Jigging for Walleyes

Tips for Jigging for Walleyes

Jigging for Walleye

There are many times that anglers must resort to finesse techniques to catch walleye, and one of the more popular methods is jigging.  Vertical jigging, as well as pitching and retrieving, tends to be effective when walleye are less aggressive, as jigging gives them ample amounts of time to strike.  Since jigging does not allow you to cover much ground, it helps to have located walleye, or a feature that they would be drawn to at the time of year and day you are fishing. 

Vertical Jigging for Walleye

For vertical jigging, you want to be directly over the area you suspect the fish are holding.  Because vertical jigging commonly puts the jig on the bottom with thick weeds, rocks, brush, and other structure, using a thin, somewhat flexible hook can help prevent snags by bending outward. 

Once you find the bottom, keep your line tight so you can see or feel a strike.  In many cases, less is more when it comes to vertical jigging presentations for walleye.  While many fish will rise several feet to strike a jig (¼ oz jigs, 1/8 oz jigs, 1/16 oz jigs), non-aggressive walleye will only rise a foot or two at the most.  When walleye become very finicky, it may be necessary to only pull your jig a few inches of the bottom, leaving a jig in one spot for several minutes before reeling up. 

Two popular walleye fishing techniques that utilize vertical fishing are drifting and backtrolling.

Horizontal Jigging for Walleye

When walleye are in the shallows, resting in weed pockets, or holding tight to certain structures, pitching jigs or jigging spoons can produce a lot of strikes.  A slow retrieve is usually better, though you do want your presentation to create some urgency.  Begin by pulling jigs along the bottom first and working up through the water channel, searching for walleye. 

Accurate and consistent pitching can drastically improve your odds when using this fishing style, especially when trying to get close to docks, brush, or the bank. 

Lures and Bait for Walleye Fishing

Although color plays a role, many experts feel that shape, placement, and presentation are much more critical factors.  Scent can also give walleye a strong incentive to strike, making live bait rigs, as well as tipping jigs with live bait or scented plastic, very popular among walleye anglers.  Injecting crawlers with air can also give you an edge, as it causes it to float slightly off the bottom, making it more obvious to nearby walleye.