A few Tips on Walleyes Using Lead Heads By Sheldon Meidinger
No secret that jigs are accountable for an awful lot of walleyes.
We can fish a jig anywhere at anytime and catch walleye. Dare
say that the modest lead head jig is the most versatile piece
of tackle in the walleye anglers tackle box. Pitch, jig or
drag, with dressing or bait, the varieties of tactics that
incorporate a jig are endless. From my years fishing professionally
on the PWT, I have picked up few lessons from some of the
best. Small details and refinements do make a difference.
Here is a small list of jig refinements and tips that will
hopefully make you a better jig fisherman. Sharpness and Proper
Gap Almost everybody knows how important sharp hooks are to
angling success but few anglers take sharpness very seriously.
The people who win tournaments use sharp hooks and these anglers
are checking the sharpness all day long. Carry a file or sharpener
in the boat and touch those hooks up throughout the day. Don’t
use your hooks to pop the eye free of jig eyelets. Gopher
tackle offers a huge assortment of jigs with premium hooks
and paint free eyes. You can pick up one of these jigs and
just start fishing. As important as the size of the jig is
for getting down to the bottom, the size and gap of the hook
is very important as well. Use the right size hook for the
bait you are using. You want the hook to come through the
bait and be exposed so the hook can catch in the fish’s mouth
easily. Don’t ever cover the hook or bulk the bait on the
hook to the point where the hook has no room to set when a
fish bites down. To Sting or Not Stinger hooks can be a very
effective option at times for catching more walleye and sauger
on a jig. Notice, "at times." If you are encountering debris
or getting snagged up much more because of the stinger hook,
keep the extra hardware in the boat. Stinger hooks work well
when you can find light biting fish over a clean bottom. The
rest of the time, stinger hooks can actually cost you fish
by making you less effective and efficient. The Right Stroke
How far to lift your jig from the bottom, how much to jig
and the like is really a guessing game but certain areas seem
conductive to certain presentations. Notice the cadence of
local anglers around you. Are they dragging the jig, snapping
the jig off the bottom? The most important aspect on most
river environments is simply being very close to the bottom.
Vary your presentation and give the fish ample opportunities
to hit. Often, less is more. If one angler is catching fish
in the boat, not only watch how they are jigging but also
be conscience of the angle of his line. How much line you
have out and the angle of the line can be very important when
trying to match what somebody else is doing to catch fish.
Cast and Drag One of the easiest ways to catch a walleye is
to simply drag a jig behind the boat, assuming you aren’t
getting snagged. Casting jigs is also simple and tops for
producing walleyes holding in shallow water. On many Lake
Environments, the jig doesn’t necessarily have to be on the
bottom when casting to shallow water. Vary the amount of bottom
contact until you find fish. Cast and reel, making a mental
note as to how fast or slow you are reeling. Vary speeds until
someone catches a fish and than match the speed. Walleyes
will often follow the jig right up to the boat and the hits
often come as the jig changes angle and starts traveling up
to the boat. Cosmetics Many walleye anglers will tell you
that color is important but not what is most important. Common
sense tells us that florescent colors might get the nod in
stained or turbulent water. Chartreuse, white and green are
very popular jig colors in many situations but each area may
have unique color tendencies or traditions. Berkley Power
Baits also have their place for walleye fishing. There are
a couple of applications where I have found Power Baits to
be very effective. The bulk and extra vibration provided by
a shad or twister tail can make a difference in stained water.
Also, the extra bulk can slow down the rate at which the jig
falls through the water, which can be effective at times.
Berkley Gulp is also very effective and as we continue to
experiment with Gulp, we become less dependent on live bait.
Conclusion Jigs and walleyes are a proven combination. Regardless
of whether you fish rivers, lakes or reservoirs. Jigs are
effective cast, trolled, dragged or dropped vertically over
the side of the boat. As simple as the lead head jig is however,
there are endless variations and subtle tricks that can put
more walleyes in your boat this year. Editors Note: The author,
Sheldon Meidinger has been a familiar face on the Professional
Walleye Trail for several years. This Yar-Craft pro broke
out of the gate at a young age and already boasts several
accomplishments. 2004 PWT Cleveland Ohio, fifth; 2003 PWT
Sportsman of the Year, 2002 PWT Championship qualifier; 2001
PWT Sportsman of the Year; 2000 Pro Team Walleye Championship
winner; 1999 PWT Mississippi River, fourth; 1999 PWT Championship
qualifier; 1999 NAWA Lake Sakakawea, second; and many other
top-twenty finishes.
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