By Jason Mitchell

Jigs are the most versatile tool in any walleye angler’s tackle box.  Like any technique, there are details and nuances that can make you successful or unsuccessful.  If there is one aspect of jig fishing that is often overlooked, it would be the importance of versatility.  There is not necessarily a right or wrong way to fish a jig.  When the fish are biting, you can fish a jig in a lot of different ways and get bit.  When conditions get tougher however, we often see a particular stroke or jigging style produce and catching fish is all about locking into that specific mojo. 

By Jason Mitchell

Some of the earliest open water walleye fishing opportunities occur each season on river systems and flowages or bottle neck areas that open up because of current.  Open seasons and open water are necessary and there are so many good early season fishing opportunities.  The Mississippi River, Rainy River, Fox River and the Missouri River all come to mind.  Each of these fisheries are drastically different with different terrain features, different forage and ultimately different fishing strategies.  While there are differences from one fishery to the next, there are also many similarities.  The beauty of fishing rivers is that fish location does get dictated by current… or a lack there of.