river patterns

[maxing45]

was wondering the patterns for early season walleyes

[Team Otter]

Not that you won't get any help here but I would also suggest posing this question in the various Mississippi Pool Forums and the MN River Forum too.

[tunrevir]

Yeah and the Croix forum as well. The best part about the river is that it is always changing from day to day so there are some patterns in the short term but just when you think you got it whipped things change up on you. Lots of good info on these forum pages. Look into the archives as to what is working now ect.

Tunrevir~

[UncleKes]

Depends on the water temperaure like any place else. In the early stages the same thing you used ice fishing works. A jigging spoon, or a jigging rap. Even a blade bait like the Heddon Sonar.

Later on a lipless crank, rattle bait, or a shallow diving crank over a rock reef is excellent. As are jigs with plastics, feathers, or pork rines.

At night later in the year over a flat I like lighted bobbers and fatheads in about 12 feet of water attached to 3 ways.

Sometimes this pattern will work with crawlers or leeches too.

I have never been much for trolling spinners for some reason. It always seemed to me to be a waste of gas and a good way to get heat stroke although I know guys who do exceptionally well witht them. I just never have.

You can also kill them below dams, rapids, and neck down areas with spoons.

[Stick in Mud]

The fish can also be very very close to shore...sometimes just about on shore. It's hard (at least where I fish) to find large concentrations when the water is as high as it is. They usually spread out a bit and find little pockets of slack/slower water near shore. Just my two cents.

[Mike Walerak]

Rivers are very dynamic and change constantly. Early in the year you should primarily focus on current seams and eddy's. Ones adjacent to deep water can be dynamite.

How large the river is can also have an effect. Rivers such as the Mississippi may have wingdams. Wingdams are kind of like the buffet at the hotel. There is food and retreat from the current. Therefore walleyes use them year-round.

Immediatly after the spawn the females will be seaking slower water to rest so deeper backwater holes can be good. The males will hang on the spawning area for a little while before moving to wherever the bait fish are. Most often the warmest available water will be loaded with baitfish. You can bet there will be walleyes munching on them. Manytimes crappie anglers run into a nice mess of walleyes during May and early June in backwater areas for this very reason.

mw