So often when targeting big walleyes early in the season, less is more. The most productive techniques are often simple and subtle. On natural lakes in particular, we often find fish shallow, relating to the shoreline. Good locations might include protected shallow bays or shallow gravel and sand flats that warm up relatively quickly during the spring. On many bodies of water, water clarity is often generally clear and as the water warms up, the water tends to stain up. The exception would be strong run off or wind.
Clear water that hasn’t had a chance to warm up requires some adjustments to consistently catch fish. We often find some of the largest fish in less than five feet of water during this time frame but water clarity can narrow the windows of opportunity. When the sun is out early in the season, we often find big fish in shallow water even though the water is clear enough to distinguish the bottom and these fish can be extremely difficult with no overcast or wind. The fish are still often active but are hard to approach. The sweet spot is often just past the depth where you can physically see the bottom for numbers of fish. Some prime opportunities however often occur much shallow after dark or during sunrise or sunset.
When the water is still cold and relatively clear, we seem to catch many more fish by using monofilament line. Monofilament disappears in the water better than braid and for many of these presentations; I avoid using fluorocarbon because the sinking characteristics speed up the presentation too fast. What might be the biggest advantage to using monofilament for these presentations might be the stretch and subtleness of the line which seems to subdue and soften the swimming motion on the jig. The jig seems to have a more fluid, do nothing swim and glide through the water that really seems to trigger these fish. The top monofilament line that many walleye anglers have begun using is the Northland Bionic Walleye Line and the blue camo color works extremely well because the line can be watched much easier. For clean bottoms and open water, I love the five pound test. For heavier rock and debris, the eight pound works really well.
The nuts and bolts of this presentation is making long casts across these shallow flats and simply swimming the jig. Very few hops or pops, just cast and reel slow. If you start ticking the bottom, you are reeling too slowly. You want the jig to just glide along just off the bottom. Traditional jig combinations include the classic Fireball jig tipped with either a minnow, half crawler or leech and these combinations have caught a tremendous number of walleyes but the long casts often tear bait off. Many anglers have started to switch over to soft plastics or gone back classic buck tail or marabou dressings.
The most effective soft plastic jig for me over the past handful of years has been the Northland Mimic Minnow which has a pointed jig head that swims and tracks through the water nice. The body is long with a paddle which makes a nice thump as it is retrieved through the water. If the fish won’t hit the Mimic Minnow or bumping the bait short, I have had good luck with the Trigger X soft plastics. These synthetic water soluble baits are really soft and have a deadly action and the scent really seems to help in cold water.
Years ago, many walleye anglers cut their teeth on buck tail and marabou jigs but over the years, some anglers begin to forget how effective these dressings can be on a jig. Plastics today are scented and have more action and really replaced hair or marabou but some anglers are going back to the traditional dressings. Both buck tail hair and marabou is much more subtle in the water. The action is minute and the jig basically glides through the water in a straight line but this lack of vibration and flash can be extremely deadly early in the season. This is basically a do nothing jig that looks like a minnow swimming in a straight line and often, that is exactly what a walleye wants early in the season. Later in the season, we pop and snap these jigs back to the boat but I encourage you to try the simple cast and slow reel technique with jigs in conjunction with plastics, hair and marabou. So often in the spring, less is more. Slow and steady retrieves across shallow water early in the year often account for several trophy fish for us each year.
Editors Note: The author Jason Mitchell earned a legendary reputation as a guide on North Dakota’s Devils Lake before hosting the popular television show, Jason Mitchell Outdoors which airs on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest at 9:00 am Sunday mornings.
Lead Image: The author, Jason Mitchell with a beautiful spring walleye caught using a Northland Tackle hair jig which can be deadly effective early in the season with a slow steady retrieve.

So often when targeting big walleyes early in the season, less is more. The most productive techniques are often simple and subtle. On natural lakes in particular, we often find fish shallow, relating to the shoreline. Good locations might include protected shallow bays or shallow gravel and sand flats that warm up relatively quickly during the spring. On many bodies of water, water clarity is often generally clear and as the water warms up, the water tends to stain up. The exception would be strong run off or wind.
Clear water that hasn’t had a chance to warm up requires some adjustments to consistently catch fish. We often find some of the largest fish in less than five feet of water during this time frame but water clarity can narrow the windows of opportunity. When the sun is out early in the season, we often find big fish in shallow water even though the water is clear enough to distinguish the bottom and these fish can be extremely difficult with no overcast or wind. The fish are still often active but are hard to approach. The sweet spot is often just past the depth where you can physically see the bottom for numbers of fish. Some prime opportunities however often occur much shallow after dark or during sunrise or sunset.
When the water is still cold and relatively clear, we seem to catch many more fish by using monofilament line. Monofilament disappears in the water better than braid and for many of these presentations; I avoid using fluorocarbon because the sinking characteristics speed up the presentation too fast. What might be the biggest advantage to using monofilament for these presentations might be the stretch and subtleness of the line which seems to subdue and soften the swimming motion on the jig. The jig seems to have a more fluid, do nothing swim and glide through the water that really seems to trigger these fish. The top monofilament line that many walleye anglers have begun using is the Northland Bionic Walleye Line and the blue camo color works extremely well because the line can be watched much easier. For clean bottoms and open water, I love the five pound test. For heavier rock and debris, the eight pound works really well.
The nuts and bolts of this presentation is making long casts across these shallow flats and simply swimming the jig. Very few hops or pops, just cast and reel slow. If you start ticking the bottom, you are reeling too slowly. You want the jig to just glide along just off the bottom. Traditional jig combinations include the classic Fireball jig tipped with either a minnow, half crawler or leech and these combinations have caught a tremendous number of walleyes but the long casts often tear bait off. Many anglers have started to switch over to soft plastics or gone back classic buck tail or marabou dressings.
The most effective soft plastic jig for me over the past handful of years has been the Northland Mimic Minnow which has a pointed jig head that swims and tracks through the water nice. The body is long with a paddle which makes a nice thump as it is retrieved through the water. If the fish won’t hit the Mimic Minnow or bumping the bait short, I have had good luck with the Trigger X soft plastics. These synthetic water soluble baits are really soft and have a deadly action and the scent really seems to help in cold water.
Years ago, many walleye anglers cut their teeth on buck tail and marabou jigs but over the years, some anglers begin to forget how effective these dressings can be on a jig. Plastics today are scented and have more action and really replaced hair or marabou but some anglers are going back to the traditional dressings. Both buck tail hair and marabou is much more subtle in the water. The action is minute and the jig basically glides through the water in a straight line but this lack of vibration and flash can be extremely deadly early in the season. This is basically a do nothing jig that looks like a minnow swimming in a straight line and often, that is exactly what a walleye wants early in the season. Later in the season, we pop and snap these jigs back to the boat but I encourage you to try the simple cast and slow reel technique with jigs in conjunction with plastics, hair and marabou. So often in the spring, less is more. Slow and steady retrieves across shallow water early in the year often account for several trophy fish for us each year.
Editors Note: The author Jason Mitchell earned a legendary reputation as a guide on North Dakota’s Devils Lake before hosting the popular television show, Jason Mitchell Outdoors which airs on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest at 9:00 am Sunday mornings.
Lead Image: The author, Jason Mitchell with a beautiful spring walleye caught using a Northland Tackle hair jig which can be deadly effective early in the season with a slow steady retrieve.

 Scheels Walleye University is returning again this year with all new formats. In 2011 Johnnie Candle will again teach as much walleye catching as he possibly can in an 8 hour day. Walleye University A to Z starts with the 4 building blocks of walleye fishing; jig fishing, live bait rigging, spinner fishing and crankbaits. Walleye University When, Where, and How tackles the seasonal patterns associated with walleye fishing in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. On top of this, there will be three new sections to each WU.
Building a Winning Game Plan walks you through the planning for a day or a week on the water. Using the strategies of professional anglers, you will be able to plan and execute a fishing trip with no problem after this session.
Bigger is Better will focus on the ins and outs of catching the hogs. Not only will we discuss the hottest bites in the country to catch a 10 pounder, but tactics and tips will be shared on how to catch the largest fish in any given system.
Another all new section will be What’s Hot. In this segment you will learn all about the latest and greatest gear in the walleye world. From Side Imaging to the newest hooks, lures and colors, it is all there.
Walleye University first started in Bismarck ND in April of 2000. At that time, Dan Bonham, a ND Walleye Guide worked with Johnnie to get the ball rolling. Since then, the school has undergone several changes and had many guest speakers. This year is no exception as Corey Heiser and Candle’s tournament partner Dave Noble will be sharing their secrets as well.
March 5th – Devils Lake, ND – Lake Region State College 
March 12th – Minot, ND – KX Sport Show 
March 19th – Appleton, WI – Scheels 
March 26th – Omaha, NE – Scheels 

April 9th – Billings, MT – Scheels 

April 16th – St. Cloud, MN – Scheels 

April 29th – Rapid City, SD – Scheels 

For more information, contact Johnnie Candle at johnnie@gondtc.com or call 701-371-9431.

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C.S. Lewis once wrote that nothing ever happens the same way twice. And while fish relate to similar structures, bends, holes, and other features under the ice year after year, no two seasons are ever alike. This weekend last year, I cut a mere 20 holes and set my buddy up on the first in the series, directly over two red lines on my sonar screen. I explained the basics of the Vexilar and the spring bobber rod and his first slab crappie was on its way up just a few moments later. We set the house up on that hole, and didn’t move all day, catching a number of fat crappies spanning the 11- to 13-inch range and bluegills topping ten inches, with almost effortless regularity.
Like Prince Caspian compared to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, the story was almost completely different on our return to the lake. The characters were the similar, the mission was same (save the world, of course, and catch some monster panfish) but the place we had returned to was vastly different than the one we left last spring. We struggled to find fish in the usual haunts as a blanket of thick snow covered the ice, where last year it was an easy drive to any spot on the lake the entire winter. The drifts were so thick and powdery this time around that a snowmobile was necessary to access the spots we fished, now isolated from the main road plowed onto the lake.
We chased the tiny blips on the sonar from 16 feet to 18 feet to 21 feet and beyond, each time punching more holes in lines that weaved out toward deeper water in a desperate searching pattern. I grimaced with each three inch perch that took my tiny jig and barely bent my spring bobber. I took heart when a nice bluegill came spinning up the hole. And when we set up over a pod of the slab crappies the lake had become known for, we fished them as fast as we could, because as quickly as four fish were on the ice, the four holes they came from went cold.
Another twenty holes yielded nothing. Fifteen more, a few ‘gills. An hour later, we began to lose heart when we thought the fish we sought were gone for the day. I worked one last line, preparing to pull the plug on the outing after we agreed the drought had drug on too long. A fish worked its way up the screen to my Genz worm tipped with spikes and the spring bounced. I set the hook into a brick that bobbed and whirled under the hole. The shine of green and gold sparkled off the edges of ice hole as the 12-inch crappie came up the cylinder and into my grasp.
I called my buddy over and we took turns dropping our offerings down and pulled up three more slabs along with two impressive bluegills and everyone’s spirits rose when the group set up on the new line. We worked the area hard for another hour, landing a few more crappies and a bevy of sunnies before it cooled off. I punched one final line of holes and stopped over the second-to-last one and pulled up the final crappie of the day, nearly eight hours after we had started.
I had spent about as much time fishing as I did punching holes, as the duties of jigging, checking, moving and setting up shifted between the members of our party; and the teamwork, persistence and two auger tanks worth of mixed gasoline, combined to pay off with what we deemed a success, considering what we were up against.
Though the ibuprofen and the multivitamin after our endeavor played a big part in silencing my screaming shoulders, the golden filets of some hard-earned panfish undoubtedly helped me forget the 180 holes it took to catch dinner. As I missed the river card on the last hand of Hold ‘Em, and folded my four-card flush, I volunteered that I’d be happy to do it all over again the next day, or anytime for that matter…in our outdoors.