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Plastic baits are productive year 'round but I really like
them during warm weather. When the water is warm, fish are
frequently more willing to chase a bait. Plastic bait can
be moved quickly, so more water can be covered. The more water
you cover, the more walleyes you'll have the opportunity to
catch. A jig heavier than normal is required to move the bait
along at a quick pace. Quarter and three-eighths ounce heads
are the sizes I use the most with plastics in warm weather,
but eighth ounce heads are used in a variety of circumstances
also. Walleyes will frequently spread out over shallow flats
or on points. When they do so, try front trolling at a fairly
quick clip. Tie on a jig and plastic trailer heavy enough
to stay near the bottom as the boat moves along. As the trolling
pass is made, sweep the rod so the bait jumps, then falls
back to the bottom. A 6'6" Shimano medium heavy action spinning
rod with Stren Original Clear Blue in eight to ten pound test
will be about right. Plastic lures play an important part
in three way rigging on rivers. The common three way or Wolf
River rig is one of the oldest and most effective means of
keeping a bait near the bottom while trolling upstream. Comprised
of six pound test main line and leader, a small three way
swivel, a lead sinker and an assortment of super sharp hooks,
upstream rigging is very popular on large rivers like the
Mississippi, Illinois, St. Croix, and Missouri. 3-Way rigs
are among the oldest yet least refined rigging concepts in
walleye fishing. They’re chiefly used with livebait snells
in rivers, lakes and reservoirs during summer months when
walleyes move out on deep flats. Three-way rigs cover the
water quickly when active walleyes spread across flats, but
they also excel with slow presentations more subtle to neutral
fish.
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Add now a new product like Berkley Gulp and you have
a fish catchin’ lure that walleyes can not resist For
years, Berkley scientists have been working to isolate
the natural chemical compounds that tell fish, "This is
food", and stimulate them to feed. The challenge then
is to reproduce those scent and flavor compounds in an
artificial bait which fish believe is actual prey, and
thus attract more fish and prompt them to bite. |
These goals were realized in the early 1980s with the introduction
of the highly successful line of Power Bait® products. Now,
after nearly two decades of further testing and refinement,
Berkley has developed a much more powerful scent formula,
combined with an all-natural compound that fish perceive as
food in every sense. New Berkley Gulp! Gulp looks, swims,
smells, feels and tastes more natural to game fish than any
plastic bait ever could. In fact, it's so close to the real
thing, fish actually eat it! It's even 100% biodegradable,
so no harm done...to the fish, or the ecosystem. You fish
Gulp using the same techniques you've used with plastic and
live baits. Same rigs. Same techniques. Gulp is more durable
than live bait lasts longer, never dies. You will catch more
fish. Plastic grubs or Power Baits, now Berkley Gulp can also
be easily added to a Wolf River rig. I prefer to add the smaller
panfish style curly tail grubs to a floating jig head to give
it more action and added color. Dressing up a #1 or #2 Aberdeen
worm hook with a three or four-inch twister tail is another
excellent way to add plastic or Gulp to your 3-way rig. Plastic
lures, and Gulp can be fished clean on a 3-way rig, but most
anglers prefer to tip the plastic with livebait. Leeches,
minnows and crawlers can all be used successfully while 3-way
rigging. Power Grubs and Power Worms, especially the new "Neonz"
and Berkley Gulp are good examples of plastic baits with action
tails that are extremely productive. The three and four inch
sizes are the best for walleyes, although two inch Grubs can
be good with fish that are finicky. Go with the larger baits
when a slow fall is desired or when the walleyes are active.
The bass angler has caught on to the idea of the plastic worm
fishing and I believe that the walleye angler can't be far
behind. Give this a try! Gulp does out fish live bait and
if you find out that it doesn’t drop me a line at www.walleye.info.
Hope to see you on the water with a lot of Gulp and some great
fishing success
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