Spring can be a magical time of the year to fish walleyes. If you can get away with a heavier jig, go for it, but if the bite is tough, you may need to downsize to a smaller jig.
You can even downsize to 3″ when fish are being really finicky. Many walleye anglers like a drift-and-drag style of fishing, but getting the bait away from the boat can be important this time of year. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of every email.Fishing Editor Gord Pyzer is widely regarded as Canada's most scientific angler. Zero in on their location by idling over the break and marking them on your electronics.Sometimes, you can forecast the activity levels of the fish before you hit the water. How to Fish Walleyes in the Spring. Fish them the same way you would fish jerkbaits in these conditions: slow pulls paired with intermittent pauses. Known in fishing circles as Doctor Pyzer, he worked for 30 years as a senior manager with Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources before devoting all his energies to fishing.
Depending on the lake (or area of the lake) you’re fishing, walleyes will either spawn on main lake shorelines or in feeder rivers and creeks.Here’s a couple graphics that will help you understand how walleyes move from their spawning grounds, to their post-spawn areas, and finally to their summer haunts:Look for shallow water structure between those spawning grounds and some of your favorite main lake summertime spots. Jig weight will vary from 1/16 oz to 3/8 oz depending on the mood of the fish. As well, he co-hosts the Real Fishing Radio Show with Bob Izumi. 8 Natural Ways to Repel Insects Without Bug Spray. When they are inactive like this, you need to slow down and tempt them with subtle vertical presentations. Yes, the elusive walleye record that stood tall for over 5 decades finally came crashing down right in the city limits of Bismarck in the spring of 2018. Why is spring walleye fishing awesome? The Top 5 Locations For Finding Spring River Walleye - YouTube Still, as close as jigs are to being universal walleye catchers, they stand out in the spring when weather and water conditions are variable, providing maximum versatility.For example, if spring arrives late and the water is icy cold, the fish may be lethargic and relating to heavy current down deep. You will be sent an opt-in email to confirm that you would like to receive emails from us. The strike will typically come when the bait is in free fall or when it’s on the bottom, which means you aren’t likely to feel the bite until the next time you attempt to rip the bait off the bottom.This is the most popular presentation for spring walleyes.
The exact number is going to vary from lake-to-lake, of course, but it will generally be somewhere between 44-48F.One of the big keys to finding walleyes in the spring is knowing where they spawned just a few weeks before. They also favour areas exposed to wind and current, because moving water cleans and aerates the eggs. The female fish can reduce their metabolic demands in the colder water to devote more energy to producing eggs. Continue this all the way back to the boat. It’s deadly on fish that want the shape and profile of a soft-plastic dressing, with the added flash, flavour and aroma of the real thing.Keep in mind that walleye are also colour conscious. And for an even bigger, bulkier presentation, you can team them with live bait. So in the spring, if you want to catch numbers of aggressive walleye, fish close to the shallow spawning areas. Walleye fishing is first and foremost about location. Instead, the large females are quick to leave the spawning areas in search of deepwater refuges where there are plenty of ciscoes, whitefish and smelt to eat.Younger, smaller walleye typically feed on yellow perch, and since perch are shallow in the spring, the smaller walleye stay shallow with them. They are excellent tools for triggering hungry walleyes that are ready to eat.The retrieve is fairly straightforward.