How Walleye River Fishing Works

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You wake up early­ on a Saturday in late March. It is just before dawn, but you can’t sleep. You grab a mug of coffee and take a step outside. There’s an exciting hint of warmth in the air that lets you know winter has finally passed, and spring has come to stay. Get out your gear — it’s time to fish.

Each spring, anglers across North America heed nature’s call. They grab their tackle boxes, fishing poles and bait, and head out for a refreshing morning of walleye river fishing. Tho­ugh walleye can be fished year-round, even in winter, they become much more active — and hungry — in the spring. [source: Scott] If you have never fished for walleye before, this time of year is definitely your best chance to learn.

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­Walleye river fishing is active and exciting. Walleye are big, tasty fish. The state record in Minnesota goes to a 17 pound, 8-ounce behemoth that was 35.8 inches long. [source: Minnesota DNR] This isn’t your grandfather’s fishing. Don’t expect to nod off while you lazily float around in a boat. This is a hunt. And once you reel in that first big fish, your walleye won’t be the only one that’s hooked.

Are you ready to take the leap and learn more? Let’s go fishing!­

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So you have decided to try walleye river fishing. You have ch­osen a river, have access to a boat, and your best friend has agreed to go with you. You are ready to hit the water, right? Not quite. In order to catch a walleye, you need to hook the bait that walleye prefer on lures that will make the bait look really attractive.

There is a debate as to whether or not to use live bait. Walleye are natural predators and typically feed on other fish and small aquatic animals like insects, crayfish, grubs, salamanders and frogs. For the live bait option, check your local bait and tackle shop, or, if you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, your own backyard or nearby pond. When deciding on live bait for walleye, try minnows, leeches or night crawlers. [source: Scott]

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Plastic bait can also be used. Professionals have won walleye tournaments by using plastic crawlers, thumper plastics, twitch baits, shad raps or spoons. [source: Kalkofen]

The key to catching walleye is making the bait look alive. To do this, use a lure that creates the illusion of free-swimming live bait. You can use these three basic lures combined with any of the bait listed above:

Gather your tackle box, and read on to learn how to best use your equipment.

If you have never heard of walleye, chances are you have seen, heard about or even eaten walleye without knowing it. This popular fish goes by several different names including: yellow pickerel, yellow pike, yellow pike-perch, pike-perch, walleyed pickerel, walleyed pike-perch, and yellow walleye pike. [source: Take Me Fishing]

Each state has its own fishing and hunting regulations. Check with your state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for any licenses you may need to get in advance. Be sure to read the regulations carefully. An Idaho man was charged $3,500 for having 44 walleye more than the state allowed. If caught again, he could earn one year in prison, along with additional penalties. [source: The Daily Journal]

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Having the correct bait and lure­s is great, but how do you use them? Techniques for walleye fishing can vary from season to season, but there are some general techniques that you can try at any time of year:

Here are a few things to keep in mind when fishing in different seasons:

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Now you know the basics. Read on to learn other helpful hints.­

You caught a fish! But how do you know it’s a walleye? The walleye’s first cousin, the sauger, is very similar in size and shape. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to tell the two apart. Walleyes do not have spots on their dorsal fins, they do have a dark patch at the bottom of their dorsal fins, and their tails have a white spot at the bottom. Saugers have dorsal fins covered with spots, they lack the dark area on their lower dorsal fins, and they don’t have the telltale white spot on the bottoms of their tails. [source: Iowa DNR]

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­In general, fishing is a trial-and-error sport. There is no bette­r way to learn walleye river fishing than to grab a pole, your bait and tackle, and get out on the river. However, a little preparation can help a great deal. Here are some tips to make your first walleye fishing experience safe, fun and successful:

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Walleye is a popular and tasty dish for fish lovers. Walleye can be baked, fried, grilled, crusted, spiced, put in casseroles and salads and baked into cakes. After your next fishing trip, try replacing the fish in your favorite recipe with walleye. [source: In-Fisherman]

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How Walleye River Fishing Works

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