger and more powerful than ever. Small gas kicker outboards can give you the power you need as well. I have always said, "Get the biggest trolling motor you can afford". If you don't have the power, you can't turn it up. Your trolling motor or kicker or a combination of both will give you the best boat control available.

Being able to maneuver in the elements with the proper motor is the biggest factor when learning boat control. Other factors include the boat design and weight. Getting the basics of boat control down is a must for any walleye angler.

Conditions-Successful walleye anglers have to learn to not only fish in changing conditions but also take charge of them. Don't let the weather dictate whether you fish or not-let it dictate how you fish.

Under changing conditions you may have to switch presentations and methods but you shouldn't have to quit fishing. Often times sudden changes in weather can lead to changes in fish patterns-you must adjust accordingly.

If a change in wind direction has made it tough to drift a piece of structure, maybe it is time to troll. If the wind really kicked up and fishing the main lake is not an option anymore, look to shallow rocks. If you are getting them on shallow rocks and the wind quits or switches direction, it may be time for deeper water.

Tough conditions require better boat control. Too many anglers let the boat take control of them. This is what frustrates people and they give up too quickly which leads to drifting and trolling over meaningless structure. There are times when boat control can seem almost impossible in very strong winds and changing wind directions, but generally these are the times that you need to look to other areas or get off the lake for safety. Making good decisions based on the conditions will make you a better walleye angler.

Confidence- You may have heard this key word many times. To me, it's the most important factor in successful Walleye angling but can also apply to all types of fishing. Not having confidence in yourself, electronics, equipment or presentations will make or break an angler.

I have many "go to baits" from many years of trial and error. I can usually catch fish with what I think will work for that particular day. By having 100% confidence in my electronics, I will know after a short period of time if I need to switch to something else. I have changed fish finders many times because I was not fully convinced that they were marking true fish targets or showing me bottom transition. Once I gain confidence in my electronics, I can start experimenting with presentation.

Much of my Walleye angling consists of trolling spinners or crank baits. If at any time I start to second-guess my presentation, it's time to change it up. It may be changing weight size on my three-way rig; it may be changing blade size or color. It might be going from a superline to a mono. It might be going from lipped crank bait to lipless crank bait.

Whatever it may be, if I don't have full confidence in my presentation I may as well get off the lake. Getting the confidence you need comes from years of trial and error. When you start catching fish consistently, your confidence will grow more and more.

This is just a small sample of becoming a better angler and taking your fishing to the next level. You can use the 4C's on any lake you wish to fish. What's nice about fishing is you can change your style and eliminate bad habits at any time.

You need to put what you have learned into play day in and day out. We have a tendency to forget the little things that can make you a better angler. Successful Walleye anglers are always thinking. They want to be one step ahead of the fish. When you have found out why the fish are where they are, beyond just baitfish presence, you will have taken your angling to the next level.

The old saying "practice makes perfect" certainly applies to fishing. I've always said fishing is 90% trial and error and 10% luck. Learn from your mistakes and remember your successes.

Good Luck
See ya at the access
Derek Johnston & Scott Steil
Mille Lacs Guide Service
http://millelacsguideservice.com

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