Rice Lake Fishing Report
The famed Wisconsin fishing opener is two and half weeks away. Boats and equipment are starting to come out of storage, the walleyes are starting the spring spawn, and preparing your gear early is going to give you a jump on this year’s fishing season. This week’s article is not going to cover how and where to catch fish, but I'm going to explain what I use in the first month of the season for equipment to help catch those sometimes finicky walleye.
There's no doubt, a simple jig and minnow combination is the go to tactic for early spring walleye. It's such a versatile presentation that can be fished vertical or horizontal, with different speeds and action. I like to have a medium action rod which gives you great backbone to set the hook, which is needed if the fish bite mid jig or with some slack in the line. I spool my reels with 6lb monofilament line. The meat and potatoes comes down to the jig and minnow. I choose fathead minnows when it comes to the meat, as far as the jig goes, will vary lake to lake and due to weather conditions.
When casting shorelines, I like to pitch 1/8 oz. jigs but a 1/4 oz. jig can be needed in a stiff wind. Fish are still lethargic from the cold water, so the slower the fall, the better. Vertical presentations require a heavier jig to help maintain bottom contact, which is the most crucial part. Generally I will run a 3/8 oz. jig and move around my area at a speed that keeps that jig vertical, or a slight vertical drag.
Slip bobber rigs are also a great early season tactic. Again, I use 6lb test monofilament line, but you can get away with a medium light action rod on these. One thing I really like to do is to add a small barrel swivel to the end of the main line, and tie on a 12-18" fluorocarbon leader in 6-8lb test. First off, fluorocarbon line is clearer underwater, and secondly this will keep your sinkers from sliding down which can deter fish, and cut up your line. Just make sure to put the sinkers between your barrel swivel, and the bobber. Thirdly, I like to run leeches all the time on slip bobbers because they give more action than a minnow. Leeches love to swim and spin which can cause troubles in your line. Adding this swivel will allow the leech to do his thing, and will avoid line twists. The leech should be attached by a number 6, or number 8 hook.
Good luck fishing and remember, introduce someone new into the outdoors. They will appreciate it for a lifetime.
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