How to Catch River Walleye: Proven Techniques for Catching Walleye & Sauger

Jigging a live minnow is still the most popular way to catch river walleye and sauger, but a few alternatives can often be more effective.  I, for one, have been using plastics, blade baits, and spoons more often in recent years and have caught some of the biggest walleyes of my life, as well as limits of keepers in the process.

I used to grab five dozen minnows and a few dozen crawlers every time I went fishing, but now instead of spending $40 on live bait, I'll spend under $10 because (of course), I still must get a few dozen “security minnows” just in case. LOL 

Catching Spring Walleye

Spring walleye can be shallow, especially the large females. They usually hold shallower than sauger.   How shallow?  Sometimes right up to shore.  A lot of times, shore-bound anglers make the mistake of casting out into the middle of the river when in fact the walleyes are right at their feet.  

In high water, a lightweight 1/8th ounce BFishN Tackle H20 jig rigged with an AuthentX Pulse-R swimbait is tops for shallow water pitching.  From the boat, make a cast towards shore and let it tumble downstream.  Pitch it right up around fallen trees and docks, and whatever cover you can find.  Big fish will be right in the thickest stuff. 

 When fishing from shore, shorter flip casts are best, peppering the area all around you.  Also, don’t stomp round…fish can sense it!

 

Getting jig weight right

Jig weight makes all the difference between snagging bottom and catching fish. I will use BFishN H20 jigs with an AuthentX Pulse-R or Moxi slid right up the jig, so the wire keeper holds the plastic tight to the head.

 I can pitch this combo anywhere, but it works best when cast to the side of the boat and free-lined slightly off bottom into the strike zone.  I'll start with a 1/8th ounce jig and then go lighter or heavier, depending on the current. 

Dubuque rigging

Dubuque rigging is a fantastic technique for covering water, whether the current is weak or strong.  To make a Dubuque rig tie a 1/2 or 5/8th ounce H20 jig rigged with AuthentX plastic like a Moxi off a foot-long dropper to a three-way swivel.  Then, off the other end of the three-way swivel, two feet back, put a 1/16th ounce H20 with an AuthentX Ringworm.

Dubuque rigging options are endless.  You can use a minnow as the trailer, I’ve been putting a Custom Jigs & Spins Demon size 4 instead of just a plain hook.  The Demon will “swim” and shimmy back behind, and really attracts fish better than just a plain hook. 

You can use a smaller size 6 Demon and slide on a redworm for finicky walleye and bonus perch, as well as channel cats, drum, bluegill, and crappie…it catches it all!  Or tie on a small Rapala floating minnow attached to a quick-change snap on the trailer line instead.  Hot orange and firetiger patterns are tops. 

Plastics for the catch

A jig and minnow is great, but plastic has several advantages.  The first is color.  Walleye really react positively to color, and once a hot color is discovered, it's game on!  

Next is size. Walleye key on certain sizes of plastic.  Sometimes small is better, other times they like a large offering. This is related to the size of bait they are feeding upon.

Finally, there is vibration and sound.  A walleye’s lateral lines allow the walleye to "hear" and feel a lure's vibration as the lure is moving underwater. 

Blades, spoons, and Spring

Blade baits and spoons are hot in Spring on rivers also.  You can vertically jig them, cast and reel, cast and rip, and even slow troll them.  BFishN Tackle B3 Blades and Wolf’s Big Dude Blades are my favorite blades to fish. 

Blades rely on their vibration and flash to attract fish.  Wolf’s One-Eyed Shiner is a slab spoon that can be worked in a variety of ways.  This slab of lead fishes fast; quick lift/fall, short rips of the rod or cast, and ripped on the retrieve are top presentations. 

Finally, you can slow things down with a ¼ ounce Custom Jigs & Spins Slender Spoon.  The Slender Spoon is used best in lower current situations, tipped with a minnow head.

A slow lift causes extreme vibration, and it will flutter seductively on the drop.  Although it was primarily designed for ice fishing, the Slender Spoon works all year long and excels in cold water. 

So next time you head out to the river with your trusty jig-n-minnow, and you just can’t seem to catch those active walleyes and sauger, remember that’s not the only way to fish.  More often than not, plastic presentations, spoons and blade baits will out-produce the classic jig!

To find out more about B-Fish-N Tackle’s line of AuthentX Ringworms, Moxi’s, Pulse-R’s, and H20 Jigs go to bfishntackle.com or you can link to it via customjigs.com Also, be sure to like Custom Jigs & Spins, B-fish-N Tackle and join the group Walleye College on Facebook for some up to the minute info.