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The ice has finally receded, and the walleye have started their migration to their spawning grounds as well as the anglers who are after this wonderful fair. I truthfully believe that spring time is the best time of year to catch a limit.
Spring can also be intimidating to those who just prefer to wait until June when that water warms up and they believe that the fish are more active. This rumor could not be more false! Spring and fall are very short seasons and short seasons bringing quick change? From food to temperature fluctuations, walleye are very sensitive to change.
I have found several techniques that seem to present a pattern that these fish enjoy. I love to drag…. jigs slowly in the shallows to entice those bites. Every fisherman knows what jigs are and how to use them but do they know how to take that jig out of jig and drag it instead?
Just because the water is cold and the fish seem to be off while they are spawning you can still fill a stringer with this simple technique. I start by taking a very light jig maybe 1/16 oz. and tip it with either a minnow or soft plastic. Then I proceed to take my boat to related structure that the fish are holding at this time of year. I look for shallow rocky flats or warm bays that have just shown a glimpse of newly emerging weeds.
Walleye will hold in these areas well into the summer as long as the forage is there. With my electronics and my underwater camera if I spot small schools of bait hanging over a fringe bottom of new green weeds or grass, I stop immediately to investigate.
After anchoring I will place a cast as far as I can and wait for the jig to hit bottom. This is key to dragging you must keep contact with the bottom.
I gently drag the jig on the bottom feeling for the slightest hang up, that small snag like feeling is a fish! If you can imagine in your head that you are plowing a line in the sand with your jig as you reel in slowly, then you and I are on the same page.
Once you feel the slightest interruption while dragging stop briefly then set the hook.
I prefer to use Northland Gumball jigs from 1/16-1/4 oz because these jigs have a longer hook shank than most which help keep the bait off the bottom while dragging.
So get in your boat and try dragging I’m sure you’ll be more confident with your next trip to the lake.
SPRING WALLEYE FISHING
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