| Jig fishing for walleyes can be a very effective | | | | the most fish. |
| technique that can be used in a variety of | | | | Dragging Jigs |
| situations from shallow water to deep water, and | | | | Dragging jigs is simply as the name implies. |
| from the winter season to summer time. Because | | | | Typically a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jig will be used. |
| it's up to the angler to put the desired action into | | | | Simple let out about 1 ½ times amount of line |
| the jig, this lure can be used for sluggish or | | | | as the water depth and allow the jig to drag along |
| aggressive fish. I would have to say that a jig is | | | | the bottom. When fishing from a boat in a lake |
| the most versatile walleye lure on the market | | | | either drift with the wind or use your trolling |
| today. | | | | motor. In a river simply drift downstream, or use |
| For the majority of situations, especially on rivers, | | | | your trolling motor to drag the jig upstream. This |
| you will be working the jig along the bottom, as | | | | technique works the best for sluggish fish in |
| that's where the walleyes will be. To select the | | | | colder water. When dragging a jig don't be afraid |
| weight of the jig head to use simply use | | | | to use larger plastics, such as 5 inch ringworms, |
| whatever weight it takes to maintain feel of the | | | | or 4-5 inch twister grubs. |
| bottom. In most cases you will want to use the | | | | Jig Fishing Tips: |
| lightest jig possible to maintain feel of the bottom. | | | | 1. While the weight of the jig selected is the first |
| Lift And Drop | | | | decision, the next decision will be the length of the |
| When casting jigs the most common retrieve is | | | | plastic twister tail, or etc. use. This most depends |
| the "lift and drop". After casting allow the jig to | | | | upon the time of year and how aggressive the |
| sink to the bottom, then reel in the slack line and | | | | fish are. I would recommend a plastic bait in length |
| lift the jig off the bottom with your rod. Once | | | | of 3 to 5 inches. |
| your rod reaches about the 11:00 position, allow | | | | 2. The color of the plastic twister tail or ringworm |
| the jig to sink back to the bottom. Because lifting | | | | will most often make a huge difference. Generally |
| the jig off the bottom is the attractor to the fish | | | | speaking, user more natural colors in clear water |
| be sure to experiment with the distance and | | | | such as black, purple, and blue. When fishing dirty |
| speed of this motion. Now lower your rod tip until | | | | water use plastics with brighter colors such as |
| you feel the jig hit bottom. It is very critical that | | | | orange, chartreuse, or yellow. |
| you follow the jig back to the bottom with a tight | | | | 3. Hair jigs tipped with a 2 - 3 inch minnow can be |
| line, as this is when most walleyes will strike the | | | | really effective for both walleyes and sauger |
| lure. If you don't reel in slack line while the jig | | | | from winter to early spring time. |
| drops you won't be able to feel a strike. | | | | 4. To catch a larger percentage of fish that are |
| Vertical Jigging | | | | short striking your jig and minnow combination try |
| Another method of fishing jigs from a boat is | | | | using a stinger hook. A stinger hook is a small |
| "vertical jigging". This technique is best suited | | | | treble hook attached to the hook of your jig with |
| when fishing from a boat in water depths of 9 to | | | | a short piece of mono fishing line. When hooking |
| 40 feet deep. Although most walleye won't be | | | | the minnow towards the tail with the stinger hook |
| found deeper than 20 feet, many sauger will be | | | | be sure to leave slack in the line so the minnow |
| found 20 to 40 feet deep in the winter to early | | | | can move and look natural. |
| spring. Vertical jigging is also best for the sluggish | | | | 5. Heavy or large diameter fishing line is a |
| fish found in the cooler waters of late fall, winter, | | | | detriment to the angler, as it will reduce the action |
| and early spring. | | | | of a jig, and also requiring the angler to select a |
| To vertical jig for walleyes and sauger the anglers | | | | heavier jig to reach the bottom. |
| boat should be moving down stream at the same | | | | 6. Don't be afraid to try fishing a plain jig tipped |
| speed of the current. Next simply raise your jig | | | | with a minnow, night crawler, or leech. On some |
| off the bottom, and slowly drop your rod tip until | | | | days it can be just the ticket. |
| you feel the jig touch the bottom, then repeat | | | | 7. If your getting a lot of snags when fishing jigs |
| this motion. As with the "lift and drop" technique | | | | you are most like using to heavy of jig, or not |
| be sure to keep a tight line when dropping the jig | | | | maintaining feel of the bottom when vertical |
| back down so that you can feel a walleye strike | | | | jigging, meaning you are dragging. Although |
| your jig. Be sure to experiment how you're fishing | | | | dragging can be an effective technique it is only |
| the jig until you find what the fish want the most. | | | | practical on smooth bottoms. |
| In most cases the lightest jig possible will catch | | | | |