Jig Fishing
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Jigs have undoubtedly caught more walleyes in Minnesota than any other lure. These can be used year-round with both artificial and natural baits. In spring, most anglers fish with a leadhead jig tipped with a live minnow, such as a shiner. Jig weight depends on water depth and presence of current. Anglers use heavier jigs if the water is deep or a current is present. Most anglers use jigs from 1/8 ounce to 1/2 ounce. Minnow size varies from 1-1/2 inches to about 4 inches. When the water warms to 50 degrees, anglers tip jigs with nightcrawlers, leeches or plastic grubs, although minnows remain effective. Walleyes, as well nightcrawlers and leeches, are more active in warm water. Vertically jigging straight below a boat is effective, as is casting and retrieving. Anglers should keep the jig within a foot of bottom, hopping the jig slowly up and down with the rod tip. Jig fishing is a great technique for fishing the humps of Lake Winnibigoshish.
Live-Bait Rigs
Live-bait rigs are also productive walleye catchers. A live-bait rig consists of a sliding sinker that is free to run up and down the main line. Tied to the main line is a swivel. Tied to the other end of a swivel is a leader that may be 3 to 10 feet long. Longer leaders are used in clear water to avoid spooking fish with the sinker and when running the bait slightly higher off bottom. Finishing the live-bait rig is a plain hook or possibly two hooks, as are often used to accommodate the length of a nightcrawler. Anglers may garnish the rig with beads, spinners or small floats in front of the hook to attract more fish. An angler baits the rig with a minnow, leech or nighcrawler. Anglers drift or troll the rig behind a boat. The angler holds the line with a finger, keeping the bail of the reel open. When a fish bites, the angler releases the line, allowing the fish to swallow it before it feels the boat's tension. The free-sliding sinker helps. After a few seconds, the angler tightens the line and feels for the weight of the fish. When the angler feels the fish, he sets the hook. Live-bait works well on rivers, such as the St. Louis, as well as lakes.
Crankbait Fishing
Crankbaits are wooden or plastic minnow imitations that allow anglers to quickly cover a lot of water and find fish. Crankbaits can be cast or trolled. With few exceptions, Minnesota anglers are allowed one line per person for the open-water season, so having multiple anglers in a boat allows the group to put out more lines. Big-lipped crankbaits dive deeper than small-lipped lures. Trolling models that run at different depths will help you locate suspended fish. Some trollers use planing boards. These are beveled at one end, which causes them to plane away from the boat. With planer boards, anglers can run lures to either side of the boat, covering a wider swath of water with each pass to find fish. Once located, anglers can mark the spot with a buoy or GPS, then cast to the school with crankbaits or jigs. Crankbait trolling works well on the wide, featureless expanse of Upper Red Lake.
Ice Fishing for Walleyes
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Minnesota anglers don't let winter stop them from pursuing walleyes. The fish can be caught through the ice using two basic methods: jigging and tip-ups. Jigging through the ice is very similar to open-water jigging. Anglers use jigs baited with minnows, which remain active in cold temperatures. Fishing outside or in heated ice shanties, anglers drop their lines and gently jig their lures just off bottom. Tip-ups are passive walleye fishing tools. A tip-up consists of a spool of line that lies underwater to prevent freezing. A frame lies across the ice, keeping the tip-up from falling down the ice hole. The angler drops a hook baited with a minnow near the bottom. When a walleye bites, the reel turns, which trips a flag, alerting the angler. Minnesota anglers can use two lines through the ice, so a tip-up becomes a bonus line. Ice fishing is popular statewide, especially on waters such as Rainy Lake, Lake Mille Lacs and Leech Lake.
