Because of this, a spinning rod and reel setup is much better suited for walleye fishing than a baitcasting setup.Â. But in order to do this effectively, you need to use relatively lightweight jigs, so the minnow still has some freedom to move. What do ya know, it was a chunky 15″ walleye that absolutely inhaled my 4″ Impulse Smelt Minnow on a 1/4-oz VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig. Best fishing line for vertical walleye jigging The best line for vertical fishing is braid. Three main tackle components are critical for this type of fishing: rod, reel, and fishing line. In flowing water walleye are typically glued to the bottom and vertical jigging becomes the most efficient means of targeting them. While the reel is less critical for this type of fishing than the rod, it’s still important to choose a reel with a good drag system, since you want to be able to land big fish on light pound test lines. Vertical jigging for walleye in rivers is one of the more complex presentations an angler will face, but once mastered nothing catches more walleye in rivers. Remember this technique is best used for concentrated wads of fish. When you go to pop the jig next, the fish will just be there. I like a seven foot, six … If you’re fishing without sonar, you can apply these same techniques to your favorite walleye hangouts. Read more here. The concept of vertical jigging for walleye seems simple however; it’s not always that easy. Other techniques like casting, rigging, and trolling are more effective for finding fish. Vertical Walleye Jigging. Be the first to rate this post. In fact, during winter and spring it beats all other walleye fishing methods hands down, and during fall it is still among the top 3 methods for catching walleye.Â. Walleyes may well rank as the most popular species among anglers. Minnesota’s Fishing Opener 2021: How To Win The Weekend, This Potential World Record Sunfish Is Bigger Than Every Panfish You’ve Ever Seen, Easy Fishing Knots: How To Tie The Improved Clinch Knot, Mystery Tackle Box Revealed: Bass Pro Unboxing – May 2021, How To Rig A Spring Bobber In 4 Easy Steps. So I will answer the basic fishing line questions that come up often in circles. The answer depends on the specific tactic that you’re planning to use, but two main setups cover most scenarios: For vertical jigging with lightweight jigs (usually 1/8 to 1/4 oz), the best setup is a 6’3” medium light power, extra fast action spinning rod paired with a 1000 size reel. A jiggingrap’s action will help fish hone in on the bait and react to it. Vertical Jigging For Walleye: A Precision Tactic When you can locate fish either suspended or off the bottom, one of the most fun ways to entice a strike is vertical jigging for walleye. Try this 10-step program to better jigging. Try a vertical jigging option. If you’re fishing in super clear water, and the walleye are very finicky, you can even go down to a 8 lb test braided main line, with a 6 lb test fluorocarbon leader. Lindy Slick Jig. Panfish, walleye, lake trout, hybrid striped bass, monster smallmouth bass and even muskies are taken by vertical jigging every year from the late fall through early spring. On the other hand, when you’re casting jigs (either from a boat, or from shore), a longer rod increases the casting distance, and it also allows the rod to load up better when you get a bite at a distance, resulting in a higher hook up ratio. A 2000 size reel is still lightweight enough to avoid casting fatigue when throwing jigs all day long. If fished correctly, it’ll produce for you all season long. Tyee Magnum. One thing that this “quarantine” of this apocalypse has allowed is some solo boat time and not having to produce every day. A strictly vertical presentation, one in which the lure is able to remain near or within the traditional 2D sonar beam, allows anglers to monitor their lure, and the fish reacting to it, in real time. GLoomis Walleye GLX 6’3 mag light Xf is the best bet but it’s double your price. Vertical jigging for walleye is probably the most simplest form of fishing that you can do. Not every vertically presented bait draws a bite, though. At times walleyes congregate on very specific spots. Staying vertical while fishing rivers is important because it keeps the bait in proximity to bottom while at the same time mitigating the chances of snagging. Boat control is very important for this method because you must move slowly to stay vertical. Tyee Magnum ... VERTICAL JIGGING FOR WALLEYES. Vertical jigging is a technique where the boat is stationary or moving slowly. This up-and-down movement draws attention. This is a seminar that Jon Bondy did at a local retail store here on Lake St. Clair. First, find the bottom. Vertical jigging is one the most common and productive ways to present baits and lures to bottom-oriented fish. Vertical Jigging Lipless Crankbaits for Walleyes Al and Dan Lindner vertically jig vibrating crankbaits for deep-water walleyes in a fertile natural lake in western Minnesota. Monofilament, on the other hand, has a lot of stretch, which can result in many short strikes.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')}; See also: what is the best line for walleye jigging? We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Without some insight fishermen have struggled to refine this strategy. Vertical Jigging – This is the most simple way to fish them. But trust us, these things are walleye candy. For this reason, vertical Before fishing, use your electronics or past experience to put your boat in an area that is holding fish. Not sure the jig color makes a big difference since snap-jigging is mostly a reaction bite, but I was trying to mimic a tasty-little perch: Vertical jigging allows you to fish for walleye that are concentrated on the bottom of deep lakes or rivers in a way that regular casting could not do. When you can locate fish either suspended or off the bottom, one of the most fun ways to entice a strike is vertical jigging for walleye. Tip: use a barrel swivel to attach the main line to the leader, since that will prevent line twisting. I just like how it gets down FAST and stays near the bottom when moving. Spinning rods and reels are ideal for lightweight lures and light pound test lines used for walleye fishing. The only disadvantage of braid is that it has a high visibility underwater, which is why it’s best to tie a 4 foot fluorocarbon leader, which has almost zero visibility.Â. Share. I typically will give two or three quick ‘pops’ and then bait fall back to bottom. The best reel size to choose depends on the specific jigging technique that you want to use:if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-banner-1-0')}; When you’re using lightweight jigs around 1/8 to 1/4 oz, you’ll want to use the smallest spinning reel size of 1000, since that will make your overall setup lighter, helping with subtle lure presentation and detecting every movement and bump on your jig.Â. Fishing a jigging rap style bait can be an effective way to pick up individual fish or groups of fish after marking them on your graph. They often dart upward erratically, only to lose momentum and drift downward. No votes so far! Without question, one of the most effective tactics for catching walleyes in rivers is vertical jigging. As the name implies, vertical jigging is the practice of fishing a jig vertically, directly below the boat, as you drift downstream with the current. Info. This page may contain affiliate links. So you’ll want to plan ahead for what you’ll need for the way you like to fish walleyes. If you tie your main line directly to the jig, you’ll end up with a lot of line twisting, which will result in line tangles around the rod guides.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-leader-1-0')}; Sport Fishing Buddy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising progam designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Here Is the Gear I Use For Spring Jigging Walleye I have to be honest I spend most of my spring days trolling, but I really do love casting or jigging for walleyes. The best action rod to choose depends on the type of jigging you plan to do: An extra fast action rod is best for vertical jigging, as this has very little play, and allows you to feel every little tap or tug on your jig, especially when combined with braided line (which has almost no stretch). So what is the best walleye jigging setup? One of the most versatile jigs for ice fishing, the … Beyond the fundamental lift-fall-pause, potential retrieves are many, especially with heavy compact lures like the Jigging Rap, Puppet Minnow, and Vibrato. Vertical jigging is among the most satisfying ways of catching a walleye dinner. Whether a spot is a rockpile that's close to a big drop, a ledge that crosses a current to create an underwater eddy or high point on a reef, if you can position your boat over such a spot without spooking the fish, vertical jigging keeps the offering in … Read more. Some anglers may look at a jigging rap and wonder how a hunk of lead with hooks can be an effective way to target walleye. Most of the bites I encounter are actually when the bait hits or is sitting on bottom. Problem is there are a lot of rods around $100-$125 and then you jump into the $300+ range. Again, this depends on the specific type of jigging you plan to do: While jigging vertically, it’s common practice to bait the hook with a live minnow, which increases the number of bites dramatically. Jigging is one of the most effective tactics for catching walleye. I’d get two from limit creek and you’ll spend your $200. I often target individual walleyes spotted on sonar or 360 Imaging. A vertical presentation is only one of your choices to catch walleyes-I have many vertical jigging tips for catching walleye. Vertical jigging is a top tactic for fishing river walleyes virtually year-round. Slip bobber rig for walleye The slip bobber rig is another very popular option for walleye anglers. Other Routines. One of the more widely publicized vertical techniques in recent years is ripping lipless crankbaits. This is important when you’re casting, since you’ll often get bites at a distance of 30 feet or more, and don’t want to set the hook prematurely, since that will just pull it out of the mouth of the fish. One of the easiest meals for any predatory fish is crippled or dying baitfish. The best rod length depends on the specific type of jigging you plan to do for walleye: Vertical jigging: 6’3” to 6’9” rod length Casting or pitching jigs: 6’9” to 7’2” rod length Vertical jigging for walleye is suited for when you know where they are, and you want to put a pounding on them. For this reason, vertical lure motion is fundamental to walleye fishing. For both types of jigging you’ll want a rod with enough backbone to set the hook effectively, and to handle big walleye over 5 pounds.Â. BUY NOW. The ideal line strength to use is a 10 lb test braided main line, tied to a 8-10 lb test fluorocarbon leader that’s about 4 foot long. In the spring time this is a great jigging technique walleye anglers like to use when sitting in the boat hovered over the top of suspended walleye. If we’re going to be talking about jigging raps for walleye, I only use model 7s or 9s. what is the best line for walleye jigging. Lindy Slick Jig Lindy. For casting jigs, a slightly bigger 2000 size reel is better, since that’ll allow you to spool more line and cast farther. will ALL vary. But in order to do this effectively, you need to use relatively lightweight jigs, so the minnow still has some freedom to move. Walleyes seem genetically programmed to react to rising and falling prey. The darting action you can impart on these baits with the right techniques is similar to a ‘walking the dog’ topwater bait, but underwater. If you're fishing the great lakes and trolling for salmon, walleye or trout, this full windshield has it all. Feel the bite, set the hook and enjoy that head shake. As water temps start to rise throughout the country, don’t forget about that jigging rap style bait when vertical jigging for walleye. In addition, you need to make subtle movements with your rod tip while jigging (otherwise you’ll just end up tearing off the minnow).if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-box-4-0')}; As a result, a bite can often end up being hard to detect, and a longer rod with a soft tip gives you more time to detect a bite, as it loads up slowly, without alerting the fish that there is a fishing line attached to the bait.