Spring Walleye Tactics

Walleye anglers are eager to get fishing again this spring, but the unpredictable weather conditions at this time of year can quickly transform a productive fishery into an impossible mire of murky water.

At such times, patience and smart tactics can make an immense difference.

Slow Trolling or Drifting

Early spring walleye fishing can be tough going; when they appear scattered and disinterested it pays to employ low tech tactics. Crankbaits with planer boards and complex trolling routes can often produce results; however there may be times when simpler tactics such as trolling will prove more successful.

Now is the time to try dragging meatless jigs behind your boat, slowly drifting along contour drops or weed edges with an electric motor and moving slowly and quietly as walleyes tend to be wary and easily startled. The key to this approach lies not in speed but in being quiet as walleyes tend to be wary fish easily startled by any sudden movement.

Use a lightweight jig that’s designed to mimic the movement of natural prey, such as a 3/0 or 4/0 Mimic Minnow Jig. Use either single jigs or mount multiples on a dropper off your main line and drag that one up towards the surface, giving yourself maximum chances that walleyes notice what you are using! You should experiment with different colors and tail types while increasing chances that passing walleyes notice it!

One trick for walleye fishing is to look for areas in which the bottom transitions from rock to compacted mud or hard-to-soft sand, as these transitions often provide walleye hot spots. Walleye will often enter these spots from deeper water.

Lastly, when fishing a lake or reservoir with heavy weed growth, it can be helpful to find areas where wind has concentrated some warm water into protected pockets. Here you are most likely to encounter walleyes who are ahead of their biological curve compared to other parts of the lake.

Lightweight Jigs

As the ice melts away, water temperatures rise, and walleye begin their annual migration towards their spawning grounds, this predictable behavior can become an angler’s advantage.

If you want to replicate the natural prey of these migrating fish, using baits that have similar actions and appearance as their quarry is key. Live minnows are usually preferred, though soft plastics also work. Jigs with simple hooks attached to small minnows work effectively. Jigs featuring blade baits may provide extra durability if conditions warrant. These baits feature tight vibration and lack of sound which attracts lethargic walleyes during early spring conditions.

Jigs can be either trolled or cast, with casting being more effective in shallower waters. When casting, light action rods with medium fast action work best as these rods will allow you to manage light jerk cadence while still remaining connected with the bottom; six and eight-pound test rods make ideal choices in this instance.

Try dragging your jig behind the boat in less than 10 feet of water, using current to move it downstream while occasionally pulling upstream. This method provides an efficient and quick way to cover ground, especially if winds are blowing strongly.

Dragging tactics like this one can be extremely effective if fished under ideal conditions. For instance, slow dragging techniques are ideal when fishing transition areas or rocky bars for walleyes without scaring away fish. Dragging also proves highly successful after sunset when targeting deep-water walleyes because movement from your jig may trigger reaction bites upon sunset – providing an opportunity to catch suspended walleyes as well.

Live Bait

As the water temperatures warm, walleye migrate to their spawning areas and become highly aggressive feeders prior to their breeding cycle – providing some of the most memorable fishing of the season.

Early spring walleye fishing spots that prove most successful include sand flats tucked along old river channels or eddies. The calm waters allow walleye to relax without fighting current and provide ample baitfish habitat; slowly drifting a minnow-tipped jig through these locations is one surefire way to reel them in at this time of year.

Another key factor to keep in mind when fishing for walleye is wind direction. Consistent winds for multiple days can create pockets of warm water along shorelines where baitfish gather; walleye often congregate. Make sure that you check your electronics often; if no bites come, keep moving until you find active fish.

Walleyes typically congregate in deeper waters during late fall and winter months, but once spring approaches they move shallower onto shallow spawning flats to spawn. These shallow sand flats can be extremely productive as well as being easy to locate using electronic gear; look out for new weed growth or wood clutter on bottoms between 8-15 feet deep for productive spots.

Sucker or chub minnow fished on a jig are among the best methods of catching these massive creatures as they prepare to spawn. Leech fished on a jig is also an effective approach.

Walleyes typically rest from their spawning ritual for four to ten days and then return hungry, ready to feed on anything that looks tasty. Minnows, leeches or imitation crankbaits often trigger this hunger in walleyes; for maximum success use the Rapala Rippin’ Rap slip-rigged with either minnow or leech trailers as it has tight wobble and rattle that walleyes seem to love! If this bait has yet to be tried you should definitely give it a try –

Transition Areas

As soon as spring arrives, walleye migrate to shallower and warmer waters in search of food and spawning areas. They often gather on sandy flats or gravel bars where they warm up before searching out baitfish during both day and night hours – these locations being prime opportunities for trolling or drifting.

However, as the season unfolds and water temperatures stabilize, these same areas may no longer produce as efficiently. Therefore, it’s essential that you keep searching and adapting your tactics as conditions change.

Weather, wind and temperature all play an integral part in how and where walleye fish. On natural lakes, walleye may migrate into rivers before ascending upstream towards major dams for feeding during fall; in reservoir systems these same fish can often be found feeding from main lake points during the summer as they search for forage species attracted to current.

If the temperature quickly decreases and water temperatures decline rapidly, these same fish will likely relocate to deeper main lake structure, particularly on large bodies of water with bays or protected pools that might warm more quickly than its main body. Anglers focusing on reefs, sunken islands, and humps will experience some of their best walleye action this year.

Not only should you look for transition zones, but also seek areas in which bottom textures transition from rock to sand or rocky to clay; this could be game-changing! Also look out for areas where old weed mats have given way to emerging vegetation, as these could provide further signs of life. Walleye quickly respond to changes in weed beds as pre-spawn females move onto them to lay their eggs, prompting walleye feeding. Furthermore, baitfish make these spots excellent fishing destinations. Jig and minnow rigs fished with spinner or crankbaits can often result in excellent walleye fishing results, though to know for certain what’s happening in an area, you need to spend enough time fishing it and experiment with various techniques until you find something that works.