Walleye Deep Crankbait
4.6(2,600)4.6 out of 5 stars, 2,600 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenThe crankbait Lake Erie walleye trolling runs on — it dives 18 to 22 feet on its own and the dive curves are published.
Z-Man
Z-Man · Lures
Finesse TRD Ned Rig Bodies
4.7(8,200)4.7 out of 5 stars, 8,200 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenA short buoyant stick bait that stands up off bottom on a light jighead — the highest-percentage smallmouth bait on the lakes.
Check price on Amazon$5— Finesse TRD Ned Rig BodiesPrice shown was accurate on 2026-09-01. Amazon sets the live price.
What's good
- ElaZtech floats, so the bait stands vertically off bottom instead of lying flat
- Nearly indestructible — one body survives a dozen smallmouth instead of two
- Works everywhere on Great Lakes hard bottom, from 8 feet to 35
- Cheap per fish caught by a wide margin
What isn't
- ElaZtech dissolves other soft plastics on contact — store it in its own bag or you ruin a whole box
- The buoyancy means it does not fall fast; in 30 feet of water on St. Clair you wait a long time
- Colors are limited compared to conventional plastics, and the material does not hold dye well
We list the drawbacks because a recommendation with no downside is a sales pitch. If a cheaper item does the job on your water, the write-up says so.
Also worth a look
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RV Series Trolling Spoon
4.7(900)4.7 out of 5 stars, 900 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenA thin, high-action trolling spoon with genuinely long-lasting glow — the standard early-morning king spoon on Michigan and Ontario.
Husky Jerk
4.6(5,200)4.6 out of 5 stars, 5,200 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenA suspending jerkbait that hangs motionless between twitches — the cold-water bait for walleye, smallmouth and browns.