Get jiggy with it for spring walleyes!

I’ve been catching walleyes on jigs since I was a kid. I recall the first like it was yesterday. Scampering on the shoreline rocks along the Missouri River near Chamberlain, S.D., the boredom of watching still crappie rigged rods prompting exploration and experimentation. Knowing walleyes move closer to shore during the spring months, I tied on a jig and grabbed a few minnows from the bucket to begin hunting for fish rather than waiting for them to show up. The first hook set was solid and stuck hard...in between two rocks, no doubt. I tied on another jig. That one lasted about as long as its predecessor before becoming another victim to the rocky Missouri River shoreline. I persisted and pushed on down the rocks, hopping like a billy goat before settling upon a flat, stable rock just above the water's edge. I hooked a hapless fathead minnow onto a chartreuse 1/4 oz jig and pitched it underhand toward the remnants of an old concrete structure, gnarled rebar protruding like a toddlers messy hairdew. The thump on the end of a jig is unmistakeable once felt for the first time. The hookset, a breath of fresh air after having only caught rocks up to that point. The tug of a 17 inch walleye sparked a new fire in my belly, and I've been hooked on jig fishing ever since. I've since ditched the live bait for artificial presentations, except in specific circumstances.  Live bait is undeniably effective at catching fish, but I am constantly on the lookout for opportunities to exploit a fishery with artificial baits, and find it to be one of the fun challenges fishing brings to my life.  The jig and plastic combination has been a fish catching machine for generations.  Not only is it more efficient and cost effective over the long-run, but using artificial baits means more fishing time and can result in a greater number of fish brought to hand.  It has become a go-to presentation all year-round for walleyes, one that I just know will catch fish if they are around. Yes, having a go-to bait is a confidence booster, but having the right assortment of jigs and plastic baits only holds part of the key to unlocking jig fishing secrets.  To fully understand jig fishing, we need to ask a very important questions…how are you fishing it?

The most important competitive advantages brought to the table by jigs are finesse, weight, and cost.  With the right weight, during the right time of year, I’m convinced that it matters less what plastic is stuck on the hook, but more that it swims in front of a fish the right way.  Uninitiated anglers be warned; this fishing style requires plenty of practice and patience to master, even with a mentor by your side.  Some just get it, and others just do not.  If you are considering pitching jigs for the first time, you are likely going to lose jigs, miss fish, not catch any fish, and have an overall difficult time figuring things out…for a while.  More often than not, there are other factors complicating the journey from not getting a jig fishing presentation, to mastering it.  Here they are:

1 - Feeling the jig. It is absolutely imperative that you are in direct contact with your jig at all times. Bites could come on the drop, on the twitch, on the drift, on the swing, or while reeling. If there is slack in your line, and you are not able to feel the jig on the other end, you'll have a hard time feeling a walleye picking it up. Current and wind will make this challenge more difficult, so make sure you have a variety of jig sizes available (or rigged up and ready) for any situation you may be faced with. Stay tight and catch more fish.

2 - Most of fishing in presentation. Mark Sosin wasn't joking when he reminded his viewer about this on every episode of Saltwater Journal. Presentation options depend on the conditions, current, structure, prey species, and time of year. Early season, you might find the need to slow wayyyyy down, just dragging a jig and twist tail along the bottom to entice bites. Other times, a consistent retrieve is required with a few intermittent twitches or rips to make the jig more enticing. Experiment with the retrieve and stay consistent once you find something that works. Or, just drop them under a slip bobber with live bait and enjoy the day. High wind/current conditions will require a heavier jig to get down to the fish and stay tight during the presentation. Always consider these factors when setting up for jig fishing, and don't hesitate to adjust on the fly when conditions change.

3 - You can use any color as long as it's chartreuse...If it ain't chartreuse, it ain't no use...can you tell what my favorite color is? Really, use whatever color brings you confidence. Some colors may produce better in certain conditions, but it's a smaller part of presentation. Most often I'm using unpainted football head, or ball head jigs and still catch a ton of fish. Color can play a factor in some circumstances, but it is more of a personal preference and confidence thing for anglers.

4 - Line selection: I prefer using a solid braided line for jig fishing (power pro) in a bright green or white color to make it easier to see at night. Having a solid braided line helps feel bites, allows for a solid hookset, and gives you more sensitivity to jig malfunctions or unwanted items attached.

5 - Leave a good tip. What you tip your jig with can be vital to jig fishing success. Live bait is the obvious go-to, giving fish a natural forage option. "Why would they eat the bait on your hook if the real thing is down there?" Mine has a hook in it! Plastic baits have gained favor for their durability, longevity, and fish catching ability. Doll up your jig with fur or feathers to make a natural representation with the ability to catch fish without live bait. There is something extremely satisfying about ripping big bucktail jigs that you created and catching walleyes. Again, size, color, sounds, movement, silhouette, all play a factor when selecting a pairing for your jig. In the Missouri River, when shad fry are running, the smallest, flashiest little plastic bait is about the only thing that will catch fish. Adjust your presentation to the natural forage, and have a greater chance at success.

    

This, my fishy friends, is your golden ticket to consistently catch walleyes with jigs.  Anytime during the year you can find big walleyes, catfish, smallmouth bass, white bass, carp, and other predators on the prowl and ready for an easy meal to drift by.  Take these tips, master them, and put them to work on a tailrace near you.  It won’t be long before you start hearing, “Hey!  What are you using?”