Do you go biggger in the summer with baits?

[Kris]

Is it better to go to a larger lure in the summer for example from a #5 shad rap to a #7 or bigger since the baitfish are more than likely larger than they are in the spring?

[cisco]

On Lake Michigan for trout and salmon it is most certainly true -- go biggerlure as the forage base grows. Thus, no. 3 J-Plugs are replaced with 4s, then 5s. However, I don't know if it follows with walleyes. For myself, I start the season with jumbo leeches and use them as long as I can get them. I'll sometimes score with no. 5 Shad Raps in August, just as I'll often score with 7s in the spring. It's an interesting question, but I'm not so certain a "match the hatch" approach is necessary on inland water.

[Hank]

wondering that myself does anyone know

[eyewinder]

My experience is mostly on lakes with primarily a gizzard shad forage base. So, about now, the shad hatched last year are larger than they were a couple months ago, but there are millions more smaller baitfish that were hatched earlier this spring.
So-0-0-0-0. . .you can probably make a case for either larger or smaller baits. I tend toward something in the middle, unless you are being bothered by smaller fish and white bass (for instance) -- then a larger crankbait may help you target larger 'eyes.

[Frenzy]

On a lark I got a dozen large chubs the other day and used em on my dead rod with a bouncer. I was shocked when I began catching 13" long walleyes on them one after another. Don't know how they got there mouths around them but they did.