Timber fishing isn’t just for Spring

When I use Northland short shank jigs and minnows fishing in 30-40 foot of stained water lakes in Northern Wisconsin I win Spring Walleye Tournaments. Fishing in these deep water conditions and winning a tournament is rare. Walleye’s stay close to spawning area’s especially the males sometimes well into June. The shoreline timber and drop off underwater timber is great for spring Walleye. This is because the Walleye doesn’t want to chase dinner any farther than they have to. The best thing about timber is that you don’t have to search far for food, because their food source is always around timber for protection and cover, just like the Walleye’s are. They hang around timber because their food is close and prey is easy. The Walleye also need timber and weeds for their protection from other predators such as Northerns, Musky, and bigger Walleye. Just remember, everybody needs food and all fish are food.

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Fishing in timber takes a lot of patience and stealth, you need to be quiet, have a rod with good back bone and a fast tip. I recommend a 6’3” St. Croix Walleye Tournament Legend, Medium with a good reel, like the Shiman Stradic 1500. Also a must is either Power Pro braided stretch 8lb. test line (red or green) or Fireline Crystal. Great jigs to use are the Northland Weed Weasel or the Lindy Timber jig which helps you from snagging. I do not use weedless hooks because I’m so used to timber fishing. I set up right over the timber and use my polarized sunglasses to look into the trees or brush and drop the line down between the limbs and twigs. As soon as the Walleye takes your jig you need to set the hook and get him out of there ASAP. This is when a good rod reel and no stretch line come into play. If you’re fishing a large tree or timber area there could be a lot of Walleye down there. I’ve caught as many as 10 Walleyes and a few Northern from 1 big tree. Don’t think because you see 1 little tree there wont be anybody home, just like an iceberg there’s a lot more tree underwater than you see above. When fishing open water timber you can vertical jig, cast and retrieve, or even drag jig. If you are casting and dragging you should use a weedless jig that way you can jump your jig over the snag. Always remember if you use a weedless, always trim the weedless part of the jig to only the length you need, just to cover the hook. You will get a better hook percentage and less chance of spooking the skittish fish.

If you are in the Northwood’s…Northern Wisconsin, the U P, or Minnesota look for fallen Cedar trees or Birch which provide a lot of cover and limbs. If you are not in the Northwood’s where trees are everywhere, then any timber or tree would do.

Fishing timber is something I do all year long not just in the Spring. It can definitely be a challenge though, getting snagged can be good thing. It means that you are where the fish are, so be patient. Minnows, leeches, or night crawlers work best depending on time of year. I’ve also hammered a lot of aggressive Summer and Fall Walleye with Berkley Power grubs and Northland Slurpies Swim'n Grubs.

Check out these Northland Slurpies Swim'n Grubs

Timber fishing can be very productive and rewarding if you put your time in and use the right equipment. So just remember to stay quiet, still and be patient and you’ll end up with a great day on the water.

Northland Forage Minnow Jigs

Northland Forage Minnow Jigs are one of my favorite ice fishing jigs. It’s not too small so you can target a wider range of fish. They come in sizes 6 or 8 and in 6 different colors.

The Northland Forage Minnow Jig is holographic which gives it a shiner fingerling image with 3D eyes and hard for fish to resist. I tip mine with about 3 or 4 waxies or even Gulp Alive colored waxies to cover the hook…it’s almost a sure thing. Perch, White Bass and Crappies are my usual target with this jig. But you would be surprised with how many Walleye’s I catch too…What a bonus!

Get the most lifelike minnow-imitating casting spoon ever – Northland Forge $3.79-$3.99

Northland Live Bait Walleye Spinner Kit

Here is a great kit you can use to customize your own Walleye rigs to adapt to water clarity or have the ease of changing out the many different blades depending on what the fish are looking for. It’s good for long line trolling or drifting in a condensed area or planer board trolling in larger waters that is the versatility of this kit. These Northland Live Bait Walleye Spinner Rigs are best used with nightcrawlers and leeches. If you prefer artificial you can use a Berkley 6 inch power worm. It’s a great walleye rig that is very easy to use and you will fish like a pro.

Northland Live Bait Walleye Spinner Kit $6.99

Fishing Timber Walleye - Northland Weed Weasel

Predator game fish hide in timber or weed cover to attack their prey! Slowly and quietly bring the boat up to or over the timber. Use a timber jig with ½ crawler or minnow and jig right in the timber or logs. When you set the hook pull the Walleye out fast or the fish will snag you in the timber fast! Use at least 8lb test braided line for strength an abrasion resistance. You’ll be surprised at how many Walleye you catch and the size of the fish you can get out of one tree. Good luck and keep fishing - Gary

Check out this Northland Weed-Weasel Jig

Northland Jigs

Northland’s Fire Ball Short Shank jigs are my favorite go to jigs. It has an extra loop for a stinger hook for those tough biting spring walleyes. Northland short shank fireball jig is great for live bait, because when you put the minnow on, you can put almost all the hook into the mouth and come out the back of the head, so it covers up the hole shank, all you can see is the minnow and the jig head. Also when you thread the night crawler onto the wide gap it gives you a bigger presents on the hook. My favorite Northland fire ball jigs color are metallic gold yellow glow, Parakeet, Sunrise, Super-Glo Green. Northland's Fire-Ball Jigs are the number one producer on the Pro-Walleye Trail! Deadly with minnows, crawlers and leeches, Fire-Ball Jigs are designed with a compact short shank, wide-gap hook that produces a lifelike live bait presentation gamefish can't resist. Fire-Ball Jigs feature a patented double barb, bait-holding sting'r hook which nips and stings those short striking biters. - Gary

Check out these Northland Fire-Ball Jigs Pro 10 Pack