Walleye Fishing Video

Walleye Fishing is something that many Minnesotans participate in every year. This avid fisherman takes his sport to the next level by actually going to where the fish live.....Watch this amazing video of Walleye Spear Fishing

Minnesota Fishing Season Opens Walleyes beware

Minnesota anglers are counting the days until the May 12 fishing opener and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is helping - with a reminder to introduce someone new to the sport.

The DNR will count down the days to the fishing opener on electronic billboards throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area beginning May 7. The space was purchased in partnership with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to growing participation in boating and fishing and Wildlife Forever.

"This innovative approach to marketing the fishing opener is aimed at avid anglers," said Mark LaBarbera, DNR communications director. "We're counting on those folks to introduce someone new to the sport and encourage more people to go fishing this year."

Recruitment and retention of anglers has become a priority for the DNR after a statewide survey showed the number of licensed Minnesota anglers ages 16-44 declined 9.3 percent from 2000 to 2005, while the state's population overall in that age category grew by one-half percent.

The billboards are part of a campaign, known as the Anglers' Legacy pledge, which encourages anglers to introduce a nonangler to a quality fishing experience. The pledge is based on research that suggests most people would gladly go fishing if only someone would ask them. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation will rent another 16 billboards to catch the eyes of motorists streaming north into lake country. These billboards will remind parents and grandparents to take their kids fishing by promoting the "Take Me Fishing" campaign.

"Through fishing, kids learn new skills, confidence and the importance of protecting water quality and habitat," LaBarbera said. "It's incredibly important that we help young people build a connection to the outdoors that will last throughout their lives."

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2007. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Web Site (online). Accessed 2007-5-7 at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/sitetools/copyright.html

Bottom Bouncer Trolling can be a Winning Idea

Although bottom bouncing can be refined to an art form in terms of technique and various presentations, the basics of trolling bottom bouncers are simple, easily learned, and almost instantly rewarding.

Typically, walleye feed at a particular depth on a particular structure. It is critical to maintain that depth when walleye are found, and equally critical to stay on the structure without unnecessary snagging or dragging. It all boils down to boat control and rod control.

Bottom bouncing is a hands-on endeavor. Many walleye anglers fail to have success when bottom bouncing because their rig is either too high up off the bottom (at least they don't snag) or laying on its side, constantly dragging across the bottom (*@!!# snags).

When you first let out line and touch bottom, your line goes slack, then tightens up. You need to let out a little more line, tap-tap with the rod to find bottom, a little more, tap-tap with the rod, and repeat until you can feel the bottom on each tap, but not the constant drag of the weight across the bottom. A bottom bouncer's effectiveness and snag resistance depends on correctly tapping, or "bouncing," the sinker along the bottom. When just the wire below the weight comes in contact with bottom the lure or bait trolls just above the bottom and the weight resists hanging up in rocks and other snags. Now you are set until the bottom drops off or rises a few feet or more. By watching the sonar you can anticipate these changes and reel in or let out line or raise or lower your rod tip to compensate.

The next problem will be when you feel your rig snag. This is normal. Don't feel defeated. Simply point your rod towards the snag and jerk straight up.
Do not jerk the pole toward the front of the boat . You will be doomed to turn back to get it out-a waste of time.

Now the good part, the hook set. When you feel a walleye hit your line, don't haul off and put your back in the hook set like you would for a trout. It's a hard habit to break but after you miss a few you will settle down and practice the dip and sweep. When you feel the fish, feed it to him (dip the rod back), then firmly sweep you pole forward and the battle is joined.

Boat control is the number one most important factor when bottom bouncing for walleye. As mentioned before, walleye concentrations are found on particular structure at a particular depth. That means if you can't keep the boat on the structure, (such as the top of a hump, the edge of a ledge or a shoreline contour), and at the proper depth, then you won't succeed in catching walleye while bottom bouncing.

By using the sonar, by watching the shoreline to help imagine what the bottom looks like, by paying attention to the wind and waves, and by watching where your rig is in relation to the boat, you can properly concentrate your fishing effort where the fish are. You must also realize that turns create speed changes on the outside lines (increase) and inside lines (decrease), which puts those lines deeper or shallower. Pay attention to these changes and control your boat properly and your fishing success will increase proportionately.

Source: MNWALLEYES.COM

Walleye Fishing Secrets The Vertical Jig

It swims, hops, wiggles, sinks, snaps, and twitches to attract fish. The jig does about everything except jump tall buildings and fly. A vertical presentation is only one of your choices to catch walleyes.

Vertical jigging is a technique where the boat is stationary or moving slowly. Boat control is very important for this method because you must move slowly to stay vertical. Always watch others jig as there are many variations of each presentation.

Practice and use what works for you, but always try to match the jig action of the angler who is catching the most fish just like you change colors if your buddy is catching them on red. I have found that I can not imitate everybody's jigging action no matter how hard I try. Some days you look like the magician and some days you look like a clown.

Below is a list of some vertical jigging presentations.
• Lift and drop
• Suspend
• Twitch
• Drag
• Snap



Lift and drop is the most common presentation. You lift the jig a few inches or a few feet and drop the jig to the bottom. Walleyes often pick up the jig as it drops and you will feel the walleye as you lift the jig. When you drop the jig, you can keep slight tension on the line by dropping your rod tip as the jig falls. This way you can see the bite by watching the line as if the jig doesn't seem to reach the bottom it is in a walleyes mouth. This will also slow down the drop. Walleyes prefer both fast and slow drops.

The jig can be suspended off the bottom and held motionless or twitched.
Your bite can often be more aggressive with this method. Jigs can be left on the bottom and dragged as you move slowly. When dragging a jig try to add other actions episodically to entice a bite or just wait for a walleye to pick it up.

Vertical snap jigging is very similar to the action used when using a jigging spoon. It I s also like lift and drop only the speed of the lift is much faster. The jig still drops freely. You will get your most aggressive bites with this presentation

Source MNWALLEYES.COM