There is no sure-fire way to fill your cooler with a limit of walleyes but keep this in mind - you will find these fish either deep or shallow and nothing in between.
This rule has guided me for more than 40 years of pursuing Lake Erie walleyes and helped me bring home fish a lion's share of the time.
Most anglers are in a hurry to get to deep water. This is because they've given up on the time-honored method of drift fishing to troll with dipsy divers and planer boards. Trolling is more suited for deep water because with multiple lines out the last thing troller wants is a snag to tangle all those lines.
Don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for trolling. But ignoring opportunities that exist most days in shallow water is mystifying to this fisherman. Besides, it takes a lot of fuel to make those long runs off shore.
That is why I recommend checking out those shallow spots you know hold fish before making the off-shore commitment.
Some experienced boater/fishermen will set their trolling lines in the near shore waters but won't venture shallower than 25-30 feet. For those who don't have a lot of Lake Erie experience, shallow water usually translates into boulders, rock-strewn bottoms and sheer drop-offs. It can be a real pain if you are trolling.
However, it's this type of bottom structure that walleyes generally prefer and fishing it is best done by working lures along the bottom and up and over the rocks. Drift fishing is by far the method of choice here.
During the warmer months I try to get away from the dock a little before sunrise. This will give me ample time to get to the first fishing spot. Most days the decision on whether to fish near shore or off shore is made at the breakwall.
Several factors help in making the choice: condition of the water (clear or stained), sunny or cloudy, smooth or choppy, wind direction and finally history. Always take into consideration how the fishing's been for the past few days.
Let me break it down for you. If the water is stained the fish will see your lure better in shallow waterif the sun is shining. If it's a cloudy day and the water is dirty, less light will penetrate to slow the action. Might want to consider going deep where the water will be cleaner.
If the wind is heavy out of the northeast might as well stay close to home. The fishing always slows down with a northeaster (wind in the east, fish bite the least; wind in the west, fish bite the best), regardless of depth.
Mostly, it's those sunny or partly cloudy days, southerly 10 mph wind and clean water that will get you a cooler full of eyes. When presented with this kind of day I will go shallow first every time.
Walleyes are nocturnal, meaning they prefer to feed at night. They have excellent vision in low light conditions and will stay in shallow water until the sun moves high enough in the sky to send its rays to the lake bottom. On a bright day, the best bite is over by 10 a.m. Then it may be time to head offshore to finish the day.
Typically, I will go with a glow-type lure, with a gold blade first thing. I prefer a worm harness with orange or chartreuse beads. The Erie Dearie Lure Co. makes a nice harness called the "Weapon." For casting it's hard to beat. In shallow(15-25 feet) water there is no need for a heavy weight so a ounce or so will work nicely. The Weapon usually comes with a weight for around $3 each.
Cast the lure well away from the boat to avoid distracting the fish. Let it sink to the bottom, then start a slow retrieve. You should be able to feel the weight bounce over the rocks. You'll find that most strikes will occur when the lure rises from the bottom.
As the morning wears on the walleyes are like to move into deeper water, say 35-45 feet. This makes it a great time to troll for your fish. But the experience of catching fish by casting for them is always memorable. And sometimes it gets so good a limit is boated before noon. In this case you're not far from smallmouth action to round out the day.
As part of my strategy, I always stay in contact with other captains, some of whom may be 10-15 miles out into the lake. If they are doing better then I will join them as some will be trolling and some casting. But it means they are on fish that will still be there in the afternoon.
While nothing about fishing is a deadbolt certainty, fishing shallow often pays dividends. But it requires an early start, a knowledge of the fishing areas and some expertise to keep your hook away from the rocks. And remember, the trollers don't like those rocks, which means fewer boats to disturb the fish.