Spring Walleye tactics

[jellio]

Well after several years being out of the soft water action due to work and family stuff I'll finally be able to put a decent effort into spring/summer fishing this year. I'm wondering if anyone can give me some tips on spring Walleye fishing. Specifically what style's of fishing are most productive in the spring/early summer(jigs,spinners etc.) and how should I fish them. Any advise on lure colors and what types of minnows I should start with. Any help would be great.

[Steak]

I've always had good luck lindy rigging with shiners or bobber fishing with leeches at evening and dawn. This has been on central Minnesota lakes though, not huge walleye fisheries.

[Stick in Mud]

Well I'll say what I do....not that it's authoritative or anything.

I fish mostly shallow on lakes, and I also fish a lot on the Miss. On Mille Lacs, about 90% of my fishing is done on shallow rock reefs early or late in the day; the other 10% is rigging sand, though this year I hope to improve my skills with the bottom bouncer. On the Miss, I look for the usual stuff--current breaks, eddies, etc. etc. Just my .02.

[RiverFish]

I mainly fish the WI river during the spring time. Jig and a large fathead is standard equipment. Use the lightest jig you can get away with.

[gregg52]

I've always had good luck lindy rigging with shiners or bobber fishing with leeches at evening and dawn. This has been on central Minnesota lakes though, not huge walleye fisheries.

CENTRAL MN

Where do you consider central mn

i live in nisswa(brainerd area) and i think if you look at a map we are bout dead center

and i think we have great walleye lakes and fishing in general

remember that why al and ron landed here close to all spieces

so i guess define

central

and for spring fishin of course weather is going to make a difference

but rigging and jiging probably boat the majority of walleyes I'd say

spinners and crank will catch some

varity of colors bring a few with depending on the color of the water

[tunrevir]

The tactics that you use are going to depend on the type of water you are planning on fishing. If you can give us a little more info on the area and the type of system, river, lake or resevoir then others can chime in and give you the helpful info you are looking for.

Tunrevir~

[My_Key]

CENTRAL MN

Where do you consider central mn

i live in nisswa(brainerd area) and i think if you look at a map we are bout dead center

and i think we have great walleye lakes and fishing in general

remember that why al and ron landed here close to all spieces

so i guess define

central

WOW. Kind of take the central MN thing seriously, huh?

When I'm chasing spring eyes, I'll work the deep side of the south shore weedlines during the day hours, noting where I find fish. I'll hit those areas later, but instead focus on the shallow weededge. As for technique, jig/minnows or plastic swimbaits are usually what I try first, sometimes cranks/stickbaits. My main goal is to locate the active fish, then fine tune presentation to get the less active fish to bite.

[JohnMickish]

Keep an eye on the water temps. Above 55 I'm fishing with crawlers or shad raps, if below I will use something like a Rapala floater trolled either on a three way or on lead core.

[PerchJerker]

Good point on water temps and matching your technique to the conditions. I also match my technique to the conditions I'm fishing, although not soley based on water temperature.

Early in the season I usually fish jigs/plastics or jigs/minnows if I've found good concentrations of fish, especially in shallow water where casting and jigging is more effective. If I can't find concentrations of fish up shallow then I'll troll cranks and try to find fish --- stick baits, little rippers, minnow raps, shad raps, hornets, etc. can all good early in the season.

If I can't find active fish, or if I have to move out deeper, then rigging or vertical jigging are more effective.

[tacklejunkie]

I use jigs and spinners in spring, summer and fall and seem to catch fish.

Although I do like a slow drift with a Lindy rig or jig after a cold front.

Spring will find me either jigging the local lakes or trolling crawler harnesses on the SLR

[jellio]

Thanks for the info guys I fish mostly dark colored/stained water resivours (sp)....I'm thinking of hitting Whiteface for the opener but I haven't made my mind up yet. Weather will dictate where I end up for the opener. I'm thinking with the weather we are having it will be "normal" opener as far as ice out around here. I'm actually hoping the ice hangs around for awhile seems like most of the stuff I've read says it will keep them tighter to shore and easier to find if we have a late ice out.

[reinhard1]

whiteface is a good lake. i also fish the stained lakes. you dont have to go far for some walleys there. i fish very shallow here nearly all the time but during opener four feet is an area i look for. i fish a weedy bay this time of the year very close to shore. start out with minnows and bobber. usualy does it. if not i will take the electric motor and throw a crawler harness out with no weight and go just fast enough to keep it just above the new weed growth. i also would have leeches along but they usualy work better in june on. good luck.

[tacklejunkie]

Whiteface is full of smallish walleyes but good action