Trolling crankbaits at night for walleye (GIANT caught!)

Fishing after dark can be a major pain in the tuchus, but it's usually worth the hassle! Grind all day for 1 or 2 bites…then it can feel like you’re on a whole-new lake after the sun goes down and walleyes show up out of nowhere.
We’ve been catching a ton of fish all spring trolling Rapala Original Floaters and Shallow Shad Raps at night. Something that gets a lot of love in the fall, but can be just as good-er this time of year.
Bonus points: You can catch walleyes all summer long doing this, I usually just switch up to shallow weed flats (instead of sand) and run the baits over the tops of the weeds.
Please drop a comment below and let me know what you think. 👊 Thx SO much for watching!
Brett McComas
GEAR USED:
‣ #11 Rapala Original Floaters:
fishusa.rv5k.net/rZPLD
‣ #7 Rapala Shallow Shad Raps:
fishusa.rv5k.net/eV5v6
‣ #6 VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble:
fishusa.rv5k.net/rPA0G
‣ 8- or 10-lb Sufix 832 Advanced Superline:
fishusa.rv5k.net/PPna6
‣ #8 VMC Rolling Swivel:
fishusa.rv5k.net/xKNMA
‣ 8-lb Sufix Advance Fluoro (leader):
fishusa.rv5k.net/0N4BN
‣ #0 VMC Crankbait Snap:
fishusa.rv5k.net/oEyjY
‣ 2B Genesis 2B-S73ML-F:
twobrothersinnovations.com/pr...
‣ Pflueger President XT (size 30):
fishusa.rv5k.net/bRGRx
Note: The FishUSA links above are affiliate links, meaning if you go through them to make a purchase we might earn a commission...at no cost to you. Thx much for supporting the channel!
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[@billsutorius2753]

Awesome catch on that big bruiser Walleye. Nice explanation of exactly what you were doing with the spinning tackle, the lures and the electronics. Very informative and enjoyable to watch 👍

[@TargetWalleye]

I always appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment, Bill! 👊 Take care man!

[@NickLindner]

*Nighttime is the right time! Pumped you put that big bruiser in the net, buddy 💪*

[@TargetWalleye]

Sorry for stepping on your pizza box and turning it into lasagna 😂🤷‍♂️ #nightfishingprobz

[@randymiller5008]

I use a bead one hundred percent of the time on my main line to prevent junk on my bait ✌️🎣🤙

[@Walleyes_and_whitetails]

Bro zorbaz is gas!

[@tjsguideservice]

Finally sitting down to watch and it was as good as advertised! What a brute! 👊

[@TargetWalleye]

You the man, TJ 👊

[@patrickethier6190]

Good job on the big fish... You'll definitely have border view as a place to stay when you go there!!😉

[@TargetWalleye]

Thanks Patrick! That old-school crew neck might be my new favorite now haha 👊

[@pinhookfishingclub]

Nice job! That’s a wall hanger! Was up in Minnesota today, my Mom had an appointment at Mayo. I spend my summers in NE Iowa, up from Texas now that schools out. I gotta catch some Walleye this summer!

[@TargetWalleye]

Thank you. I hope you have a great summer and get some walleyes to hit the deck!

[@phillipschillaci7372]

ZORBAZ! (The one on Gull is my fav!)

[@TargetWalleye]

Slick spot! Especially when you arrive by boat smelling like fish 🤣

[@rickysmith2248]

Nice walleye this is what's on my mind...night trolling for walleye

[@TargetWalleye]

Thank you! 👊 And absolutely!

[@jpprind]

Border view lodge is so nice. My ice fishing destination. Cheers!

[@TargetWalleye]

Awesome place no doubt!

[@TheresOneOutdoors]

Adding the swivel to save your baits from the cotton is brilliant!

[@TargetWalleye]

It definitely saved our night! Every once in a while - maybe every 45 min or so - I would cut the line just above the swivel, slide off the giant glob, and re-tie...then the whole system was back to clean versus trying to pick the junk off.

[@TheresOneOutdoors]

@@TargetWalleye Smart thinking. Less time messing around with your line means more time fishing.

[@randymiller5008]

I use a bead on my main line one hundred percent of the time 🎣🤙

[@raystomberski4480]

Awesome fishing video and info thanks

[@TargetWalleye]

For sure, Ray! And thank YOU for watching. Good luck!

[@robertolson291]

Great vid! Don't know how many times we've been launching our boat as most are leaving the lake disgusted by the day bite. Whether bobber eyes or trolling it's a ton of fun.

[@TargetWalleye]

Couldn't agree more! And that's usually me going in, saying to my buddy "If we were smart we'd be going out right now like those guys." 🤣👊 Thanks for watching!

[@aaronotto7010]

Hell Yes!

[@sobifishing]

Triple Belly Sow Cow 🐮 awesome video men!

[@TargetWalleye]

When are you coming to visit?

[@kbboutdoorz204]

#BINGO....Looks like a Big Windy Walter..👍

[@TargetWalleye]

Definitely need to get back up that way!

[@kbboutdoorz204]

@@TargetWalleye That would he awesome...Or I know some good spots on lake mb...Sand bar for miles...My family commerical fish on that lake...I know where the fish are..👍

[@lumpygasinavacuum8449]

I am in Detroit Lakes. Pickerel lake is a really good trolling lake. I am hunting 50+ musky on Detroit Lake about 15 hours a week. I subbed.

[@pywifishingandoutdoors]

Ive been debating to wait to wait for more Elliot 7'3s and 6". Had the 7'3 2B sitting and debating, I think I might just get a couple of 2Bs after watching this lol. Good fishing, I just installed new led night lights to the boat to test this weekend, going to try pulling and casting at night.

[@TargetWalleye]

I hear ya! That 7'3" ML Elliott is soooo nasty 🥵 for pitching jigs, Ned Rigs, etc. But those 2Bs are pretty great rods for $100 less. And man you can never have enough lights trying to fish at night!

[@dionbrandt6176]

Got to try this !

[@TargetWalleye]

Fishing at night makes everything more difficult, but the walleyes are usually way more cooperative! Definitely worth the adventure.

[@FishingNorthernOntarioCanada]

The cotton looking stuff in your guides may be Didymosphenia geminata or Rock snot … we had it bad in st Mary’s river if it gets worse it’s a nightmare an forget about trolling it thrives in cold water and literally looks like wet cardboard everywhere along the shore on the rocks , hopefully it’s not .. thanks for the video and entertainment 👍

[@o0l0s0o0n]

excellent vid! that cotton crap in the water is so obnoxious.

[@TargetWalleye]

Thanks Bob! And obnoxious is definitely a great way to describe it 🤣😤

[@scottrouwhorst881]

Nice

[@markpowell6240]

Have u tried lighted planer boards in shallow and keep boat in a lil deeper water ? And run 2 rods on shallow side ? Do you worry about spooking fish when shallow running over them in 7 fow? I guess that hasn’t been a problem ha. Thanks ! Great video!

[@calebwistad]

I love the “purpledescent” lettering in your thumbnail! Lol.

[@TargetWalleye]

Hahaha thx man! She deserved it after sticking the biggest one! 👊

[@jasonguest1441]

Zorbaz and walleyes...Does it get any better?!?! Nice work

[@TargetWalleye]

Can't complain! Thx Jason 👊

[@JeffN-A]

Did you say, "Jalapeno-Peanut Butter pizza?!" That is a new one for me...

[@TargetWalleye]

Hahahah yup! Sounds disgusting, but tastes amazing 🤣👊

[@michaelb4938]

Just curious my in-laws live in baxter area. Do you do any guiding for walleyes? Just curious thanks and great video!!!

[@joemurphy6736]

I LOVE fishing at night for walters, do you guys have any preferences for moon phase when you go out at night?

[@mlmeyer79]

Nice video as always. What phone app were you using? That's very cool.

[@mlmeyer79]

aaah - ran the video back and got it! thx

[@TargetWalleye]

👊 That Humminbird FishSmart App is a little bit spendy, but soooooo much more detailed and spot-on. I just purchase the maps for the handful of lakes that I hit most often. Thx for watching!

[@letitgo8336]

You know you have to pick up a pizza every time from now on

[@TargetWalleye]

Gotta keep my figure up somehow anyways 🤣🍀

[@sumatai1]

Well done!! Are you drifting or anchored? Thank for sharing.

[@TargetWalleye]

Trolling at about 1.8 mph in 6-7’. We would stop and cast if we saw a bunch of fish schooled-up tighter, but with how spread out they were it was way easier to troll along.

[@mikeeihusen5194]

Been killing big Walleye in Nebraska with big spinner baits.

[@scottrouwhorst881]

How much did it weigh

[@wardcridland]

Dang that Zoba's pizza is lip smacking goodness 😳

[@TargetWalleye]

🤣🤣🤣 Sorry my “soup coolers” caused such a scene lol. Chewing with your mouth open - or talking with food in your mouth - is literally by biggest pet peeve, and now I’m just over here doing it on video hahaha. 🤦‍♂️

[@wardcridland]

@@TargetWalleye well what makes you so great to watch fish is your enthusiasm and I'm glad it extends to pizza too!! Thanks

[@tomcervenka7404]

I've had drinks at Zorbas but never tried their pizza, I have the midnight munchies now!

[@TargetWalleye]

@@wardcridland I'm all in LOL. Thanks much!

[@TargetWalleye]

@@tomcervenka7404 I know it sounds weird/bad/strange...but their jalapeno and peanut butter pizza is incredible lol.

[@morganholland1354]

Why do lakes have to be named? There is lots of pressure on all of these lakes during the day or at night. Sweet fish and the cotton sucks.

[@donkivi3598]

Why did you stuff your hand in the gills??? Really!!

[@obiwankenobi2885]

I never catch walleyes on gull

[@TargetWalleye]

She is a fickle beast! Tons of great fish but they can be hard to get to go...worth it when they do tho!

[@philthefriendlyfrog]

Mouth smacker when eatting im gone...

[@TargetWalleye]

I don't blame you!

[@mitchellmiller8900]

Zorbaz 🤌