Casting for Eastern Basin Walleyes

[J. Sparrow]

I'm wondering if anyone ever tries drifting / casting weight forward spinners or mayfly rigs for walleye in NY water?........ seems with so many fish around, it might be a fun experiment. Anybody ever try it? It used to be the popular method in the Western basin, but I've never seen it done here............

[Locoman]

Used to do it a lot back in the eighties. Erie Dearies worked great. Drifting was the norm back then. Trolling was just starting to take off in this area back then.

[J. Sparrow]

That's encouraging. I think it works well in the Western Basin because fish density can be so high. With the large numbers of fish in our end right now it might be another successful tactic.  

[ncej03]

Caught a few in May drifting Erie Dearies.   Also caught a few on jigs bass fishing.   

Have been thinking the same as you.  

[jimmac]

In the 70's thats how we got them. Drift with weighted earie dearies or yellow sally and spinner. Trolling tactics were early season flatlining rapalas at night. Last year I tried this late season where you could get your limit trolling in a couple hours. We picked up walleye but we also picked up plenty of sheephead and white perch. But there are so many walleye now that you'll pick them up....provided you get down to them....we used heavy slip sinkers. But you'll also get plenty of trash....take lots of worms...;)

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[Pequod1]

When I try for perch starting in late August, I use a 3/4-1oz buckshot spoon on the bottom instead of a sinker. It seems that every time out we land an eye or two on this set up. It is usually tipped with an emerald. The best luck with this technique has been straight out of Dunkirk. Funny thing though, the eyes have all come early in the morning. Never got one like this after around 8:30 or so.