Tips for catching walleye

The walleye might just be Canada's single number one sport fish and justifiably so. It is found all across the country, it fights well and it tastes delicious.

One of the most popular methods of catching spring walleye is a simple lead head jig. Tipped with a live minnow, leech or nightcrawler, a jig is deadly! Either a bucktail or a curly tail grub seems to be the most effective. Keep 1/8-, 1/4- and 1/2-ounce models (3.5, 7.1 and 14.2 g respectively) in a variety of bright colours in your tackle box. Make sure you have lots because you'll lose a bunch.

Walleyes are the one fish species for which the right rod makes the difference. Being able to feel that subtle bite can only happen with a good rod. A 6-foot (1.8-metre) to 7-foot (2.1-metre) graphite medium action spinning rod with a fast tip is your number one choice. Add a top-notch spinning reel spooled with an 8-pound (3.6-kg) test limp monofilament, braid or the new fluorocarbon line and you're in walleye-catching business.

Look for weed beds and rock points as good walleye areas and make sure you cover lots of water. Not only should you cast to the structures, but also try a cast or two away – it may produce the odd surprise!