Professional walleye angler Tom Huynh offers up some tips on fishing plastics for river walleye.
Plastics for River Walleye
As winter transitions into spring many river walleye populations begin their prespawn runs. This is one of the best times of the year to catch big walleyes. There are many rivers across the Midwest that are overlooked though some popular spots, such as the Rainy River in Northern Minnesota, host hundreds of anglers each spring. With the opportunity for both quality and quantity rivers provide anglers with a chance to chase big prespawn walleyes before the ice to melt on the lakes.
Locations
High water in spring is often accompanied by fast flow and muddy conditions which can make fishing difficult. However, these same conditions can also concentrate walleyes in specific areas, making them easier to target. Understanding what types of structures walleyes use depending on the water level is crucial for anglers looking to capitalize on the spring river walleye run.
During the spring spawning season walleyes move into shallower waters with gravel or sandy bottoms. Holes at river bends are obvious staging areas for schools of walleyes moving upstream. Eddies formed at tributary confluences and dams are also a likely locations worth exploring. These areas provide shelter from the current and good feeding opportunities for walleyes moving upstream.
Casting Plastics for River Walleye
Springtime river walleyes can be caught on a number of different presentations, however a jig and plastic is arguably the best way to catch them. It’s a simple presentation that can be fished at any depth and customized depending on the fishing scenario. Color, weight, drop speed, and size all factor in when fishing plastics for river walleyes.
When river fishing in spring presentations that create commotion and flash tend to perform best. One newer jig and plastics combinations that has really shined recently is the Northland Deep-Vee Under Spin Jig paired with a Northland Eye Candy 3.5-inch Paddle Shad. It’s the perfect combination for fishing these early season walleyes, because the Deep-Vee Under Spin jig gives off a ton of flash and vibration in the water.
This is critical when fishing rivers in spring, because most of the time they have low visibility due to snow melt. The Northland Eye Candy Paddle Shad features a super stretchy TPE material that is incredibly durable and can handle the numbers of fish that anglers often run into when fishing plastics for spring walleyes.
Look for walleyes to use slack water during the high flows the spring time brings. A popular early season river tactic is casting jigs and paddletail plastics along the shore and retrieving them back along the bottom.
Anglers will cast jigs and plastics along a variety of shoreline structures including riprap, tributaries, wing damns, and other types of current breaks. Depending on the mood of the fish you bait can be hopped along the bottom or brought in with a straight retrieve. If the river you are fishing has a lot of current you can catch a lot of fish working the bait vertically below the boat, letting the current create the action.
Scenting Plastics for River Walleye
Scent can be a great way to trigger bites throughout the springtime walleye run. With most rivers having low visibility in spring scenting your plastics can help trigger a few more bites throughout the day. A great feature about the Northland Fishing Tackle Eye Candy line is that they come unscented and do not have a chemical smell to them like some other plastics.
The packaging on the Eye Candy line of plastics was formulated and designed for self-scenting, allowing the angler to pour scent onto the baits while still in the package. Depending on the forage base of the river you are fishing you can customize the scent on your Eye Candy plastics to match whatever the walleyes are feeding on.
Fishing Lakes for Spring Walleye
While rivers tend to attract most anglers lakes can be just as effective for springtime walleyes. Several states do not have a closed season and can be a great option for big fish. On lakes walleyes tend to congregate on expansive shallow flats, wind blown points, and near any inflows or outflows. These areas typically have the warmest water which attracts baitfish like shiners and perch.
A jig and plastic can be just as effective for walleyes in lakes as well, however there are a few changes that should be made. Generally in spring lakes have much better water clarity than rivers and typically better to use a more natural looking presentation. A Northland Tungsten Jig paired with a Northland Eye Candy Minnow or Eye Candy Grub is a great combination because they minnow shiners and fathead minnows. Work these natural looking presentations near the bottom with a slow retrieve.
FAQ’s
1. What is the best color plastics for river walleyes?
Firetiger, silver, chartreuse, orange, and UV colors are good options when fishing plastics for river walleyes.
2. What are some of the best rivers in the Midwest for big walleyes?
The Rainy River which borders Minnesota and Canada is a fantastic spring walleye spot for big fish. The tributaries of Green Bay in Wisconsin and the Detroit River in Michigan both produce lots of big walleyes each spring.
3. What is a good rod to use when casting plastics for river walleye?
A seven foot, medium power, fast action spinning rod is a good rod to throw plastics for river walleyes.
4. What are the best months to fish for prespawn walleyes?
March and April are typically the best months to catch large prespawn walleyes.
5. What pound test leader line should I be using when casting plastics for river walleye?
Eight to twelve pound test leader is prefer by most anglers.
Conclusion:
River Fishing for walleyes can be a blast, especially when you can get them casting. Fishing rivers provides a great opportunity to get out early before lakes open and get on some big fish. Using soft plastics like the Northland Eye Candy is a great way to trigger bites and put fish in the boat. Get out on a river this spring and give moving water walleyes a try.
