Walleye jigging and trolling

[foo]

Looking for some new ideas. Trolling 6'-12' @ 1.3 to 2 mph in various big shallow lakes. This is a technique I am looking for improvement.

Here are some of the combos I have used at this speed with various degrees of success.

1)3/8 Fuzz-e-grub with minnow (just bouncing it along the ground)

2)snagless rattling weight (lindy) with 3 foot snell with a plain floating jig head and minnow or leech. (seems maybe longer snell maybe better to get the jig head off the bottom sometimes).

3)spilt shots about 3 1/2 feet up the line with a floating jig head.

Anyways, feel free to shoot holes in these techniques, ideas to improve them, or throw some completely new ideas for jigging at these speeds. I am basically looking for walleye jigging techniques at faster speeds in fairly shallow water (6'-12') this time of year into fall that might be worth pursuing. I like to cover a lot a ground and it is not always easy to do and jig effectively.

thanks in advance.

[BobT]

Keep in mind that the faster you go, the heavier your jig combo has to be and the harder it will be to detect the pickup.

I would also think that the faster you go, the less lift the floating jigs will have against the resistance from the water so they'll tend to follow more straight behind the sinker. Spinner blades can sometimes create lift and attraction. Another even better option might be to use a bottom bouncer of various lengths.

Bob

[foo]

Exactly, the speed and feel (or lack of) is the problem. I imagine the floating jig heads ride only slightly off the ground like you say but, I have had a bit of luck off off points with it in the past. A lighter bottom bouncer and experimenting with various lengths is an interesting idea. thanks

[Team Otter]

Is there a reason you're only trolling with jigs?

[foo]

Yes and No. There have been situations this summer when I have been trolling with Floating Raps or other crankbaits as well as my fishing partner. The crankbaits were working to some degree (1 walleye per hour or so). I want in those situations to have the flexabilty to continue trolling with one guy a crankbait and have the option to go with jig and live bait to see if it is more effective instead of, both going away from the one presentation that is working (albeit slowly) and cover a lot a ground at the same time. I want to have my cake and eat it too so to speak.

I have been trying to fish some new lakes this year so, that's why I want to cover as much ground as possible. I have had a great time this year just experimenting with different lakes, depths, and techniques.

[8-Ball]

What about Lindy-style spinner rigs...

[Team Otter]

OK, I got ya'. Nice game plan for searching out new bodies of water. You sound persistent; gotta like that.

Something to consider rather than jigs or spinner rigs, as it has been suggested, is to try spoons and blade baits. Typically these types of lures are thought of as for "ice fishing only" but that is hardly the case. For a person who likes to experiment, these lures give you endless opportunity for that.

[PerchJerker]

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I want in those situations to have the flexabilty to continue trolling with one guy a crankbait and have the option to go with jig and live bait to see if it is more effective

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You've got the right idea about searching and trying different presentations but I don't think you're going about it in the best way.

It's tough (or impossible) to fish mixed presentations like you described and do them both properly. More likely is you'll be going faster than you should for the livebait and slower than you should for the crankbait, and probably not matching your baits and techniques to the location you're fishing in.

I'd suggest that you both fish the same type of presentation at the same time. For example, both use a faster moving search technique to find fish or eliminate locations and presentations, or both try working a slower livebait approach. What that means is you and your partner both pull crankbaits or maybe spinner rigs with live bait at the same time (spinner rigs can be fished faster than jigs or standard live bait rigs), or you both fish slower livebait techniques like jigs, standard live bait rigs, or dropshot rigs.

Fish a faster technique if the fish are active and aggressive, or if they're spread out, or if you want to cover some water. Fish a slower technique if the fish are neutral or negative, or concentrated in smaller areas (points, humps and reefs, spots on a weedline, etc).

There's a few benefits to this approach. One is that by both you and your partner fishing the same style of baits at the same time, you'll likely present them better (speed, location, boat control). Another benefit is mixing up your approach on the water can make it more fun and interesting --- ie. we'll do this for another xx minutes or for xx more passes etc., and if something doesn't happen then we'll try something else, etc.

I hope this makes sense. Good luck.

[foo]

It makes quite a bit of sense. I feel comfortable doing what you described on lakes I am familar with but, I get antsy on a new lake. I want to cover so much ground that I feel I need to move constantly and discover new structure or that elusive hotspot no one knows about. Oh well, however I fish or where I fish really doesn't matter to much as long as I am fishing I guess. Thanks for the comments. Oh one more thing, anybody had any success with snap-jigging?

[Team Otter]

Good advice PerchJerk but Foo, don't always limit yourself to one thing or the other. As much as you like to experiment, there's a lot of opportunity out there for you. As for snap jigging, it can be very effective in the spring with minnows and actually, from now until early fall, with plastics.

Good Luck!

[PerchJerker]

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As for snap jigging, it can be very effective in the spring with minnows and actually, from now until early fall, with plastics.

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Yup!

Ripping a jig through weeds can be a great way to trigger strikes. Either fish over the tops of the weeds and don't get down into the jungle, or pitch jigs along the weed edge where they get sparse.