Canadian Dollar
Try These Different Techniques for River Walleye and Sauger!
Feb 19th 2026
Jigging a live minnow is the most popular way to catch river walleye and sauger. However, there are a few alternatives that will sometimes be more effective each Spring. 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 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 $60 on live bait, I'll spend under $10 because, of course, I still MUST get a few dozen “SECURITY MINNOWS” just in case.
Go Shallow
Giant walleye will move shallow, especially the large females. They usually hold shallower than sauger.
How shallow? Sometimes right up at 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 light jig like a 1/8th ounce BFishN Tackle H20 Precision Jig, rigged with an AuthentX Pulse-R swimbait, is tops for shallow water flipping. From the boat, make a cast towards shore and let it tumble downstream. Pitch it right up around fallen trees, docks, and whatever cover you can find. Big fish will be right near the thick stuff. When fishing from shore, shorter flip casts are best, peppering the area all around you.
Get the right jig weight
Jig weight makes all the difference between snagging and catching. I'll 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 allowed to tumble slightly off bottom into the strike zone. I'll start with a 3/16th ounce jig and then go lighter or heavier, depending on the current. Keeping several St. Croix Eyecon rods rigged with different weight jigs makes the process more efficient.
Try a 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-foot back, put a 1/16th ounce H20 with an AuthentX Ringworm.
Michigan guide Andrew Hendrickson ran an AuthentX Ringworm behind a heavy jig for this monster Detroit River walleye!
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. A final option is to tie on a small Rapala floating minnow attached to a quick-change snap on the trailer line instead.
Why plastics work so well
A jig and minnow is great, but plastic has several advantages. The first is color. Walleye really react positively to color, and when a hot color is discovered, it's game on!. Next is size—walleye key in on certain plastic sizes. 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 vibrations as the lure moves underwater.
Blade baits and spoons for 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 the 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 furiously 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 and minnow, remember that it is not the only way to fish. More often than not, plastic presentations, spoons, and blade baits will out-produce the classic jig!
