Best Walleye Crankbaits

Crankbait is one of the most common requirements of your fishing setup. Regardless of the size of reservoirs, you consider for fishing you must be looking for the best walleye crankbaits as walleye trolling cannot be completed without crankbaits.

Almost every troller searches the query of trolling and casting walleye crankbaits at a time in their career. Beginners love to acquire knowledge before taking action. While the professionals keep updating their knowledge to find the modern techniques.

The water depth doesn’t matter anymore when you learn the right techniques to fish the crankbaits. In the market, you get plenty of options when it comes to choosing the crankbaits according to their sizes and colors.

You can find various crankbaits options ranging from the size of small minnows to the large banana crankbaits.

Moreover, you need to match the color and size of the crankbait to mimic the food of walleyes so that they could attack. Once you match the hatch you will get the results.

Keeping in mind all of the above things it requires deep research in finding the exact crankbait you are looking for. Nobody has the time and money to search and test each of them.

When you have plenty of options where to get started? First of all look at your target, its food and water depth if everything is aligned then you are done.

Here are a few tips…

For dirty and muddy water choose bright colors so that they can attract the walleyes and give you results.

For clean water, you can go with natural colors such as white, blue, chrome, or all others that spark in clean water.

Here I have compiled a list of walleye crankbaits based on colors, reliability, hooks, price, tuning, and lure action.

Best walleye Trolling Crankbaits 2024

 

Finding a walleye crankbait is not hard because you get hundreds of options. but finding the best walleye trolling crankbaits in 2022 when there are plenty of brands in the market is the real job.

That’s why I have compiled this list after deep research. This list includes all of the walleye crankbaits that work best for almost all walleye trollers in various water conditions.

You can choose the one that suits your walleye trolling requirements but still, this list contains top-quality products and their pros & cons are also elaborated on.

Bandit Lures Walleye Deep Crankbait

 

Starting our list with Bandit Lures Walleye Deep Crankbait at the top of the list. The Bandit Lures Walleye Deep Crankbait has proved to be the best option to catch big walleyes.

Walleye fishing experts collaborated to make this tuned crankbait. It is designed to catch big walleyes with its ultimate features.

The Bandit Lures Walleye Deep Crankbait comes out of the box so it is reliable and saves your time.

When it comes to walleye crankbait colors the Bandit Lures Walleye Deep Crankbait has a ton of color options. You are allowed to choose your favorite color from 4 dozen color options. Moreover, you can get hundreds of customs online.

If you are looking for a specific color crankbait according to your requirements then I bet you will find something very close here.

Pros

• They are tuned crankbaits
• Good hooks
• Offers great wobble action

Cons

• None

Berkley Flicker Minnow Walleye Crankbaits

 

For a few years, the Berkley Flicker Minnow Walleye Crankbaits have been getting popular due to their high performance. They tend to catch big walleyes in a very short time.

I recommend you to try the #7, #9, and #11 crankbaits and I bet you will be succeeded in catching big walleyes.

When you are preparing to catch big walleyes then Berkley Flicker Minnow Walleye Crankbaits are ready to go.

The Berkley Flicker Minnow Walleye Crankbaits come with an impressive dive curve that makes them an ideal choice. But when you are trolling in deep waters you won’t get them as effective as in mid-depth water.

If you are looking for affordable crankbaits for mid-depth water trolling then these cranks are best to pick. These crankbaits are available in various color options including the following

• Berkley Flicker Minnow Pro Slick
• Berkley Flicker Minnow (original)
• Berkley Flicker Minnow Pro Flash (pictured)

You must have some of these crankbaits on your boat as they tend to catch more walleyes. I had an option to stick to one size then I would choose its #11 due to its large profile that tends to catch big walleyes.

Pros

• It is available in multiple color options
• Its unique action makes an ideal choice
• It is available in various sizes

Cons

• I don’t like its hook but it’s my preference you may like it.

Rapala Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lures

 

If you fish I don’t believe that you don’t have Rapala Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lures or even one of them in your arsenal.

I am saying this because the Rapala Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lures have been the best cranks for decades and they are constantly catching species.

You can get Rapala Shad Rap #5 or #7s in jointed or unjointed form. Moreover, they are available in multiple color options.

When you need to mimic the smaller baitfish then this Rapala Shad Rap 05 works best as it is smaller 2 inches in length.

In the mid of summer, the lakes get full of young fish and at that time you can mimic them by using this Rapala small bait.

Rapala is of the most popular brands for making quality walleye crankbaits. That’s why I trust as it works best when you have to catch dozens of walleyes in a short time.

The Rapala Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lures come in multiple color options. It also includes the new HD series cranks that are going to rock in the fishing industry.

Pros

• The Rapala crankbait is available in multiple color options
• It comes out of the box nice
• It features nice hooks

Cons

• A little bit expensive but one you shouldn’t skip

Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lures

 

You would be thinking that why I am putting this crankbait on this list when I have already added the Rapala Shad Rap but you haven’t tried this jointed version. This jointed version is so deadly that I needed to put it separately on this list.

If I am left with only one option to go with jointed or straight crankbait then it would be Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lure most of the time.

The back tail of the Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lure creates such an erratic movement in the water that walleyes live and it’s possible with its jointed version.

I would recommend you use it in the late spring or early summer. In this season the walleyes are often hanging around 10-15 foot depth.

When you make rigs with these crankbaits don’t add extra things just one lure is enough to go smoothly.

Whenever you get an option to get jointed baits then try to get Rapala Jointed Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lure as it works best.

Pros

• Unique great action
• Comes nicely out of the box
• A nice option when you have to choose a jointed bait

Cons

• It’s a little expensive but you will get results

Rapala Deep Tail Dancer 09 Fishing lure

 

If I say that one of the best fishing lures Rapala #11 tail dancer is the most underused crankbait then it won’t be wrong.

I don’t know exactly why they are underused because their tail’s kicking action is hard to beat. The big bill of this Rapala tail dancer lure allows it to reach depths up to 30 feet by using a straight line.

If you use the 15lb test Power Pro trolling line with this Rapala Deep Tail Dancer 09 Fishing lure you will get better results. You can achieve depth up to 35FTW.

It allows you to catch big walleyes with its deep diving lip. Its size is about 3.5 inches and weighs around 0.04 kg that’s quite light.

You must try them once they just work amazingly.

• It is available in decent color options
• It dives deep enough to catch big walleyes
• Its high-quality construction makes it a durable crankbait

Cons

• A little bit expensive but it is worth each penny

Berkley Flicker Shad 5cm

 

We have added the Rapala shad raps as they have been working for decades. But after the arrival of Berkley Flicker Shad, the game has changed totally. The Berkley Flicker Shad works best as compared to its rivals.

It has become the competitor of Rapala not just with its performance but with its price tag also. It costs only half of the Berkley Shad Raps.

Its performance, compatibility, and price make the Berkley Flicker Shad a really viable option.

When you have to troll around 10ft maximum then I would recommend you to go with #5’s size. What I like the most about Berkley Flicker Shad is its rattle inside. It assists the walleyes to locate the crankbait even in the muddy water.

If you are concerned about the walleye mood then it features a fast wobble action to deal with everything.

Pros

• The Berkley Flicker Shad is available in multiple color options
• It is cheaper than the Berkley Shad Rap and doesn’t elevate your budget limits
• It comes out of the box tuned better than the previous series

Cons

• It is cheap which means you get what you pay for

Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk 10 Fishing Lure

 

If you fish a lot you would have a tray of Rapala Husky jerk lures because they are around forever. Professional trollers always come up with new ideas and equipment in their arsenal to encounter modern trolling requirements.

If you haven’t tried this Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk till now then you must try them at least. Because there are multiple guys who cannot even think of their trolling experience without having a tray of the Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk lures.

I like this Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk because of the unique sound and motion it produces in water. Moreover, when you are using this husky bait you don’t need to be worried about the speed as it works for both slow and fast speeds.

It gives you success by using it on the leadcore. It is available in multiple color options and custom designs. If you are trolling for big walleyes then you would love these Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk lures.

Pros

• It creates a unique sound to attract walleyes
• You get plenty of color options
• It creates a unique motion to attract walleyes
• It is an affordable bait if you are looking for budget options

Cons

• None

Salmo Hornet walleye crankbait

 

If you are looking for baits to be used on the lakes in the spring and early summer seasons then Salmo Hornet should be your choice.

When you are using the Salmo Hornet for walleyes I would suggest you go with smaller sizes. The Salmo Hornet is smaller in size as compared to most of the other baits you can say they are tiny.

These Salmo Hornet crankbaits are kept tiny to mimic the young hatches in the certain time of the year when they are targeted by walleyes.

You have plenty of color options to choose from when you have to get the Salmo Hornet. But I recommend you choose the classic like pearl and Dalmatian to mimic the white bass that targets the walleyes.

At first impression, everyone thinks that these small slams won’t work but you are wrong bro because they are deadly.

The Salmo Hornet are versatile because they are available in plenty of color and size options. You can even get larger sizes to choose from but you should stick to the smaller sizes and you will never regret it.

Pros

• The Salmo Hornet runs great
• They don’t need tuning and come nicely out of the box
• It has a great wobble
• It is made with foam and it is durable

Cons

• If you compare the Salmo Hornet to other walleye crankbaits you will find Salmo Hornet lures expensive

REEF Runner 800 Series Deep Divers

 

Any Midwest bait shop selling walleye gear will certainly have a sizable assortment of Reef Runners. Given that there are SO MANY hues to pick from, I genuinely feel awful for store owners. Furthermore, I am unable to include the customs I have seen online.

Its distinctive wobble movement is absolutely lethal to walleyes. Although the Great Lakes region appears to be the natural habitat for these baits, I’ve used them nearly religiously in numerous reservoirs, including Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota, for trolling deep walleyes in the middle of July.

Despite the fact that they also have a smaller model, I personally favor the huge baits (800 series), which are 6 3/16ths inches long and can troll up to 28 feet wide (per their website).

Pros

• It is available in tons of color options
• It produces impressive wobble action

Cons

• Expensive and comes out of the box untuned

Final Thoughts

There are SO MANY walleye crankbaits that I could have included, but let’s face it, a person can only handle so many different crankbait designs. You’ll also discover a wide range of what you consider to be the ideal crankbait colors as you get into a particular crankbait style.

Additionally, you need at least 4 of each color because you must go to more aggressive trolling of that color and may naturally lose some. I ALWAYS keep AT LEAST 15 trays of crankbaits aboard my boat if I know I’m going to be trolling in any way. Every lake I fish presents a different selection of cranks because I prefer options.

Therefore, venture outside and use any of these walleye crankbaits.