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April showers aren't just about May flowers. They are also nature's version 
of spring cleaning as the grit of a long winter gets washed away.For anglers, much of that sand, dirt and topsoil ends up in the river systems where we like to kick off the open-water season. High, dirty springtime conditions are common on major flowages throughout walleye country. It's not a pretty sight, but it's a fact of life on the moving water.  Fish still eat, including walleyes that are building strength for the spawn or recovering from the rigors of procreation.
Many anglers find it difficult to locate and catch these fish. Often, they are fishing too deep. 
Shallow, dirty water is a hungry walleye's best friend. It absorbs heat better than clear water, and that attracts baitfish. It conceals the predator from prey that doesn't see as well in dark conditions. And when brush or other structure is present that diverts the current and creates pockets of slack water, it provides opportunities for walleyes to feed efficiently.
These are dirty little secrets we can use to our advantage.Extreme fluctuations in water levels, especially a rapid drop of several feet, can send walleyes scurrying for the safety of the depths, but when conditions are fairly stable or the water is on the rise, think shallow. In most Midwestern rivers, the walleye spawn takes place in early to mid-April, depending on the length of the days in relation to water temperatures.

Bigger fish will be located in the vicinity of spawning habitat. They tend to favor low-light periods for feeding and will cruise the shallow sand flats or slip up onto wingdams to fill their bellies just before sunrise and again at sunset. They typically slide into deeper water and are less active during the day, although when water clarity is especially poor, like 1-2 inches, and the river running fast, a current break in 6 to 8 feet of water may qualify as "the depths." If the river is really raging, I've found them tucked in behind flooded trees and stumps or anything else that provides a respite from the current. Postspawn fish favor will seek out the same areas of slack water.

Minnkota 101

I use my MinnKota bow-mount trolling motor or my Mercury four-strike kicker to jig vertically while slipping as slowly downstream as possible. If I'm searching flooded timber and stumps, I sometimes tie my Triton 215X off to a tree and pitch jigs  to likely spots.Experiment with rattles, colors and scents. Anything we can do to enhance a walleye's ability to locate our bait is a plus. Berkley's new line of Gulp! scented baits are reported to release over 400 times more scent than plastic baits, and they last infinitely longer than applied liquid scents.  In general, chartreuse, lime and white are visible colors, but don't be afraid to try orange, blue and black, as well, if there is any water clarity at all.

Lindy Max Gap Jigs Click here for more  informaiton

Sometimes, color is less important than water displacement. While I like a Lindy Fuzz-E-Grub or Lindy Max Gap Jig jig tipped with a large fathead  in most vertical jigging situations, more bulk can be the way to go when looking for fish in water shallower than four feet. The current will dictate how small a jig you can use, but you can make a quarter-ounce hair jig fish like an eighth-ouncer by dressing it with a big piece  of plastic such as a 4-inch grub tail, a ringworm or even a lizard. The larger profile not only slows the jig's fall, but it makes a better target for fish that are looking for an easy meal.A couple of other things to consider are rod sensitivity and line choice.When a bait is moving, a rod with a quick tip like a Berkley Series One is critical. The 6-foot model is ideal for vertical situations and the 6 1/2-footer is perfect for pitching to shallow water and following a jig downstream.

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