The 3 Best Baits For Northern Ontario Walleye

Use these baits to help you catch Ontario's favourite fish species no matter the depth and time of year with open water.
angler fishing ontario walleye

So, you booked your angling vacation to a Northern Ontario fishing lodge and they have an abundance of walleye.

What baits should you consider essential? 

The following walleye bait recommendations will help you catch those golden bars at any depth and at any time of year there's open water.

anglers fishing ontario walleye

Northern Ontario walleye are not hard to catch, they really are easy especially when you have the guidance and experience of a lodge guide showing you the ropes and putting you on the walleye and offering you some intel on how to find them on your own the rest of your trip if that is your choice. Lodge guides are priceless and help you save a ton of time locating walleye. This is your vacation, right?

Treat yourself to the experience and knowledge of these guides, that is how they make a living and they will indeed put you on the fish.

angler fishing ontario walleye

1. Ball Head Jig

walleye jighead

Our number one bait for walleye is the simple yet effective ball head jig. Sizes from one-eighth to three eight ounces are standard depending on time of year, lake or rivers you are fishing and walleye location. Jig colour options are your choice but orange, chartreuse, pink and purple are hot almost everywhere across Ontario regardless of water clarity. Tip these jigs with a leech, nightcrawler or minnow and your set.

2. Curly-tailed Grub

walleye curly-tailed grub

Number two, a three to four-inch curly-tailed grub, simple yes, but deadly on walleye. You can vertically jig these baits, hop and crawl them off bottom or simply cast and slowly retrieve them and walleye will eat them. Again, colour options are your choice and what gives you confidence. Yellow, white, chartreuse and black tones are some of my favs. 

3. Crankbait Or Jerkbait

walleye crankbait

And lastly, a three-inch minnow-shaped hard crankbait or jerkbait will find walleye fast and make them bite. Depending on the depths the walleye are located, you can troll these baits, cast and twitch them or simply cast them and reel them back to the boat and walleye will find them. A great option when fishing new lakes or rivers and locating the most active walleye.

Remember, Northern Ontario walleye are NOT hard to catch.

Find them, catch them, and enjoy eating them.

About Karl Kalonka

It's possible Karl's love for fishing began as early as the age of five. His parents took the kids on weekend trips across Ontario fishing for panfish, catfish, and bass. "I started with a bobber and worm from the time I was five years old," says Karl. These days, he has the enviable task of doing what he loves for a living, travelling across Ontario fishing, filming and producing two outdoor series, Extreme Angler and Crappie Angler TV.

Recommended Articles

Forget Skinny Smallmouth

Chiblow Lake Lodge offers an all-inclusive experience on a smallmouth factory famous for 5-pound-plus bass.

Action-Packed Walleye, Bass, and Pike at Brennan Harbour Resort

Classic Canadian Fishing. Spectacular Lake Huron Views.

Early Summer Muskies

Ontario’s Sunset Country is muskie heaven. Here’s how to find and catch these early-summer giants.

Sunset Country Outfitters

Some of the best multi-species action in Ontario’s Sunset Country

Mattagami Lake's Perfect Family Fishing Destination

Green Wilderness Lodge offers the rare and perfect blend of relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and incredible fishing.

Cast Away the Ordinary

Your Ultimate Fly-In, Boat-In, or Drive-In Fishing Adventure in Superior Country.

Birchland Cottages: Modern comfort with classic Northern Ontario charm

This Clear Lake gem is a great for kids, and the fishing action is non-stop.

Cutler Lake Lodge: Your Cozy North Channel Area Fishing Getaway

Where exceptional hospitality and fantastic multi-species fishing meet.

Shallow Water Fishing in Sunset Country

Fish are still in shallow water—and up here in Northwestern Ontario, they’re more than willing to bite.

Your Lake Nipissing Getaway Awaits

A resort located just 3 hours north of the GTA with cottages, a sandy beach, and Lake Nipissing’s most aggressive spring walleye.

Why Anglers Are Falling for Golden Lake in Ontario’s Ottawa Valley

From trophy bass to beachside cottages, Golden Lake blends serious fishing with relaxed cottage life.

Weather or Not

Ice Conditions for Lake Trout Has Never Been Better in Northern Ontario

10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!

A Guide to Fly-in Ontario Lodges

Today’s fly-in fishing vacations are no more expensive than most other getaways.

St. Francis Titans

Fishing the Original Muskie Capital of the World

Eating Northern Pike

The Best Recipe to Cook This Fish

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Muskie Myths Part 2

Baits and Lures You Should be Using

Discover the 3 Best Bass Fishing Lakes in Ontario

Check out these lakes for hard-fighting smallmouth bass on your next fishing trip to Northern Ontario.

The Eyes Have it

How to Use a Natural Resource as Bait