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Walleye are a challenge to pursue and catch, that is why experienced anglers have to use different ways to lure them. One of these is by using the jig, a type of artificial lure, which may be used with nearly all kinds of live and artificial bait. The fishing method that uses jigs is called ‘jigging’.
Jigging
Jigs are light weight tackle baits that come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some of the most common include the cone or pyramid, stand up, bullet, round and aspirin shapes. Each one is used in a particular water environment because the shape makes it more effective in catching walleye.
Jigging is considered as one of the most effective and versatile ways to catch walleye, particularly because it can work in any type of water, be it a lake, stream or river. It also works in a variety of weather and water conditions, which makes it a favorite among experienced anglers. Jigging is excellent to use for trolling and slow drifting.
Jigging for walleye
The main thing to remember about jigging is that this is a fishing technique where the lure is supposed to touch the bottom of the river, lake or stream. Your goal as an angler is to keep the line as nearly vertical as possible. This position will help you control the line once the walleye bites.
The size of the jig is an important factor in fishing for walleye. Which size you use will depend on the depth of the water you will be fishing in. A good rule of thumb to follow is to use a 1/8 oz. of jig weight for every 10 ft. of water. Increase this by 1/8 oz. increments for every 10 ft. of water thereafter.
Use a light line and keep it limp. A stiff line will prevent good action on the jig. Vary the line test depending on the weight of the jig but keep your eye out for presentation. Whatever jig or line you apply, make sure the combination will result to a jig that will fall slowly, making the bait look as natural as possible.
As for tipping the jig, some live bait work better than others. Minnow, for example, are more attractive to walleye than leeches, although leeches and crawlers will also work. Choose artificial baits that have soft bodies, especially during seasons when walleye are more active.
One thing to remember about jigging is that it’s not always effective for walleye. Use the technique only when fishing in the spring or fall. These are the seasons when the walleye likes to keep to shallow water, which is about 10 to 12 ft. deep.
If you have been growing a vegetable garden for a while, you might be feeling slightly disgruntled at how plain it is to look at. I too began my gardening career with a vegetable garden, but I decided that it was not quite as pleasing to look at as I would have liked. I heard from a friend that the use of perennial flowers could be a great way to liven up my garden without adding any extra work for me.
Perennial flowers are strong, local flowers that come back every year without having to replant or do any extra work. During their off seasons, the flowers and stems die back and you can hardly even tell the plant is there (rather than just dying and looking like hideous brown clumps in your garden). When it’s time to bloom, entirely new flowers shoot up where the old ones.
Before deciding whether to put in perennials or not, you need to make sure that your soil has proper drainage. If the water stays saturated for long periods of time, you should build a raised bed. To test, dig a hole and fill it with water. Wait a day, and then fill it with water again. All traces of water should be gone within 10 hours. If the hole isn’t completely dry, you will need to build a raised bed.
Picking your perennial plants can be a complicated process. The goal should be to have them flowering as much as possible during the year, so you should create an outline of the year. Research the different types of flower you want, and create a timeline of flowering. If you plan it right, you can have a different type of flower blooming at any point in the year. Getting just the right mixture of seeds can give your yard a constantly changing array of colors.
When you go to buy the seeds from your local florist or nursery, you might be able to find a custom seed mixture for your area. This takes the really tough research part out of the job. Usually these blends are optimized for the local climate, and do great jobs of having flowers always grow in your yard. If one of these is not available, you can ask the employees what they think would be a good mixture. They should be happy to help you put something together which will be optimal for whatever you desire.
You should definitely use mulch when planting perennials. This will reduce the overall amount of work you have to do, by reducing the amount of weeds and increasing the water retention. Bark or pine needles work great, I have found, and depending on the rest of your yard you might have them on hand at no charge. As for fertilizer (you can use organic fertilizer or non organic fertilizer), you should use it sparingly once your plants start to come to life.
When you actually go to plant the seeds, you should put them in small, separate clumps according to the directions. This is because they tend to spread out, and if you have too many too close together then they will end up doing nothing but choking each other out. As you plant them, throw in a little bit of extremely weak fertilizer. In no time at all you should start to see flowers blooming up.
There are various sources where those “special coins” can be purchased. The following are the basic methods and starting places to obtain the coins you have long wanted.
Go local
Coin shops are plentiful in most states. Generally your local area or city will have coin shops which you can visit to see if they have the coins available that you want to add to your collection. Most of these coin shops are located in the larger town or cities. Better yet, use your local phone book and start walking those fingers through the pages to find out where the nearest coin shop is located…
These shops provide coin collectors the opportunity to actually examine or scrutinize the coins that interest you. Fortunately, these coin shops are also replete with experts and coin lovers who share your passion and can offer their valid judgment on a particular coin’s grade or value. They can also offer helpful tips as well as advice.
Local coin shops may sometimes have a limited stock or collection of coins and the price they offer them for may be a little bit higher than usual. This scenario usually also applies to collectors.
Buying coins by mail
This method is a very convenient and inexpensive way to purchase coins. Most dealers that transact via mail usually have overhead costs that are low so they are able to offer similarly low prices on coins they sell.
Do not forget to thoroughly inspect a particular dealer’s policies before returning an item. Make sure that once you receive your coin, immediately inspect it for authenticity or damage. The coin you must have must be just as you ordered and what you expected.
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Auctions for coins
There are also auctions specifically for coins. This method is a very effective - if not excellent - way to purchase coins. It is extremely important that prior to attending an auction you know the procedures and rules that apply.
There are various types of auctions; bidding auctions via internet, mail, as well as auctions conducted by phone. Always be aware and wary! It is important to make sure that you set a fixed price on the coin you are about to bid on. Auctions can turn very emotional and aggressive. Practice discipline and try not to bid more than the ceiling price you have set for yourself.
In summary, coin buying is not difficult. All you need is to explore and look for the best product available.
Walleye are mostly found in North American waters and are predatory members of the perch species. Their eyes appear glassy, thus its name, and their bodies have distinctive marks for easy identification. Walleye can both be found in rivers and lakes and prefer deeper waters as they grow older because of their dislike of sunlight. Although they don’t put up strenuous fights when caught, their preference for dwelling at the bottom makes choosing the right bait all the more important.
Choosing the Right Bait for Catching Walleye
Whether you are using real or fake bait, just remember to choose one that resembles a walleye prey the most. Walleye have excellent eyesight so do not expect them to be fooled with poor bait choices.
Types of Live Bait for Catching Walleye
Spinner Rigs and Minnows
Live minnows are arguably the most popular baits used for fishing walleye. Spinner rigs are definitely harder to prepare and use than jigs and though you can purchase ready-made ones from local fishing shops, you’ll usually find something you have personally made more effective.
The best partner to a spinner-rigged minnow is a moderate to high-end fishing rod with above average speed of use. Let your bait stay approximately one foot away from the bottom. They don’t work well in rifles.
Lead Heads and Leeches
Fishing novices would do well by starting out with a lead head jig and leech combination. A lead head jig is more complex than using a plain hook. A leech is also the easiest bait because you can virtually prick it anywhere and still have it effectively serve its purpose. You can also use an artificial tail together with this baiting combination but it is truly unnecessary.
If you are using a lead head jig and leech, it will achieve the greatest number of catches when you cast it past a riffle edge and proceed downstream. For shallower waters, make sure you keep your bait directly vertical. Deeper waters and stronger currents can make it hard to keep your bait vertical so you will have to use heavier bait in such instances.
It is better to have one other person with you when you are fishing from a boat. The person controlling your boat should be able to work with the current as it goes downstream and you focus on fishing for walleye.
Types of Artificial Bait for Catching Walleye
Worms
Plastic and rubber worms have long been used as bait for bass but they don’t enjoy the same level of popularity for those dedicated to catching walleye.
To use this type of bait effectively, start by dragging it on the top of reefs just so walleye in the vicinity have a better chance of seeing it. In shallow waters, just cast it out and then wait for it to drift to the bottom on its own. When it does, jerk your rod up once in a while to set out vibrations.
The good news for walleye fishing enthusiasts is that there is a company currently working on plastic worms specifically designed for baiting walleye. Not only do they greatly resemble the appearance and, even to some extent, the taste of live bait, they are also safe to use for the environment!
Lizards
Walleye are fooled by plastic lizards because they resemble the amphibians and mudpuppies they prey on. Of course, you will have to jiggle them several times to cause the kind of vibration that walleye understand. The ideal size for lizards is four inches but you can go as far as seven inches if you feel that’s what you need. As for the jig heads, use anything between one half to 5/8 ounces.
Colors matter as well. While experts advise fishing enthusiasts to purchase lizards in the shades of orange, green, and red, some prefer their artificial baits to resemble the traditional colors of purple and blue of basses.
Shad
Shad take the appearance of minnows and automatically work to serve its purpose once you have cast it upon a river or lake. When shopping for shad, make sure you choose the color that will best resemble live minnows depending on the time of the day you are fishing.
Other types of artificial bait you can try using are tubes and grubs.
Need a Boat to Fish for Walleye? Use This Practical Guide
Fishing for walleye is fun and challenging because this is not an easy fish to catch. Anglers also prefer this fish because of its beauty and size. Although many anglers have had success in fishing for walleye from the banks of lakes or rivers, the need to use a boat often crops up in the pursuit of this elusive fish.
Fishing for walleye from a boat
Using a boat to fish for walleye will depend on where the fish is found during a particular fishing trip. Practically speaking, any spot on a lake or river that can not be reached if you are standing on the shore is only accessible if you use a boat. A boat is also a practical means with which to follow the walleye.
And really, who has not found fishing in a boat more comfortable? You are dry, you are seated comfortably and you can even doze off as you wait for the elusive walleye. Imagine doing that while fishing from the shore or standing waist deep in water.
What type of boat do you need?
When it comes to using a fishing boat, you have dozens of choices. However, not every one is a perfect fit. Consider some of these facts before honing in on your fishing boat:
Are you fishing alone?
If you are the type of angler who likes to enjoy catching fish by your lonesome, a small boat should be enough to hold you and your equipment comfortably. However, if you are fishing with a buddy or several other anglers, find a boat that you all can fit into, with room to move and store your gear.
Your choosen location
Will you be on a river or lake? Larger bodies of water such as lakes and reservoirs make it impractical to choose a boat without a motor. Or if it does have one, it should be capable of higher speeds to let you move from one area to another quickly and conveniently. A boat with an electric trolling motor, for example, may not be very effective on larger bodies of water.
Another consideration is the drift factor. A lake may seem serene and motionless but there are unseen currents that will move the boat in a certain direction. Of course, there’s also the wind factor. Consider if the boat will drift faster from the bow or the stern and find out how you will have to compensate in case of an uneven drift.
Your fishing equipment
The barest essentials when it comes to walleye fishing using a boat include your fishing gear and nothing else. These days, however, more anglers prefer to bring in more equipment, such as coolers with ice for storage, cleaning equipment, even cameras.
If you’ll be loading your boat with these stuff and more, make sure there’s enough room in the boat for you to move.
Pay attention to weather
If you’ll be fishing on a windy day, will the boat be able to handle it? On overcast days when fishing for walleye is nearly effortless, does your boat provide you and your equipment with enough protection in case of a downpour?
Your dream fishing boat
Now that you have an idea of what you need from a boat to enjoy fishing for walleye, it’s time to choose your boat. First of course, is the size and material. Smaller boats that can hold two to three people are about 14′ to 20′ long. Longer ones are about 22′ long. These are made of aluminum.
Choose whether you prefer a flat bottom or a V-bottom boat. V-bottoms, particularly those with deep Vs, are better for use in deeper and larger bodies of water because they are more stable against heavy waves. Regular Vs are best used for smaller lakes.
Manufacturers and dealers also offer different layouts and styles, so simply choose one that will offer the best in terms of comfort and functionality.
Fiberglass boats are also excellent units, often built to provide speed and durability. These boats are usually bigger, ranging from 15′ to about 30′. If you fish frequently for walleye in rougher waters, try a center console boat. When you are far from shore, you’ll have to rely on this boat for endurance and stability. It’s also equipped with onboard gear you will find useful offshore.
If you like practicality and function, folding and inflatable boats are ideal. These boats are perfect if you are mobile or if you prefer to use your own boat for fly-ins. They are easy to store and may be used both for saltwater and freshwater fishing. If you prefer more in terms of performance, bigger boats make excellent choices for sports fishing.
Want more comfort and company? Choose cruisers or walk-around boats that can hold you, your friends or family and your equipment. In terms of creature comforts, these boats are well equipped, perfect if you want to spend a full day (or more) onboard to fish for walleye.
