The proper distance for the walleye from the bottom is different, but here are some guidelines in general:

General Rule of Thumb

• • Usually, a range of 6 inches to 3 feet off the bottom is ideal

 

• • This may be affected by weather and other conditions along with the behavior of fish

 

Factors Affecting Distance

• • Water clarity

 

• • Time of day

 

• • Season

 

• • Presence of baitfish

 

• • Water temperature

 

Specific Situations

• • Still water: Fish slightly higher, up to 3-5 feet off bottom

 

• • Muddy water: Drag within 1-2 feet

 

• • At night: Walleye might be higher, at 5-10 feet off the bottom

 

• • Summer: They are out of the water column too

 

Tips for Success

• • Get help from technology to detect the location of the fish then make the appropriate adjustments to your fishing gear

 

• • Try different levels of depth until you find a place where fish are actively swimming

 

• • Catch fish where you get bites and change your settings if you have no success.

Nevertheless, it’s necessary to become more compact and flexible as fish may be picky, which in turn can be the cause of a fishing failure. Always keep an open and evolving mindset, since you should be able to change your fishing depth according to the climate and behavior of the fish.