Best Bets For River Walleye
Give me your four best bets for catching river walleye. Those would have to be jigs , three-way rigs , blade baits , and jigging spoons.
During cold water conditions in the fall and winter vertical jigging is the best solution for walleyes holding in the tailwater areas below dams , in deep holes near river bends , or any structure that will attract and hold fish. The trick is to select the right jig weight to allow you to lift drop the lure only a few inches from the bottom.Jigs tipped with a minnow hooked through the head is a tempting walleye target.
For a more aggressive approach try using jigging spoons or blade baits and using 12 - 18 inch upward jigging strokes followed by a near free fall to allow the lure to achieve it's best action. Jigging spoons scoot upward then flutter downward while blade baits have a thrumming vibration on the way up and a clunk towards the bottom. So each lure offers a slightly different approach.
If the aggressive approach isn't working try going in the opposite direction. Tie up a three way rig with a short dropper and snell of about 12 - 15 inches long using a 1 - 2 ounce sinker. Tip the plain hook or floating jig head with a lively minnow hooked through the lip. You can lower the rig from your boat to the bottom or drift a little holding the weight just off the bottom.Or cast it out from the bank into a likely spot , like into an eddy or visible current break.
Use medium action gear with 6 - 8 pound line for jigging and 10 - 12 pound for three way rigs or jigging spoons and blades.There you have it , the best bets for cold river walleyes.
Fish Landing Techniques
Nothing can be more heartbreaking than losing a big bass right next to your boat. Using proper landing techniques is the best defense. The first thing to remember is , don't rush a big fish to the boat. Instaed allow it to expend a little energy before you attempt to land it. As you play the fish , keep the line tight , slack in the line will enable the fish to shake the lure free. Let the reel drag do it's job and allow the rod to absorb the energy of the fish. If the fish make s a power run away or under the boat , don't try to strong-arm it. Follow the fish around the boat until it tires. Don't let your rod rest on the edge of the boat as it may snap in two. Wait until you are ready to land the fish to put the net in the water. Position the net in front of the fishes head and scoop it head first into the net with one fluid motion. Remembering these few tips can help you put more fish in the boat.
Practice – Enjoy practicing and you’ll learn more.
You should treat yourself to some casting plugs, they are inexpensive and they will make practicing fishing for bass in the yard so much more enjoyable. If you enjoy practicing, then it stands to reason that you will practice more. If you practice more, then it stands to reason that you will become better and better as time goes by.
You should practice with the largest plug as this is the best one to start off with. You should practice spool control using your thumb and the way to do this is simple. Sit on a chair holding the rod and real as you would when fishing. With the tip pointing upwards, allow the plug to fall to the ground slowing the spool with your thumb as it drops. Practice stopping the spool with your thumb when the plug reaches the floor. You should practice spool control for 30 minutes a day minimum.
You should also practice landing your plug in desired positions of varying distances. You should be able, with practice, to cast and watch your plug as it flies through the air, feathering the spool ever so gently with your thumb to slow the pace and only stopping the spool as your plug reaches its target. Practice makes perfect and you will reap the rewards if you put the time in.
As you practice your casting, make sure your reel is tilted to the side, your grip is relaxed, and your elbow is by your side. There is no need to bring your upper arm into the action during the cast. All the action is from the elbow and wrist.
You should also keep your movements gentle and fluid, no quick jerks, just a smooth, effortless movement, just like reading the article here at bass fishing techniques. 20-30 minutes practice a day will soon have your casting confidence soaring to new heights. Within no time you will be able to place your chosen lure in a bucket at 15 yards.
The best reel to use is a baitcaster reel. These types of reel are perfectly suited to casting plugs and lures. The baitcaster can be very accurate when casting artificial lures. they require just one hand to operate and they don’t twist or foul the line when casting. The baitcaster is excellent for use with light or heavy line.
The rod and reel combinations these days are extremely light and comfortable to use. Using one for a full days fishing doesn’t require much effort at all. You should always try out a rod and reel combination before you buy. There are plenty to choose from and choosing the right one will pay dividends later.
If you prefer to use light tackle when bass fishing then a rod and a threadline reel combination will prove a good choice. Although you may sacrifice a little accuracy, distance shouldn’t be a problem when using a light plug.