Catch the early season river bite
Winterās demise signals the beginning of an annual rite of spring, as schools of pre-spawn walleyes surge upstream into rivers across the Walleye Belt.
Although the water is cool and fish location often changes day by dayāeven hour by hourāsavvy anglers can enjoy some of the yearās best fishing.
My favorite scenarios are rivers that flow into larger bodies of water, such as the Rainy River at Lake of the Woods or the Detroit River at western Lake Erie. In these situations, walleyes from the main lake gather at the river mouth in late winter, then move upstream toward spawning areas as the ice recedes, boosting the riverās walleye population to its highest point of the year.
I typically start my search at the river mouth and work my way upstream, checking channel edges and a variety of current breaks. Main-channel holes are among my favorite stops because they attract waves of migrating fish and often ārechargeā several times during a day of fishing.
Current seams and shoreline eddies also hold fish, but donāt overlook anything that blocks the current or offers winter-weary walleyes a chance to rest and feed.
Top tactics include vertical jigging, either from an anchored position or while slipping your boat downstream with the trolling motor, keeping your line as vertical as possible.
Long-shank lead heads like Northland Fishing Tackleās Slurp! Jig and round-headed RZ Jig are hard to beat because they hold live and artificial tippings well while yielding solid hooksets.
Tip jigs with a 3- to 5-inch scented soft plastic trailer, which gives walleyes a target in the turbid, relatively dark waters common in spring river fishing. A variety of soft baits attract fish and trigger strikes, including Northlandās Impulse Paddle Minnows, ringworms, Smelt Minnows, and even old-school creature designs. Sweeten the presentation with extra scent and flavor by skull-hooking a shiner or fathead minnow on top of the plastic piggyback style.
Since the water is still very cool, keep jig strokes to a minimum. Often, a slow and methodical lift-drop cadence within a few inches of the bottom is all it takes, but sometimes simply holding the jig as still as possible an inch or two off the bottom is the best approach.
As the water warms, walleyes often shift into shallower water near shoreline spawning areas. Pitch the same style jigs and tippings toward the bank and swim, drag and pendulum them back to the boat, keeping the jig close to the bottom on the retrieve.
Based in Walker, Minnesota, noted fishing authority and outdoor communicator Chip Leer,www.chipleer.com, operates Fishing the WildSide, which offers a full suite of promotional, product development, and consultation services. For more information, call (218) 547-4714 or email [email protected].