Vertical Jigging For Walleye: The When, Where, How, and Why

Walleye fishing is full of diverse ways to target big fish. While some anglers prefer to tie on their favorite stick bait and troll shallow flats, others may prefer tossing out a bobber and a worm and play the waiting game. However, ask any walleye angler what one of the most tried and true methods is, and chances are you’re going to hear a lot about vertical jigging. But when should you try it, where are the best spots, how do you do it, and why should you in the first place? Keep reading and you’ll get the answers to all of those questions.

The places you try and times you try vertical jigging are going to vary a lot throughout the year. Here are some of the best times to give it a shot.

One great time to try this method is during the late fall all the way through early spring. Even though water temperatures are dropping, the walleye still need to eat. The cold water is actually a benefit this time of year, as it pushes walleye into structure and slow current, which are both ideal areas to try jigging.

Mid-summer can be another great time to try, as the walleye are going to be out in deep holes during the day. The water temperatures are going to be at their peak in mid-summer, pushing walleyes into deep water. Vertical jigging can help you get to them, whether they’re holding tight to the bottom or suspending in the water column.

For both of these times of the year, you can give vertical jigging a try during the day and during the night. Walleye are particularly active during the night, making it a great time to go out and try jigging.

So we know when to try it, but what about where to actually drop a line in for walleye? If you’re fishing in a river system, try to find areas like holes, current breaks, or edges of holes. These are all going to likely have some deeper, calmer water that the walleye tend to stack up in.

If you’re on a lake, there are a few places to look. If these fish are out deep, try to find deep water with underwater humps or structure that the fish may hold on. Steep drop-offs can also work well. In the summer, don’t be afraid to find some expansive flats that they push up onto, looking for their next meal.

Next, let’s talk about how to actually try vertical jigging for walleyes. The two main things to keep in mind here are the gear and tackle you need, and the techniques involved in fishing this method.

To effectively try vertical jigging, you’ll want a 6 to 6.5 foot medium to medium-light rod with a fast tip. This rod setup allows you to have the length you need to jig, and the power to fight the fish, while still allowing you to feel subtle bites. This is best paired with your favorite mid-sized spinning reel with 8-10 pound braid and a 6-8 pound fluorocarbon leader.

The jigs you use will vary depending on the depth and current you’re fishing in. Typically, you’ll use something from 1/8 oz to 1/2 oz, depending on how fast the current is or how deep the water you’re fishing in is. You may need to size down your jig as well if the fish are feeling particularly finicky on the day you’re fishing.

The last part of a good jigging rig is the bait you use. Some common options are minnows, leeches, worms, and artificial baits. Each of these can work really well, but the one you decide to go with will depend on the type of food in the body of water that you’re fishing in.

When you’re jigging, you want to do your best to position yourself directly above the fish. There shouldn’t be any issues with this unless you’re jigging in extremely shallow water, in which case you may need to cast out and jig as you retrieve it back to you.

You’ll want to jig with a short, controlled cadence that allows the walleye in the area to see the jig and get in place to strike. Oftentimes, you’ll get the strike as the jig is falling back to the bottom, so be ready for that. Don’t be afraid to mix in some pauses as well, since this can help entice a bite too.

Pairing these techniques with modern sonar technology can also be a huge benefit. You’ll get real-time feedback on what the fish are paying attention to the most, allowing you to jig exactly how you need to to catch a big fish.

There are a number of reasons why vertical jigging works so well for walleyes. This presentation style allows you to put your lure right in front of these fish, regardless of where they are throughout the water column. The way you fish it can also be altered to match the aggressiveness of the fish. If they’re super active, you can speed things up and trigger strikes. If they aren’t particularly hungry, you can slow it down and wait for them to come and strike it.

Overall, this is one of the best ways to keep your jig and bait in front of fish for a long period of time, increasing your chances of hooking into your next big fish.