Walleye Jigs
Selecting the right walleye jigs and learning how to use them can produce some of the biggest and hardest to catch fish. It takes practice to get the right amount of speed and movement to present the jigs in a manor in which the walleye wants to eat. But with patience and a practice, jigging for walleye can be a deadly technique to catching monster fish.
Vertical Jigging
Vertical jigging is a method in which the angler will move the bait in and upward motion. This is by far one of the easiest ways to jig because there is only one motion, vertically lifting your rod. Drop the bait until it reaches the bottom, and tighten your line. With your rod tip down, you want the bait just touching the bottom. Thrust the rod tip in an upward motion by bringing your wrist toward your chest. The speed and hardness of the jigging motion and be adjusted by the speed of your wrist flick. Try jigging fast, slow, hard, and soft and determine what the walleye are wanting to eat that day. Once you get a response out of the fish, mimic that technique and you will start catching more fish.
Below are some links to the most sought after vertical jigging baits on the market.
Heddon Sonar Lures
Rapala Rippin Rap
Jigging from Shore
Walleye can be successfully caught from the shore in the early morning and during dusk hours. Use a 3/8 to ½ ounce jig head tipped with either a plastic worm with a spiral tail, or a minnow hooked through the head. Cast as far out as you can and let it slowly sink to the bottom. Retrieve the jig head by either reeling at a very slow rate, just enough to spin the tail on the worm, or jig it slowly in by using short thrusts with the tip of your rod. A walleye will sometimes strike the jig head aggressively, or you may just only be able to feel weight on the end of your line. Set the hook and reel in your catch. I have had the most luck using a white Mr. Twister, but any color or worm variation will suffice.
Below are some links to create the jigging setup in the article above.
20 – Pk. Mister Twister Original Twister 4 inch Lures, WHT FIRETAIL
Eagle Claw Jig Ball Bronze Hook, 25 Piece
Jigging for walleyes is only one tactic to catch more fish. Broaden your arsenal by learning how to target more fish through trolling.
