The Salmo Hornet is one of the most unique baits on the walleye market and features a unique profile and action that can draw strikes when other baits cannot. These baits come in smaller sizes, feature unique wobbles, and break the mold of the traditional walleye crankbait.
Fish It Like Nick and Mason
“The Salmo Hornet I would consider one of the most unique crankbaits in the walleye world,” says Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “It’s a bait I feel every angler should have at least a couple of because they fish in such a way that other baits cannot.”
While traditional crankbaits mimic common walleye forage like shad, perch, smelt, herring, or other minnows the Hornet mimics a different type of forage.
“I feel that the Hornet does the best job mimicking a white bass,” explains Harrington. “This isn’t what your traditional walleye angler thinks about for walleye food, but I can say first-hand that in eastern South Dakota juvenile white bass are a critical food source especially for trophy caliber walleye.”
Juvenile white bass are a critical component of walleye forage in the Glacial Lakes Region of the Dakotas, particularly on fisheries such as Devils Lake, Lake Poinsett, 81 Ponds, and Lake Thompson.
“I was introduced to the Hornet fishing on Devils Lake in North Dakota,” continues Harrington. “Walleye were keying on both white bass and yellow perch there, and this bait did a really fantastic job emulating those young of the year white bass.”
The Hornet is also an excellent option on popular fisheries and where a unique bait can help anglers generate strikes from highly pressured fish.
One of the elements that makes the bait so effective is the small sizes they are available in.
“It’s just so tiny and honestly at first glance it looks like a crappie lure,” says Mason Propst of Propst Professional Anglers. “In reality it’s honestly one of the most effective walleye cranks of all time.”
Propst fishes these baits a variety of ways, with each having success.
“Shallow or deep it doesn’t matter,” continues Propst. “It constantly produces whether it’s a shallow sand flat on Lake Sharpe or over the abyss targeting trophy walleyes on Lake Oahe.”
These factors all create one of the most well-rounded walleye baits on the market.
“The quick, tight wobbling action in a smaller profile makes fish react during all times of the year,” concludes Harrington. “Anglers that don’t have a couple Hornets in their tackle box are missing a critical element to their presentation.”
Bait Details
Profile: Shad/Hybrid
Forage Emulated: White Bass, Bluegill, Gizzard Shad
Body Composition: Plastic with Rattle
Favorite Waterbodies: Lake Sharpe, Lake Poinsett, Lake Thompson, Devils Lake
Favorite Size: 3.5
Favorite Color: Redtail Shiner
Get Geared Up to Catch More Walleye
Want to learn more about the gear we use when targeting walleye? Whether it’s on the Missouri River, Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota, western Nebraska reservoirs, or anywhere else across the Midwest we share our favorite baits and how we fish them on our Getting Geared Up page!
