jigging for walleyes

[sheephead24]

I have a question, whats the best approach to jig for walleyes? I normally drop a jig and minnow or leach under the boat and vertical jig, usually have decent luck, but is it better to cast? If so do you grag the jig along the bottom with a minnow hooked through the mouth or what is the best way? Thanks

[Captain B.R.K]

When I'm vertical jigging for walleyes, I like to have a light breeze to push me across the structure I'm working. On a calm day, I'll use the trollin' motor to push me across the structure I want to work.

The key is to keep that jig vertical so you don't get yourself stuck on anything.

If you like to stay stationary or don't have the use of a trollin' motor, then pitch that jig below or on top of the structure and either work it up or down towards the boat.

I normally like to use a jig/minnow and bounce it off the bottom w/ a lift of the rod and then reel, left of a rod and reel, etc. until the jig is back to the boat.

(Kind of like fishing a jig/pig for bass.) This way you may get caught up in snags once in awhile....

but either way can be effective at times.

[river rat316]

How do you guys hook the minnow when your vertical jigging?

[Captain B.R.K]

I learned the BERgie style, from Mike Berg up on the gunflint trail, technique.

Take the hook point and put it in the minnows mouth and run it through the gills. So you haven't hooked the minnow yet, just ran the hook through the minnow's mouth, gills. Bring the minnow up to the collar area on the jighead.

NEXT, while bending the minnow at 20-40 degree angle (without ripping the minnow in half), take the point and put it through the body of the minnow. Minnow should be vertical to the jighead.

This way your bait is nearly impossible to rip off.

Tried my best to use words without showing....does it make sense???

[MedicDan]

I usually hook through the mouth, because when walleyes approach the bait they will first suck on it for a couple seconds, if it has flavor, then they will take it.

[BDR]

When fishing less than 15' i like to pitch out a little ways and bouce the jig back to me, just as BRK described. Key to pitching is to keep line taught on the drops and lifts. I get more hits on the drop than anything. It can take a little practice to feel those. I also am into line watching when I jig for eye's. If I see that line twitch I set the hook. If it is deeper I will fish as verticle as possible. The reason for the difference is that I think sometimes a boat will spook fish and especially a trolling motor.

I also hook minnows the same as BRK described. I also prefer long shank hooks to get the hook a little further back. The slightest tap and I set the hook, no waiting or I will miss more fish.

I have several times watched Walleyes eat. I have never seen one come up and taste. They sometimes approach slowly, then their gills flare and the food is inhaled. After seeing this a couple times I quit with the old myth of feeding line to walleyes. My hooking percentage has went up drastically.

[TMan]

One other thing to mention is that its important to use the right weight jig for the conditions:

If it's windy and deep (Relative term here), use a heavier jig so you can keep the line taught enough to feel a strike on the downfall of your jig. This is easier to do with the right jig. Conversly, when less wind and shallower, use a lighter jig so your fall on the jigging motion is not so abrupt. It takes practice and experiementation, try different sizes and shapes to see how each perform (But hopefully you'll decide on Phelps, hehe - I know I'll get nuked for that).

I just hook the minnow under the lip and through the top of the head, IMHO I think they flop around and look more natural with that freedom.

Good luck,

TMan

[BlackwaterStout]

I just posted in another thread about my problems catching walleye. When you are vertical jigging do you constantly jig the minnow up and down or do you ever just drop it below the boat and put the rod in a holder? I've had great luck catching yellow perch by dropping my bait until it hits the bottom and then reeling it up a foot or two off the bottom. Sometimes I'll stick it in the rod holder and wait for it to start bouncing.

[delmuts]

the guys will give you more info, but when vertical jigging, many time you want the jig just off the bottom. usually one can do this by keeping the jig so that you can just lower your rod a little and touch bottom. action can be either bouncing it along or just bouncing once in a while and just hovering it .

[Team Otter]

The best approach for jigging walleyes is very season-specific. In the spring time when the water temperature is 55.0 F and less, pitching or rip-jigging in shallow water is the best bet. Northland Fireball jigs work well for both of these tactics and you can simply slide the point of the hook into the minnow's mouth and out through the "forehead" in between its' eyes. I don't resort to vertical jigging until late summer during cold fronts or in the fall when fish are holding on deep structure. Dragging jigs also has a time and place but I've found this tactic to be more effective on river systems vs. inland lakes.