Jigs for Walleys

If I had to choose one lure to use for the rest of my life it would be a jig. Jigs can be fished many ways, come in lots of configurations, and are cheap. And, they are the best way to fish for spring walleyes that you can find.

The vast majority of walleye fishermen fish their jigs vertically. That is, they try to keep them right below the boat and in contact with the bottom. Boat position is vital and a good trolling motor will give you the chance to move the boat along at the same speed as the current, which will let you keep your jig vertical. Why worry about that? Because if your jig is bouncing straight up and down it’s less likely to get snagged than if it’s way behind or in front of the boat dragging on the bottom.

Use a jig that will allow you to keep in touch with the bottom but no heavier than it takes to keep that contact. Why again?....because a walleye bites by flaring its gills and sucking your jig and a bunch of water into its mouth. A lightweight jig will pop right into the fish’s mouth while a heavy clunker will not. The result with a very heavy jig will be missed strikes and bad hook-ups.

Choose a plastic tail or hair tail that you like and you’re in business. In the spring the water is cold and the fish are sluggish so work your jig slowly. Be alert for that little tic on your line and in no time you’ll be reeling in a walleye or sauger. Spring walleye fishing can be fast and lots of fun. Get out and enjoy it while the water is still in good shape. With all the snow we have this year we’ll probably have a flood and many times that ruins the walleye fishing. So get out as much as you can while the getting’s good.

by: Dan Bomkamp

http://www.ruralpropertypro.com/

Spring Walleyes + Cold Water = Stinger Hooks

The ice is out below many of the dams and many fishermen are out after spring walleyes. When the water is cold these fish bite very lightly. Often you feel a tic on your line and reel up to find your minnow is gone or missing his tail, or that your twister tail has been pulled partly off your jig. That’s because walleye and sauger hit short in the cold spring water.

The solution is a stinger hook, which is nothing more than a small treble hook that is attached to the bend of the jig hook. The stinger hangs at the tail of the minnow or twister and often catches the light-biting fish in the chin. Without them, the fish per strike rate is very low.

You can make your own by buying a box of #8 or #10 treble hooks. Then cut an 8 inch piece of mono and double it, putting the two cut ends together. Tie the doubled line to the treble hook and you end up with a treble with a loop of line on it. Then cinch the loop over the bend on your jig hook and you have a stinger hook that cost you about a dime. If you compare that to a price of about $1.50 for a package of “store bought” stingers, you can see it’s much cheaper to make your own….and they work just as well.

Make up a bunch of them at home and stick them in a piece of Styrofoam and you’ll be ready to fish. I guarantee you’ll get more hook-ups than with a plain jig hook.

post by: Dan Bomkamp
 
http://www.ruralpropertypro.com/

The Perch Are Biting

I called one of my old fishing buddies who lives on the Mississippi and checked to see how the fishing has been. He reported that the big perch are still biting and so are the bluegills and crappies. This has been a great year for perch, with fish from ten to eleven and even twelve inches being caught. A twelve inch perch is a fine fish and great eating.

A couple of places that have been really good are Green Lake at Blackhawk Park just north of DeSoto, and DeSoto bay. Both have been consistently good this winter.

The water is open below the Genoa dam and many fishermen have been fishing for walleyes there. They are catching mostly sauger and a few walleyes right now and most are small but it’s pretty fast fishing. Some are catching fifty to sixty fish per day.

Spring is just around the corner and soon we’ll see some really great fishing after what has seemed to be a never ending winter.

by: Dan Bomkamp

Time To Get Ready For Walleyes

The spring walleye season is just around the corner. Yes, I know the rivers are covered with ice but all it takes is a week of warm weather and we’ll see them begin to open up. You can get your summer fishing gear ready now and then when we have open water you’ll be all ready for fishing.

The most important part of your fishing equipment is your line. The boat, motor, rods, reels and lures are very important but the line is what connects you to the fish and keeps him there until you get him in hand. If you have old rotten line, you’re taking a chance of loosing a trophy walleye this spring.

If you use mono it needs to be changed. Monofilament line wears out in a short time and gets brittle if it’s not worn out. The super braided lines are much tougher and last a lot longer. They’re a bit more costly to purchase but last longer so in the long run they’re more economical.

If you use the super braided lines you MUST use a good knot to tie your lure on. A fisherman’s knot will slip because the line is so slick. The best knot to use is a Palomar knot. They’re easy to tie and very strong.

Get your lines changed and then you’re on step closer to spring fishing. Then if you hook into a trophy walleye, you’ll have the confidence to know you’re not going to break her off because of some old rotten line.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Wisconsin Waterfront Properties