Spring Time Fishing for Walleyes - By fishing guide Charlie Worrath

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Spring Time Fishing for Walleyes
by fishing guide Charlie Worrath

Springtime walleye fishing is some of finest walleye fishing of the year. Do to several reasons, after a long winter and the riggers of spawning, the fish have a huge appetite to fill? To make things even better for us fishermen and fisherwomen, is the short supply of available food sources. The baitfish population has been eaten down throughout the winter months, and new food sources haven’t been developed yet, such as fry of the new year haven’t grown to eatable size. So without a lot of food source to choose from makes your offering very temping.

Jig and minnow combo is probably by far the most popular presentation used at this time of year, and for good reason. With the colder water temps of spring, you don’t need a lot of jig action. Sometimes just dragging it along the bottom is all that is needed. I like to give just a bump to hop the jig up just a couple inches. As the water warms later in the year you can get more aggressive with action on your jig. The reason is with cold-water temps, the fish metabolism is still in slow mode and they’re not moving very fast.

Tip the jig with a minnow at this time of year is your best choice of baits whither its chub or shiner minnow. Not saying you can’t catch fish with other baits or methods. I believe this give you the best opportunity for success. Also the jig and minnow combo gives you a great change of catching any other species of fish the lake has to offer. To add a few perch, crappies, or nice northern to catching action is always and added bonus especially for young ones.

The size of the jig that I use is the smallest size by weight that I can get away with, which usually is 1/8oz. but that all depends on a lot of factors, but mainly the wind will determine the jig weight. The other main thing is tie the jig directly to the line, don’t add any jewelry with the one exception of tying a swivel up a couple feet is all right it doesn’t seem to affect the jig action and keeps the line from twisting. Line size 6 to 8lbs work just fine.

The first couple of weeks look for walleyes around two main areas they’re spawning beds or chasing shiners, as they are about to spawn. If the lake your on has shiners, and you can locate them, the walleyes will be close by.

Remember It’s spring, the water is still cold so fish slow if you think your going too slow, I would say slow it down some. The chances are your going to fast. That is why a slip bobbers work well early in the year. The bait just hangs there and gives them the time they need at this time of year to eat your bait. The bites are usually is a light soft touch. With the jig I like to drop the rod tip back to the fish to give him time to get the bait all the way in his mouth, so you don’t get as many skinned minnows. On a real cold front days and the bites are short and you can’t seem to get hook into them. Try opening the bail, let them take it like rigging for count of 5 or more. I saw that technique really make the difference at times.

One of our over looked walleye hot spots in this area is our river systems. They can be extremely good fishing spring or fall. The best tip I can give you if you haven’t fished rivers that much, is fish them just the opposite of lake fishing. For instance walleyes in a river will lay in a drop waiting for food to be carried down stream to them. Lake walleyes sitting on shoreline break usually looking for bait to be blown in from the deeper side. Bends in rivers, fish the outer edge unlike a lake point you fish the inter side. Just thing opposite and you’ll do just find. Jig fishing or rigging works well. The weights size will be determined by the current of river, again use the smallest you can get by with.

Good luck and most of all be safe. Give my personal formalized fish and game batter a try Charlie’s Gone Fishing or Jasons Fishing Fever fish batter (seasoned batter).

Charlie Worrath
35653 Johnson Rd.
Deer River, MN. 56636
218-246-2159
Or www.charliesgonefishingguideservice.com and affiliated with www.mnfishingpros.com

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