Spring time walleye fishing can be tricky on the river.
As we transition from winter to spring, mother nature can really mess up our best laid plans.
The biggest reasons for a challenging spring bite from walleyes in the river are muddy water and cold temperatures.
Cold and clear water is OK, cold and muddy makes it tougher.
Let's take a look at some ideas that will help us catch more walleyes in the rivers during the spring period.
The colder the water the more subtle your lure needs to be.
On the Mississippi river you'll find hair jigs work well during the spring period.
That subtle breathing action of the hair is just right for fish in a neutral mood.
There's no need to tip these jigs with a minnow either.
Work them back slow and let the hair do the work.
Another great option, especially when the water is a little dirty is to pitch a Roadrunner, often times referred to as a "Stump Jumper".
I've had great success with these jigs while pitching rivers and natural lakes in the spring time.
That tiny spinner can really make a big difference.
Work it back with a slow drag - reeling just fast enough to get the blade flopping around.
It isn't necessary for the blade to spin all the time! Jigs with hair are great for pitching to specific areas, then vertical jigging below the boat before reeling up and casting again.
Stickbaits will also produce better during the early spring period.
Run them in tandem behind a 3-ounce pencil sinker on a three way set up.
Keep you speeds extremely slow and concentrate on current reduced rip rap areas around slough mouths.
Another good area to troll this rig is any current seams within 1 mile downstream of the lock.
Depths of 6 to 12 feet are productive when fishing the Mississippi river during the spring period.
You may get some sauger a tad deeper, 15 to 18 feet would be common.
As the water warms up a bit we start to find plastics and crankbaits start producing better.
Ringworms and grubs are the mainstay of jig pitching and jig dragging in the rivers.
Make your casts quarter upstream and work the jig back slowly as it sweeps along the bottom.
A steady reeling works well when fish are active, otherwise, use the classic, lift-hold-reel down and repeat cadence.
Flat line trolling or casting shallow water with crankbaits also starts to come in on it's own as we warm up in late April and May.
Trolling upstream at a slow pace through large current break areas is a sure bet for getting bit.
One small refinement that will help you catch more fish in any river is to use a larger crankbait when it's time to turn around and go downstream.
Try it a few times instead of running back down and trolling up.
You'll be surprised at the results.
Casting cranks is a fun, action-packed way to put walleyes and many other species of fish in the boat once the water warms into the upper 50's or lower 60's and post spawn feeding patterns set up.
Start at the upper end of the pool and spend four or five minutes at each good looking current break.
Make a few casts and run on down to the next one.
Rinse and repeat.
You should be able to really cover the river and find where the bulk of the fish are setting up.
By running and gunning, along with casting to the head of the current seem, you'll quickly catch the most active fish in each location.
Spend a maximum of 5 minutes on a spot without a fish.
River fishing whether on the Mississippi or at your local dam will always revolve around the stage of the spawn, the clarity of the water, and the water temperature.
By tempering your presentation and how much time you spend in each spot for the activity level of the fish, you'll really increase your walleye fishing experiences.
Take the time to stop by and read more specific information regarding walleye dynamics in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs...
As we transition from winter to spring, mother nature can really mess up our best laid plans.
The biggest reasons for a challenging spring bite from walleyes in the river are muddy water and cold temperatures.
Cold and clear water is OK, cold and muddy makes it tougher.
Let's take a look at some ideas that will help us catch more walleyes in the rivers during the spring period.
The colder the water the more subtle your lure needs to be.
On the Mississippi river you'll find hair jigs work well during the spring period.
That subtle breathing action of the hair is just right for fish in a neutral mood.
There's no need to tip these jigs with a minnow either.
Work them back slow and let the hair do the work.
Another great option, especially when the water is a little dirty is to pitch a Roadrunner, often times referred to as a "Stump Jumper".
I've had great success with these jigs while pitching rivers and natural lakes in the spring time.
That tiny spinner can really make a big difference.
Work it back with a slow drag - reeling just fast enough to get the blade flopping around.
It isn't necessary for the blade to spin all the time! Jigs with hair are great for pitching to specific areas, then vertical jigging below the boat before reeling up and casting again.
Stickbaits will also produce better during the early spring period.
Run them in tandem behind a 3-ounce pencil sinker on a three way set up.
Keep you speeds extremely slow and concentrate on current reduced rip rap areas around slough mouths.
Another good area to troll this rig is any current seams within 1 mile downstream of the lock.
Depths of 6 to 12 feet are productive when fishing the Mississippi river during the spring period.
You may get some sauger a tad deeper, 15 to 18 feet would be common.
As the water warms up a bit we start to find plastics and crankbaits start producing better.
Ringworms and grubs are the mainstay of jig pitching and jig dragging in the rivers.
Make your casts quarter upstream and work the jig back slowly as it sweeps along the bottom.
A steady reeling works well when fish are active, otherwise, use the classic, lift-hold-reel down and repeat cadence.
Flat line trolling or casting shallow water with crankbaits also starts to come in on it's own as we warm up in late April and May.
Trolling upstream at a slow pace through large current break areas is a sure bet for getting bit.
One small refinement that will help you catch more fish in any river is to use a larger crankbait when it's time to turn around and go downstream.
Try it a few times instead of running back down and trolling up.
You'll be surprised at the results.
Casting cranks is a fun, action-packed way to put walleyes and many other species of fish in the boat once the water warms into the upper 50's or lower 60's and post spawn feeding patterns set up.
Start at the upper end of the pool and spend four or five minutes at each good looking current break.
Make a few casts and run on down to the next one.
Rinse and repeat.
You should be able to really cover the river and find where the bulk of the fish are setting up.
By running and gunning, along with casting to the head of the current seem, you'll quickly catch the most active fish in each location.
Spend a maximum of 5 minutes on a spot without a fish.
River fishing whether on the Mississippi or at your local dam will always revolve around the stage of the spawn, the clarity of the water, and the water temperature.
By tempering your presentation and how much time you spend in each spot for the activity level of the fish, you'll really increase your walleye fishing experiences.
Take the time to stop by and read more specific information regarding walleye dynamics in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs...
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