Fall Walleye Tactics: Finessing with the Vexan 7'4" ML and Small Jerkbaits
The Fall scene is set, the leaves start to change colors, the cooler air temps are crisp, and it’s time to throw on your favorite hoodie with a beanie as the sun sets. The cold air, the slight breeze making a perfect chop on the lake, and the longer nights has got fall walleye on the brain! The long cast, the quiet of the night, the moon shining through slight overcast clouds, and then the long pause of your jerk bait… smack! Fish on!
It’s time to get ready for the best walleye bite of the season! As fall sets in and water temperatures drop, walleye behavior begins to shift. The fish move shallower, feed more aggressively, and become particularly susceptible to smaller, erratic presentations. This is where the Vexan Fishing 7'4" Medium Light Walleye Rod Walleye Spinning Rods | Best Walleye Rods With Lifetime Guarantee – VEXAN® paired with small jerkbaits truly shines.
Why Small Jerk baits in the Fall?
Fall walleye aren’t always chasing big meals. As the water cools later in the season, more and more schools of tiny baitfish push up shallow, which makes small jerkbaits perfect for mimicking this forage. The tight, twitchy action of these baits triggers reaction strikes, especially in cold, clear water where finesse often outperforms flash.
The Perfect Tool: Vexan 7'4" ML Walleye Rod
This rod brings the ideal balance of sensitivity and casting distance. At 7'4", the extra length allows for long casts—a huge advantage when targeting skittish fish in shallow water or covering more water from the bank or boat. The medium light power offers just the right amount of flex to work small jerkbaits without overpowering them, preserving their subtle, erratic action.
More importantly, the rod’s sensitive tip helps you feel the slightest tick—which is often all the angler feels with soft bites from picky fall walleye. There’s still enough backbone in the rod to drive the hooks home, even with the bigger trophy sized fish most are hoping to catch!
Ideal Setup and Presentation
Match the rod with a 1000–2500 size spinning reel spooled with 8-10 lb braided mainline, and a fluoro leader is highly recommended. Fish points, windblown shorelines, and transition zones where rock meets sand or mud (any remaining weeds nearby is a big plus).
Use a twitch-twitch-pause cadence, letting the bait sit for 2–5 seconds between movements. In colder water, the pause becomes the strike trigger. Experimenting with even longer than normal pauses is never a bad idea, especially if the bite is slow and the fish are picky. The Vexan’s responsive tip makes it easy to deliver precise, consistent twitches without fatigue, even after hours on the water and into the night.
Final Thoughts
When the leaves turn and the water cools, walleye anglers who scale down and fine-tune their presentations see more consistent results. The Vexan 7'4" ML Walleye Rod Walleye Spinning Rods | Best Walleye Rods With Lifetime Guarantee – VEXAN® is purpose-built for this style—long, light, and lethal with small jerkbaits.
Whether you're casting from shore or drifting a breakline in the boat, this combo will help you stay connected to fall walleyes when the bite gets technical. Don’t let the chill fool you—walleye are still feeding, and with the right gear, you’ll be ready for some of the best walleye fishing of the entire year!
By Jeff C - Angler & Media Director
