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Snap Jig Fishing for Early Eye’s By
Jim Chamberlin, Editor of LakeErieSportFishing.com Introduction The early
spring snap jig bite on Lake Erie has put it on the map as the “Walleye
Capital of the World” and for good reason.
About 80% of the lakes walleye population spawns on the south shore in
Ohio waters from the Lake Erie reefs just off of the Camp Perry Firing range to
Maumee Bay. These fish are schooled
up and are easily caught using a snap jigging method with a number of different
lures. Jigs There are
three jig presentations that are deadly for these spawning walleyes, a regular
jig tipped with a minnow, a regular jig with a twister tail (can be tipped with
a minnow) and a hair jig better known as a buck tail jig tipped with a minnow.
Hair Jigs are the most commonly used lure for the early season walleye in
Lake Erie. These lures deadly if
tipped with a large shiner minnow. Most
anglers prefer to attach a stinger hook to these three presentations because of
their large size, but be ware of the no treble hook laws in Maumee Bay and
Sandusky Bay. These jigs do work
well without a stinger. These fish
are aggressive; most of the strikes are so violent that the fish engulfs the
entire jig. This is not a typical
jig bite so; do not be afraid to work the bait fast, similar to what you would
present a tube jig to a bass. The
weight of the jig is personal preference, meaning what ever size you can keep
bottom contact with. I recommend
having a good selection between 3/8 oz and 1 oz.
Color does matter, I recommend having three main colors, Blue, Pink and
Chartreuse. Other colors will work
so do not restrict yourself to these colors.
Angler success can be directly correlated with confidence in a lure.
Blade Baits Blade Baits are my favorite way to catch spawning
walleye, the hit is extremely violent and the fight is incredible.
Presenting the blade bait is similar to working a jerk bait, but keeping
bottom contact. Most of the strikes
will occur on the drop or the pause so, when you lift up on the rod be prepared
to have a walleye hooked up. The
erratic action and vibration drives spawning walleye to destroy the bait.
These baits come in a variety styles, colors and sizes.
The sheer nature of this lure is to agitate walleye into striking.
Because of the action of this bait, color seems to have little or no
effect. Equipment Choice As a ultra-light fanatic I like using perch equipment.
5’ ultra light rod spolled with 10lb fire line.
I attach a 2’ 10lb Maxima Ultra Green mono leader with a small swivel
and tie the jig directly to the leader (When using the blade baits I use a
clip). This makes for a heck of
fight. Other rods can be used for
this type of fishing; again it is personal preference with most anglers using
6’ medium action rods with the same fire line and mono leader.
Special Rules and Regulations |