Finding Walleyes in a Small-Medium Sized River

[Hory]

I spend a large amount of my time fishing the Missippi on Pools 4 and 5 with relative success. However, I would like to try to catch some 'eyes on the Chippewa River, north of where it dumps into the Missippi near my hometown. Average depths go anywhere from 6-12 feet with some holes being slightly deeper and some shallower stretches. I have only caught a handful of eyes in the river, but I've personally seen locals pull out numerous decent walleyes many times. I can catch smallmouths, perch, and random rough fish all day long by working rip-rap sections, creek mouths, etc., but the walleyes are few and far between. How would you go about fishing this relatively smaller river for some walleye action? Thanks for the help!

[tunrevir]

To find fish you would look for many of the same features you would look for on a larger river system, holes, current breaks, changes in bottom content, feeder creeks, neck down areas, scour holes and inside and outside turns. If the river is rocky then look for areas where there is a transition from rock and gravel to sand or mud. Look at working logjams on riverbends if they are available. Current seams where faster water and slower water collide or where two channels come together can be key. On the shallower rivers I fish I tend to work twistertails and shad bodied plastics and smaller countdown raps or husky jerks. Early cold water I work the baits slowly and tend to start with 2-3" bodies as the water warms and the bite picks up I work 4" and at times larger bodied baits. The areas that I fish tend to have alot of snags so I tend to stick with the cheaper plastics versus the expensive cranks. I fish the Flambeau and Rum rivers frequently and each has different characteristics. The mistake I see is that people that fish small rivers typically fish from a canoe or small boat and drift past fish holding areas without ever working them thoroughly. Work those fishy spots slowly and carefully, waders can be a great asset when working smaller rivers.

Tunrevir~

[Lakeside_Nelson]

I second what Tunrevir said. Current breaks are key, I fish a tiny river out in the Morris area and once you find a hole or cut in current you find fish.

[DR_FISH]

Is it the fon du lac river

[Lakeside_Nelson]

No, the Pomme de Terre.

[DR_FISH]

Oh, that is probaly it. I fished it before. It seems like any spot semi-deep is a great spot. Jive seen many people catching walleye with a worm under a bobber.

[Lakeside_Nelson]

Yeah a lot of guys use that or minnows, but I like raps and hair jigs. It's just what you are comfortable with.