If I’m too impatient or unsuccessful finding fish using the indicator method above, I usually switch to stripping streamers around the same types of structure. This is a good way to cover a lot of water, which allows you to dial into where the fish are. Depending on the depth, I’ll choose a weighted fly with either a floating or a fast sinking line. This can be a pretty exciting way to fish walleye depending on the season. I find that - particularly in the early season (or on a cool, overcast day in mid-summer) - walleye can be surprisingly aggressive as they chase perch and other baitfish in shallow water. I’ve actually caught quite a number of great walleye by accident while targeting pike with 6-8 inch streamers. It’s certainly not always like that, but I think most decent fly anglers would be hard pressed not to produce at least a few fish with a sinking line and a 2” woolly bugger stripped around weeds or rocky points. If you’re not finding fish, make sure you’re getting the fly within a foot of the bottom and try varying the strip speed until something works. If you’re still not into fish, move to another piece of structure at a different depth. I find it best to use a slightly heavier tippet for stripping streamers, as you’ll certainly catch the occasional pike as well (not that you won’t with indicators!), and bumping up to 0X can save on flies. Bite tippet or steel leaders can also be used as these predators generally aren’t too shy.
There is certainly nothing groundbreaking to the tactics above. They’ve been used for years by stillwater trout anglers for good reason: they catch fish. If you’re a keen fly fisher, the next time you get invited for a day out fishing with a walleye buddy, say yes and take a fly rod along. You may be surprised at just how easily you can keep up to someone fishing conventional tackle.