Wall-eye fishing guides
How
To Catch Walleye
Early spring brings serious
Walleye fishermen to The Columbia River in pursuit of one of
"the finest eating freshwater fish available." This time of
year, known as the "pre-spawn" period, also presents the
finest fishing action for the species. This is due in part
to the availability of larger concentrations of fish in
smaller areas.
As water temperatures slowly
climb to 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit, Walleye begin their
spawning runs from the lower reaches of impoundment's
towards the tailraces of dams. It is here where they will
find good spawning gravel and rock, aerated water and a good
food supply. When the temperature reaches 44-46 degrees, the
Walleye will be getting ready for spawning and some may
already have. Either way, this is prime time to catch good
numbers of fish.
Fishing techniques for the
early part of runs emphasize vertical jigging. Your choice
of jigs may not be as critical as your technique, but some
consideration to size and color should be carefully thought
out. In the high and muddy waters of February and early
March, I usually have better results with high visibility
colors, such as chartreuse, fluorescent green or red, or a
fluorescent pink and white combination. When the water
clears, a myriad of colors will produce fish, but the greens
and chartreuse's remain my favorites as the river always has
a darker cast to it at the depths we find fish.
The Lure
My favorite jig is known as a
"bullet jig" or "tube jig." It is simply a bullet shaped
lead-head jig with a tube skirt over it. Some bass fishermen
may know this as a "Fat Getzit," only we tend to use a
little heavier weight to offset strong currents encountered
below the dams. Start with a 3/4 oz. or 1oz. bullet jig with
a 1/0 or 2/0 hook and attach a "stinger hook" (trailing hook
size of your choice, snelled to the jig hook with twelve lb.
monofilament). Slide the lead head into the tube skirt using
your favorite scent attractant or WD40 as a lubricant. Now
all you need to do is thread on a nite-crawler (THIS IS A
MUST!) and go fishing. To thread the 'crawler,' start with
the stinger hook and thread the worm from below the band
towards the tail onto the hook. Now hook the head of the
worm onto the jig hook so it is stretched out between the
two.
The Technique
Jig fishing for Walleye is a
"finesse" technique that can be quickly learned if one has
the proper equipment. You can simply drift with the current
and quickly lower your jig to the bottom. Once down, work
your lure only six to eight inches, making sure you keep a
taught line on both the up AND down stroke. The key here is
always keeping your line taught as the Walleye's bite can be
very subtle, and any slack in the line will produce a missed
strike. Another method for a more controlled drift is to use
a bow mounted electric motor to slow your drift. This will
keep your jig at a bit of an angle ahead of you so you can
prevent more snags and detect the strikes easier. It will
also allow you to stay in preferred depths as the current
carries you downstream.
Equipment
Without going into great detail
on boats and motors, I would just say that the Columbia
River can go from a calm impoundment to a raging river with
five to six foot swells in a matter of minutes, due in part
to prevailing winds blowing against the current. If you are
in a smaller boat, stay near the shore, near the boat ramp,
AND ALWAYS watch the weather! Your choice of rods and reels
will be a critical factor in your success, and should be
matched to the tackle you are using. With the heavier jigs,
I prefer a six and a half to seven foot medium or
medium/heavy action rod. A "soft tipped" rod will NOT give
you the control and feel of what your jig is doing. Both
level wind and spinning reels will work, but I prefer a
level wind finding it easier for line control and
"adjusting" for changes in depth. Eight to twelve lb.
monofilament will suit most fishing conditions. I find the
new "Spectra" lines are great, just a little hard to break
loose from snags.
Finding the fish
Walleye can be found most
anywhere in the river, but a good place to start is on or
around sunken islands, generally in the twelve to twenty
foot depth range. Breaklines or shelves that run parallel to
the bank are another prime holding area. These breaklines
generally taper or stairstep off towards the center of the
river offering a variety of depths for fishing. Try a drift
in ten to twelve feet of water, and gradually move to deeper
drifts until you locate the Walleye. A fishfinder is a must,
if only for depth control, though it is always nice to know
there are fish in the area.
Patience and Perseverance
Walleye fishing can be a
frustrating experience IF you expect to catch your limit (or
even one fish) on every trip. The sometimes elusive fish
seems to be affected by many factors, including but not
limited to such things as barometric pressure, water
fluctuations, wind and current. Don't be discouraged if you
go out one day and catch a big stringer of fish, then come
home "skunked" the very next day. Sometimes they just do not
want to bite! Stick with the basics, experiment a little,
and be persistent. Eventually they WILL BITE! Good
Luck.......
This article submitted by:
Jack laFond Young's
Fishing Service, Inc.
