SPRING WALLEYE PATTERN

When millions of Walleye swarm to the western basin reefs and shorelines to spawn in early April, they set the stage for a month or more of prime jig fishing.  So many Walleye frequent these spawning structures, that drifting over them haphazardly, while casting or dragging jigs, almost guarantees at least a few fish.  Catching limits, however, require the ability to pinpoint key locations, maneuver a boat with precision, and work jigs with a refined presentation.  Top guides and professional tournament pros believe that Walleye prefer to spawn on the highest peaks of the reefs.  They key humps are the ones that have the most gravel and rock.

Water color plays an important part in locating Walleye in shallow water.  As the water clears, Walleye tend to move to the edges of the reefs, closer to deeper water.  Ideal water color is about 8” visibility when fishing the top edges of the reefs.  Other key areas of the reef tops are knobs, fingers, and lips that have a little sharper drop.  Males up to 6 pounds comprise most of the Walleye taken from the reefs.  Bigger females generally move up at night, drop their eggs, and then quickly slide back to deeper water.

There are several ways to fish the reefs.  One of the most common, when conditions are calm, is to drift slowly over the reef, bouncing jigs tipped with a grub trailer and Minnow.  Jig weights are also critical when fishing the shallow reefs, usually the lighter the jig, the better your catch ratio.  1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 ounce jigs seem to out-perform heavier jigs.  The rule of thumb is:  Use the lightest weight jig possible while maintaining bottom contact.  A yo-yo jigging presentation works well when the fish are tight on the bottom by simply lifting (about two feet) and dropping the jig along the bottom, keeping it as vertical as possible.  If you drag it on the bottom without lifting, you are more prone to snags.  A slow presentation works best.  If the wind pushes you too fast, your jigs will zip over the bottom and the Walleye can’t react quickly enough.

In order to slow your boat, many times, a drift sock is needed.  These come in a variety of sizes.  Most common are the 48” for smaller boats and up to 72” for larger boats.  The drift sock creates substantial braking power and slows a boat’s drifting speed.  The drift sock also improves boat control while drifting.

Line size is also an important part of the equation.  A 6 to 8 pound line seems to work best.  The new lines, such as FireLine and SpiderWire, and the fluorocarbons, such as Vanish, have made it easier to become adept at jig fishing.

Remember, you can’t go wrong fishing the reefs for early Lake Erie Walleye.  If you would like more information about spring Walleye fishing, contact Captain Bob Troxel.