Catch More Mid-Summer Spinners for Walleyes | Jon Thelen’s Go-To Technique for Numbers and Size

Описание: In this action-packed episode of Jon Thelen’s Destination Fish, we unlock one of the most productive walleye presentations for warm water conditions—spinner rigs. As summer sets in across the northern U.S. and southern Canada, walleyes transition to deeper structures and spread out over vast areas. That's where trolling spinner rigs with live bait becomes the ultimate tool for locating and catching fish—fast.

Join Jon on the legendary waters of the walleye belt as he shares his tried-and-true tactics for catching mid-summer walleyes using colorful blades, bottom bouncers, and live bait presentations. Whether you're fishing deep flats, weed edges, mud transitions, or gravel humps, this episode will help you dial in your approach and land more walleyes all summer long.

⚙️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How to use bottom bouncers and spinner rigs to find walleyes fast
✅ Best trolling speeds for mid-summer spinner fishing
✅ Blade sizes, colors, and bait choices that trigger strikes
✅ How to fish mud flats, deep structure, and transition zones
✅ Adjusting spinner rigs for stained vs. clear water
✅ How to rig live bait to stay in the strike zone longer

Jon doesn’t just talk about spinner fishing—he breaks down exactly how to fine-tune your setup for maximum success when the walleyes are deep, scattered, and on the move.

🌞 Why Spinners Work in Mid-Summer

By mid-summer, many walleyes are done spawning and have moved to offshore structures or open basin areas to chase bait. They’re actively feeding, but often on the move and suspended or glued to bottom contours. Spinner rigs allow you to cover water quickly, deliver live bait naturally, and give off flash and vibration to draw strikes.

Whether it’s early morning, midday, or evening, spinner rigs are a versatile option that produce in nearly every condition when water temps are high and the fish are roaming.

🧰 Gear Breakdown:

🎣 Rod & Reel Setup:

7’–8’ medium trolling rods

Line-counter reels

10–14 lb mono or braid mainline

⚖️ Terminal Tackle:

1–3 oz bottom bouncers

2–3 hook crawler harnesses

Colorado and Indiana blades (#3–#5)

Beads and color combos matched to water clarity

🪱 Live Bait Options:

Nightcrawlers (full or half)

Leeches

Minnows (especially in stained water)

📍 Where to Target Mid-Summer Walleyes:

🧭 Jon covers the best locations for spinner rigging in July and August, including:

Mud flats in 18–30 feet of water

Gravel-to-mud transitions

Deep edges of weedlines

Mid-lake humps and reefs

Soft-bottom basin areas holding baitfish

Wind-blown shorelines on larger lakes like Mille Lacs and Lake of the Woods

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📺 Why You Need To Watch This Episode

When walleyes are on the move and water temps are high, trolling spinners is one of the most efficient and effective ways to put fish in the boat. Jon not only demonstrates how to fish them—but shows why they work so well, what mistakes to avoid, and how to adapt to different conditions and locations.

Whether you’re new to spinner fishing or have used it for years, this episode delivers fresh insights, pro-level tweaks, and a clear visual breakdown of how to maximize your results this summer.

📢 Don’t Forget To:

👍 Like this video if spinner rigs are your go-to for summer walleyes
✅ Subscribe to Destination Fish for more seasonal tactics and fishing how-tos
💬 Comment below with your favorite blade color combo
🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated on all things walleye fishing

If you’ve ever struggled to find fish when the weather is warm, the skies are blue, and the lakes are busy—this is the episode you can’t afford to miss. Learn how to outsmart summer walleyes with one of the most proven techniques in the northern U.S. and Canada: mid-summer spinner fishing.