Outdoor Fisherman: Keep your eye and finger on the line

Walleye fishing in the spring requires your complete attention. Concentration is the most important part of Walleye fishing especially when the fish are not very aggressive.

There may be days in the spring when you catch 50 walleyes, and then you have the days where you struggle to catch just one. That one bite may be that 30’’ trophy fish you’ve been dreaming of! If you lose that fish because you’re not paying attention to the minor details, it’ll ruin your entire day.

Here are three of the most important things you can do when River Fishing Spring Walleye:

Keep your jig on the bottom surface or within 2-4 inches of bottom

Walleye and Saugers lay on the bottom surface in the spring. They aren’t going to go more than a few inches to eat, they are saving their strength for spawning. When you put a minnow in front of them, they can’t resist it. This is why it’s important to focus on the bottom.

Keep your finger on the line

Walleye are a very strange and sneaky fish. I don’t know how many times I thought I had a snag on a rock or in the weeds, and it ended up being a Walleye. Anybody who fishes Walleye knows what I’m talking about. As soon as you feel something on your line, don’t just assume you have a snag. Slowly lift your rod tip with your bail open and hold the line with your index finger. If it’s a Walleye you’ll feel a light tug or it will feel heavy, the fish will start swimming away from the boat. When you’ve determined it is a Walleye, let go of the line and let the fish take out some line. Depending on how aggressive they are you could let them take the jig for 5 or 10 seconds sometimes 30 seconds. Then close the bail, reel up the slack and make sure the fish is still there. Drop the rod tip just a bit and set the hook! Hopefully your finicky Walleye or Sauger will be on its way into the boat!

Always watch your line and rod tip

This is especially important if you are vertical jigging. Depending on how deep you’re fishing, watching your line or rod tip makes a big difference. When your are vertical jigging in 20 to 40 feet of water, watching the rod tip and feeling the line tug with your finger is critical. Plus at this depth your line choice is very important, I use 8lb test Power Pro. There is no stretch in the line and it’s great for setting the hook at great depths. Plus it’s really tough, it holds up against the rocky bottoms of the rivers that we fish. When the Walleye finally takes your jig and minnow, if you don’t see your rod tip move you’ll feel the fish with your finger on the line. Let the fish take out some line and make sure you reel up all the slack line if you are vertical jigging deep. if there’s slack line at 30 or 40 feet you will lose the fish. Then set the hook!

Always remember when you are vertical jigging shallow waters 20 feet or less, watch that rod tip. You may see your line go slack or move from side to side at times. Many times this means the Walleye may be swimming right back towards the boat. The fish may be a bit hungrier and this will enable you to set the hook quicker. You will get the feel for the Walleye and how there biting, then you’ll be putting fish in the boat before you know it.

Pay attention to the details for those early spring Walleye. Jig on the bottom, keep your finger on the line, and always watch your rod tip and line. Following these 3 tips will get you a more successful day on the water. Remember always take only what you can eat. Be sure to take some photo’s so you can brag to your buddies.

Here is a great rod and reel combo for vertical jigging, drag jigging, and casting jigs. Shimano Stradic ST2500 reel, combo with the St. Croix Avid 6’6” med light fast tip and Power Pro no stretch braided line, you can't miss.