Most anglers believe that they know all about jigs just
because jigs have been around ever since man first
pinched lead shot on a hook. But, that's just not so.
Jigging basics may seem simple enough and mastering the
fundamental of jigging technique can mean the difference
between catching fish and not. Try this 10-step program
to better jigging.
Step 1: Stay on the bottom
Lake, river or reservoir, walleyes relating to
structure and current spend most of their time on or
near the bottom. Choose the right-sized jig to keep your
minnow, leech or nightcrawler down amongst them.
Walleyes eat by inhaling the water around their
target. A light jig may make it easier to engulf. But,
be prepared to adapt. Jigs that are too small for the
conditions may keep you out of the strike zone entirely.
They may also make it impossible to keep your line
vertical to sense light bites. Increase the weight of
your jig as depth, wind or current increase. When in
doubt, go heavier. There might even be times when only a
1-ounce jig will do. If you miss strikes with a big jig,
add a stinger to increase odds of a hook-up. Try leaving
the barbs of the stinger hook completely out of your
bait. This will increase the natural action and
appearance of your live bait.
Smaller is usually better when working the shallows. In lakes, cast or
flip 1/16th or 1/8th-ounce jigs to rip-rap or to pockets
in the weeds. In rivers, use just enough weight to take
the jig to the bottom when you cast upstream. Lift it.
The flow should move it downstream just off the bottom
until it comes to rest again. Repeat.
Step 2: Consider the forage
Although a light jig will often accomplish the
primary goal of bottom contact, jigs with a bigger
profiles might still be the answer if walleyes are
keying on larger forage. Don't assume. Let the fish tell
you what they want.
Step 3: Use the right tool
Jig heads come in several shapes for a reason. Use
the right one for the job. Ball-style jigs are most
common. They work well in current or still water for
casting and vertical jigging. Larger sizes can trolled
or drifted. Swimming jigs have a long, flat design with
the hook eye placed in front. They're best for casting
in weeds, like Lindy's NO-SNAGG Veg-E-Jig. Current
cutters, or pancake jigs, are designed to be
hydro-dynamic in moving water. They are great for
rivers. Larger sizes can be used on a dropper line of a
three-way-rig to put an additional hook in the water
where legal.
Step 4: Change colors
Admit it. We all go to the water with notions of what
should work. No where is that more apparent than in
choice of colors. Jig heads and plastics come in a
thousand hues. Yet, we insist on using the same old
favorites. Just because something worked yesterday or
even this morning doesn't mean it will work now. Water
clarity and light conditions change constantly. Use
trial and error until you find a combination that
triggers strikes. Try plastic trailers and without.
Don't forget maribou-type jigs, such as Lindy's
Fuzz-E-Grub. Don't stop switching even when you start
catching fish. If chartreuse or orange or pink or blue
seem to work, try different shades of those colors to
fine-tune the presentation and see if a slight variation
will entice the biggest fish. If action stops, change up
again. For starters, try brighter colors in stained or
dirty water and darker colors for clear.
Step 5: Vary live bait, too
Since jigs are one of the oldest, most effective
live-bait delivery systems we have, we've developed
"rules" over the years on when minnows, nightcrawlers or
leeches should work best. Minnows are the choice in the
cold water of spring and fall. Leeches are the favored
bait in warm water. Nightcrawlers seem good across the
calendar. But, don't be afraid to break the rules.
There's been many times during spring floods when
walleyes inhale worms and ignore minnows. See what
works. The fish will let you know.
Step 6: Alter jig action
Walleyes will absolutely destroy a bait at times. At
others, they don't seem interested at all. Perhaps a
cold front has passed through or the wind direction
changed. Keep testing their mood. Attract the
most-aggressive fish by popping your jig up, then
letting it fall back to the bottom. Follow the jig down
with the rod tip to keep your line taut in order to
maintain control of the jig. Next, try a slow lift-drop,
lift-drop. Then, drag it on the bottom or quiver it
slightly.
Step 7: Concentrate
Visualize your jig. Imagine where it is in the water
and what it looks like to fish. Better yet, use an
underwater fish cam like the Aqua-Vu to see exactly how
walleyes react to your bait. We've found most anglers
often "over-jig." Use your jig as a tool to gather
information. For example, try to feel subtle changes in
the bottom. Spots where it changes from hard to soft can
be key. Intense focus also helps when bites are so light
that nothing at all is telegraphed up your line through
your rod. A slight movement or "heavy" feel may be all
the notice you get. Set the hook at the slightest
change.
Step 8: Two rods better than one
Practice using two matched rod and reel combos, if
your state allows. Test different colors and livebait on
each. But, if you find it hard to control both rods to
keep both jigs in the strike zone, put one rod down or
use it as a "dead-stick" in a rod-holder. One jig fished
correctly is better than two fished poorly.
Step 9: Practice boat control
Boat control is essential to good jigging. In
current, point your bow upstream or into the wind and
use short bursts from an electric trolling motor to
match your boat speed with the water flow. Keep your
line vertical below the boat and watch your rod tip for
a slight bow to signal bottom contact. All rules have
exceptions. There are places like the Rainy River where
walleyes seem to prefer stationary jigs below anchored
boats. Try that, too. In absence of current, a puck
transducer mounted on your trolling motor to feed data
to your bow-mounted sonar or flasher helps keep your jig
on the critical "spot on a spot."
Step 10: Fish fish
The best jigging mechanics won't do any good if you
aren't fishing where the fish are. Study the map of lake
or river section you are targeting to find likely spots
using what you know about walleye movements in the
calendar period. Along the way , stop at more than one
bait shop for the latest word on where the bigger
schools are located and for an idea of what
presentations others are using. Ask questions at the
ramp. Once on the water, move from spot to spot using
your electronics to find forage fish and likely walleyes
before you start to fish.
These tips are sure to make you a better walleye
angler. Jigging is one of the key fundamental
presentations to master.
