Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 40
Against the
Current
River
Walleyes
by Jeff Knapp
photos by the author
It is commonly thought that the best way to catch river
Walleyes during the cold months of late fall and early
winter is to present a bait-generally a jig-n-minnow
or jig-n-plastic combo-with the current. Lethargic
Walleyes do not have to move much to take a bait.
And, it works. During over three decades of serious
late season river Walleye fishing, this approach put
thousands of Walleyes in my boat. But going against the
current-and in this case against the grain of traditional
thinking-can also dupe river Walleyes. In many cases,
anglers catch bigger fish.
Here are three scenarios where I commonly work
upriver. Two truly present the bait/lure against the
current. The third is more of a boat control maneuver
that increases efficiency.
Suspending jerkbaits over flats
and edges
Come late fall and early winter, river Walleyes tend to
gather in deeper holes that protect fish from the force of
the main current. During periods of inactivity, these fish
tend to be scattered throughout the depths of the pool.
40
Typically, Walleyes become more aggressive during the
evening twilight period (or drizzly days) and move to edges
to feed. If the downriver edge of the hole abruptly gives way
to a shallow flat, it is a situation tailor made for pulling a
suspending jerkbait upriver.
For example, if the downriver end of the pool is 15 feet
deep. The flat below runs 4- to 6-feet deep. Though the
prime spot is the ledge, where the transitional occurs,
foraging Walleyes will scatter along the flat during this
feeding spree when the current is mild.
Once the sun has settled below the horizon, I setup
anywhere from 100- to 200-feet below the ledge,
depending on the situation. Then, using the bow mount
trolling motor, I creep upriver with just enough speed to
inch forward. A suspending jerkbait is trailed behind the
boat. The key is to be close to the bottom with about a
cast's length of line out. If it takes a deeper running lure,
I use a Rapala X-Rap Deep 10. If the X-Rap is dredging
bottom, I go with a shallower runner like a Bomber
Suspending Pro Long A. The rod is handheld, instilling
occasional pumps to trigger a following fish. Once the lure
has pulled past the edge of the hole, I circle back around
and setup another pass.
In my experience this tactic is for quality fish in the 20- to
26-inch range, not high numbers. There is something about
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 21
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 23
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 26
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 28
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 43
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 52
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 63
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover4
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