Best Walleye Fishing Lures: Top 30 List

Are you looking to catch the giant but elusive walleye? Well, you'll increase your chances if these reliable lures are always in your tackle box.

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Are you looking to catch the giant but elusive walleye? Well, you'll increase your chances if these reliable lures are always in your tackle box.

There are several reasons why walleye fishing remains highly popular with anglers in the United States. In addition to their huge sizes, walleye are sumptuous and are worthy fishing for. But that's not all; walleye are low-feeders, elusive, and sometimes unwilling to take the bait; a fact that makes walleye a worthy target as most anglers will find them quite interesting. And because they're elusive and hard to catch, choosing the best walleye lures is of great importance.

Even though there are thousands of walleye lures available, your success when fishing for walleye will hugely depend on choosing the best walleye lures; lures that will yield the best results. In other words, you need lures that have always been most productive in catching walleye and stood the test of time. These lures should be of the right colors (generally red and green), sizes, materials, weights, and, of course, effective in the right conditions.

To make it a lot simpler for you, we've sampled thousands of walleye lures and present to you 30 best walleye lures. We'll briefly highlight what makes them successful for walleye.

Let's roll.

Table of Contents

1. Cotton Cordell Waly Diver Lure

Cotton Cordell Waly Diver Lure

Praised by many experienced anglers as the best walleye lure of all time, Cotton Cordell Waly Diver is an established classic that should never be missed in every walleye angler's tackle box. Its slender feature is perfect for tight situations and its action that will trigger the walleye to go for the bite. You can also choose to troll or cast it and its internal rattle will attract bites.

2. Reef Runner 800

Reef Runner 800

For more than two decades, the Reef Runner 800 has been causing serious havoc on walleyes across the United States. It comes in more than 400 color options to match any forage or water condition. Given that walleyes are generally deep feeders, the Reef Runner 800 can dive 30 feet unassisted and has a drop-style tail to randomly alter its action and trigger bites.

3. Rapala Shad Rap

Rapala Shad Rap

This is another great walleye crankbait that should never miss in your walleye fishing tackle box. Like most Rapala lures, the Shad Rap is made from balsa wood, which is effective in drawing strikes thanks to the wobbly and subtle action. Whether you're trolling it through a huge body of still water or cranking it along the bottom of a rocky river, the versatility of this lure will always deliver.

4. Rapala Husky Jerk 08 Fishing Walleye Lure

Rapala Husky Jerk 08 Fishing Walleye Lure

Another great walleye lure from Rapala, the Husky Jerk 08 is available in a wide range of colors to suit any water condition. That's not all; the Husky Jerk has a very realistic design, which makes this lure very appealing to the walleye. This lure has an internal rattle that vibrates through the water to attract the walleye. You can either troll or cast it and it's superb for long casting.

5. Smithwick Deep Suspending Rattlin' Rogue

Smithwick Deep Suspending Rattlin' Rogue

The Rogue may be a classic, but there's a reason why it still remains on tackle shop shelves. If you're a smart walleye, you should never miss this lure in your tackle box. Named a "stone-cold killer", the Rogue has a loud rattling sound to attract the biggest walleye. Although they don't dive as deep as other lures, it can still do 15 feet unassisted. Whether you cast it or troll it, the Rogue is unique and will work wonders, especially when ice fishing for walleye.

6. Salmo Hornet

The Salmo Hornet may look minute but it's a stocky crankbait that works best if you want a size 5 walleye lure. It's big dive lip and short stock frame gives it a very aggressive swim action. It also makes a loud rattling that will attract fish even in a very bad light situation.

7. Sougayilang Fishing Walleye Lures

Sougayilang Fishing Walleye Lures

Sougayilang is an experienced fishing lure manufacturer and this lure is a testament to it. It's a perfect walleye lure thanks to its two sharp treble hooks and details. It has a metal ball, which vibrates through the water to give it a realistic action. It's also durable, strong, and perfect for long casting and deep fishing.

8. Strike King Red Eye Shad Walleye Lures

The Red Eye Shad is a simplistic but highly effective walleye lure that has amassed a long list of amazing reviews from walleye anglers. It's designed with premium features such as strong, sharp, and durable hooks, as well as a free-floating rattle to attract walleye through its action and vibration. It's also available in various sizes so that you can choose the perfect one for walleye.

9. Reef Runner Ripstick

Reef Runner Ripstick

Effective when either casting or trolling, the Reef Runner Ripstick is structured with a unique V-shaped lip that's essential in giving it an incredible diving action, which is almost twice as deep as other walleye lures in its class. It excels in cool waters but can even be better if you add slightly larger hooks than the standard one.

10. Bandit Walleye Deep

Bandit Walleye Deep

The Bandit Walleye Deep may be a newcomer in the walleye fishing world, but it's been causing waves among bass anglers, especially in early spring. Its loud rattle produces a unique sound that's unmatched by similar stick baits. Keep in mind that this lure isn't as effective when pulled at low speeds so you should increase speed to give it terrific action.

11. Johnson ThinFisher Bait

Available in 8 different colors, the Johnson ThinFisher Bait offers an excellent natural vibrating action on a retrieve. It's also designed with a built-in sonic chamber that walleye can't resist. Its black nickel hooks and snap will ensure that the walleye doesn't escape once it gulps this lure.

12. Rapala Jigging Rap

Another magnificent walleye lure from Rapala, the Jigging Rap is one of the best walleye lures you can get your hands on. It's available in 16 different colors that can attract fish to go for the bite even in low light conditions. Great in both cold and warm conditions, the Rapala Jigging Rap will ensure that the walleye is a common menu on your dinner plate both in winter and summer.

13. Lindy Slick Jig

The Lindy Slick Jig is a highly versatile ice-fishing jig that's specifically designed for targeting walleye in subzero conditions. It comes with a unique weight-forward design that can help anglers take advantage of the lure's action and glide to increase your coverage. This is a fantastic lure for bottom-dwelling walleye as it is available in 10 different colors, as well as iridescent shimmer that increases visibility in low-light conditions.

14. Berkley Powerbait FW Power Grub Fishing Bait

A product of the highly-respected Berkley tackle company, this corkscrew-shaped lure is arguably the best soft plastic walleye lure in the market. It offers an incredible action even at low speed. It has a stocky body, which makes it perfect for different walleye fishing conditions and techniques. The lure's PowerBait formula is not only exclusive to Berkley products but gives your lure an irresistible scent that will attract walleye to your line 18 times than other lures.

15. Terminator T1 Spinnerbait

Constructed with unbreakable titanium, a premium VMC hook, and a premium ball-bearing swivel, the Terminator T1 is a realistic baitfish lure that's great for targeting walleye over weeds, as well as trolling through trees. This is because it's a tangle-free lure and is an efficient choice for the aggressively-feeding walleye in areas with lots of covers.

16. Strike King Redeye Shad

Are you looking to catch some proper walleye in early spring when they're spawning? The Strike King Redeye Shad is your best option. Simply put, this walleye lure is perfect for foraging through shallow waters while deflecting off various fish covers and weeds. This is a lipless crankbait that's with a free-floating rattling sound to attract walleye to go for the kill. It has glaring red eyes and a shad-shaped body that gives it a realistic look of fish prey. In essence, this lure is excellent for vertical jigging, especially when ice fishing for walleye.

17. Lindy Fuzz-E Grub Jig

Structured with soft plastic, the Lindy Fuzz-E has a grub-style body that is slippery and offers a real fish-like appearance to attract walleye to your line. It also has a provocative marabou tail to give it more action and prompt strikes. You can use it plain or even make it better by adding a leech, crawler, or minnow to the hook.

18. TriggerX Nightcrawler

The TriggerX Nightcrawler is a 6.5-inch lure that looks and moves like a real worm. It is structured with Ultrabite Pheromones to stimulate walleye to bite. That's not all; its ribbed design increases its surface area to ensure that the pheromones are properly distributed. This lure is designed with natural biodegradable material that can easily break down within a few days.

19. Truscend Bass and Trout Fishing Walleye Lures

This Truscend lure is perfectly designed to take your walleye fishing to the next level thanks to its internal battery that gives it extraordinary flashes and buzzes that will attract walleye to go for the bite. It also has three treble hooks to give it an incredible holding power to ensure that the walleye doesn't escape once it takes the bait. The battery can work for about 12 hours on a single charge.

20. Lixada Fishing Walleye Lure

The fact that the Lixada Fishing Lure is versatile and highly-effective has made it a hit with both walleye and bass anglers. It has a realistic body that gives it an amazing S motion to attract walleye to your line. This is a strong and durable walleye lure that comes in a wide range of colors, sizes, and weights that's perfect for any walleye fishing condition.

21. Storm Thunderstick Walleye Lure

Measuring 4.5 inches in length, the Storm Thunderstick can dive to a whooping depth of 24 feet! It comes in a wide range of incredible colors that will attract the walleye to go for the bite. Some of its amazing features include the 3D eyes, a deep-diving lip, a multi-ball high-pitch rattle, and VMC treble hooks.

22. Worm Harness Walleye Drift Bait

Available in a variety of colors, the Worm Harness Walleye is a glow-in-the-dark walleye lure that is designed with hooks and a leader. Its hooks are fantastic for attaching a Gulp Crawler, a nightcrawler, or any scented bait. It has a great vibration that will attract walleye to your line.

23. Erie Dearie Walleye Drift Bait

This is a weighted worm harness that is available in a variety of sizes, weights, and colors. It may be less known but its effectiveness when fishing for walleye is up there with the best. Add a worm, leech, swim jig, or curly tail and you'll have a very convenient walleye drift bait.  

24. Viper Walleye Spoon Worm Harness

Spoon lures are highly-effective in luring walleye and the Viper Walleye Spoon is another perfect spoon lure. It has a variety of color options such as bleeding pearl chartreuse, green mackerel, and silver. This lure has three hooks that are connected with a titanium line to ensure that it cannot be cut by walleye's sharp teeth. In essence, the Viper Walleye Spoon is a superb walleye lure that's effective on a downrigger.

25. Storm Hot 'n Tot Mad Flash

The Hot 'n Tot Mad Flash is a highly erratic right-to-left action walleye lure that can be fine-tuned to offer the best results, especially when trolling for walleye in lakes. It is available in a wide range of colors but you can choose brighter colors depending on the day.

26. The Original Rapala Floating Minnow

If you're an experienced angler, the Original Rapala Floating Minnow needs no introduction as it's one of the most effective and versatile lures of all time. For your walleye fishing escapades, you can use the Original Rapala for flat-line trolling, handlining, and bouncing 3-ways rigs along the bottom. It's structured with balsa wood and is available in a variety of colors to match every walleye food.

27. YONGZHI Metal VIB Hard Spinner Blade

This metal spinner walleye lure has a vibrating action and a distinctive rattle sound to lure walleye to your lure. This is an excellent crankbait that's great for jigging. It is sturdy, durable, and perfect for saltwater.

28. JSHANMEI 10PCS/lot Minnow Walleye Lures

This is a superb 10-piece that comes in a variety of colors to fit your ideal walleye fishing conditions. They're made to look and act like real fish thanks to their body shapes, 3D eyes, and internal metal balls that vibrate to attract walleye.

29. Berkley Indiana Walleye Rig Worm Harness

With a deeply-entrenched success record, it's easy to see why the Berkley Indiana Walleye Rig Worm is popular with walleye anglers across the United States. The brilliant color patterns and the fact that they can be trolled or cast makes them a great option. Its tight wiggle and slender profile will tempt the walleye to strike.

30. Little Cleo Walleye Spoon

This is another popular walleye fishing lure that offers great colors to attract walleye to your line. It's great when using a dipsy diver, downrigger, jet diver, or when trolled in depths of less than 25 feet. You can also use it in shallow waters.

Final Thoughts

To this end, it's easy to see that successful walleye fishing highly depends on using the best lure. When it comes to the best walleye lures, they have to be finely tuned to look exactly like what the walleye are feeding on in their natural environment. The above-described lures have been tested and proved to offer success when fishing for walleye. All you have to do is find the right conditions and environment for walleye and you'll be good to go.