Tournament angler, Jared Coulter, is no stranger to the Detroit River and getting out of his comfort zone to find the fish he is looking for.

You could ask ten thousand walleye anglers and a vast majority would agree that springtime holds the some of the highest anticipation for the open water season. Whether it is an objective to stock the freezer or the opportunity to land the fish of a lifetime, Michigan offers two hallmark fisheries, the St Clair and Detroit River, that are known to start an anglers season off on a strong note with limits and trophies. Millions (yes, literal millions) of fish venture from their lake residence often upstream into the Detroit River from Lake Erie or into the St Clair river system from Lake St Clair to conduct their annual spawn. Whether a 4-angler limit is caught fast and furious in under two hours, or if a 10+ pounder is scooped into the net, if the stars align and everything is just right, a fishing story can be made for generations to share.

Jig fishing is nothing new to the world of marble eyes. This approach goes hand in hand with these locations and time of the year. In the same way that trolling body baits or crawler harnesses have their own time to shine, jigging in the spring can be a definite ticket to punch for success. The presentation and variability in how a bait can be delivered by means of a jig works year-round, especially when fish could be feeding day to day inconsistently based on environmental variables.

“Finding your rhythm: There is a typical cadence for jigging but switching it up on a tough bite may be the ticket. When the bite is challenging and the fish are lingering towards bottom, I like to slow my cadence down tremendously. A gentle rise and drop may just be the ticket to position your bait in front of the fish for a longer opportunity to strike. As slow as you can go may be the best bet in cold, dirty water, especially for those large and lazy fish you want to catch on tournament day. ”

— jared Coulter

A Medium-Heavy power rod, spinning or casting, is recommended for this type of fishing. You want a rod with a backbone to manage a 1oz jig comfortably, along with the sensitivity to feel the strike and deliver a hookset.

Tournament angler, Jared Coulter, fishes both the Michigan Walleye Trail (MWT) and the National Walleye Tour (NWT). He carries great enthusiasm and a mindful approach during this time of year after countless hours of putting in the work on the water. His concerns are those of many where fish may be loaded on the screen of your graph; the water temperature may have dropped five to ten degrees; and the bite pattern from the day before is long gone. You do not need to be a full-time tournament angler to know these things happen on an early season basis. He shares his favorite way to figure out a finicky program is to start with the technique.

Captain Brandon Stanton of Team Gunsmoke Sportfishing shares two insightful tips when big water jigging. First thing advises anglers to do is just find the group of boats and keep a distance from them. “If you somewhere quiet and by yourself, your limit will come a lot sooner!”

Second is to cut out foe what he refers to as “fancy jigging”.

“All you need to do is small lift and drops. Set your jig down as slow as possible. The Walleye will come up and hit it. These guys that are doing these fancy double twitch/under the leg/over the back snap jigging technique are wasting their time. Keep it simple!”

In a world and tackle market where options appear to be endless, most walleye baits used in this application can fit into one of two categories, most often being a minnow imitator or a worm presentation. Both get the job done but there will be days when one might perform better compared to the other, depending on circumstances and conditions.

Owner and artist for Motor City Walleye Jigs, Kieth, shows off two handfuls of marvelous Detroit river walleye he caught jigging.

Fish eat smaller fish- that is a fact! Walleye love eating minnows, or things that might appear to be. Split-tail soft baits that resemble the baitfish profile are the most commonly used piece of tackle that walleye anglers put their faith in. The Lunker City Fin-S Minnow, the Berkley 4” Gulp! Or Powerbait Minnows are longstanding and respected options. While these options stand out, there really are no wrong answers. Lunker City offers several dozen specific color options and glitter choices. Models from Berkley come scented with time-tested and trusted fish-attracting scent. Tackle shops are loaded with options, try what you feel confident with when selecting a soft bait minnow imitation to pair with your jig.

Employing a minnow profile during the prime jigging season is often a reliable approach to loading the cooler and planning for a fish fry. When walleyes are feeding in a positive manner, trying to scarf down as much as they can, they will have no problem inhaling the bait in a crush it with vengeance. The days where they strike the jig and get pinned with the main hook deep in their mouth- those are the hooksets that are good for the soul. As fishing goes, not every single day will be like that. Even on days when fish are apprehensive to fully commit, options to consider may include color-dyed tails, scent, and using a stinger hook, to make the world of a difference.

Talk about a boatload of fish AND smiles! Contact Captain Brandon Stanton at Team Gunsmoke Sportfishing (989) 963-0215 if you are looking to book a charter and create memories to last a lifetime.

“As much as I love the typical walleye jigging setup, switching your presentation may also help improve your day. In current, using paddle tail minnow may be effective. Slowly work that bait on bottom letting the current move the tail. A flimsier plastic works perfectly in this situation. Do not be afraid to try whatever you have in the tackle box on any given day. I like paddle tails on a tough bite because it creates a natural action.”- Jared Coulter

Jigging a worm, specifically a straight-tail model, is another popular walleye bait that offers a different presentation. Common options utilized are the Catchmore Wyandotte Worm and the Bondy Baits Bondy Worm. Both companies have deep rosters of color options to decide from, ranging from solids to the inclusion of glitter, to multiple tones with distinct dyed tails, to glow in the dark. While the personal choice of colour varies amongst anglers, a length between 3.5” and 4” is normal go-to size that offers a smaller, more subtle presentation.

These baits are manufactured locally with vertical jigging in significant current in mind. Due to the profile of this bait, minimal drag and resistance is created when going through the water. While the worm presentation provides results throughout the year, many believe that they are highly effective in the cooler water of the early season when fish appear to be hesitant following through with a strike. Walleye are known to be meticulous from time to time- perhaps they want a subtle action snack rather than a big and bold offering.

“We are so fortunate to have this awesome fishery close to home. any anglers are addicting to jigging for the thump that strike!”- Andrew Woodman

A crucial element to the success of walleye jigging in many of these scenarios is including a stinger hook to the presentation. Having a small treble hook free flowing towards the end of your bait, worm or minnow, can make the world of a difference between multiple hook ups with several fish, compared to a slow, agonizing day on the water. Think of it as an insurance policy. If you were to visit a river and the fish were making small strikes and nipping at the tail, as they often do, you are going to wish you had some. Whether it attaches directly to the hook or connects to the eyelet of the jig, make sure the length of the stinger hook matches that of the bait presentation you are using. As my uncle Gary would say “You wouldn’t want to get caught with your pants down, and you sure as heck wouldn’t want to get caught without having stingers when you need ‘em”

Bob Woodman of Port Huron, MI, looks forward to springtime jigging in one of his favorite places to be, the beautiful St Clair River

Good jig heads are the furthest thing from a dime a dozen. Great lakes walleye jigs must be constructed using quality components with a variety of color choices. The duty of a jig is serious business, to make and hold a solid connection with the fish of a longstanding memory. Typical round-ball jigs get the job done and always will. Their counterpart, current cutter style jigs (also known as a “wedge head”), do a better job at going through the water and carrying the presentation more vertically. The surface area of a 1oz roundball jig head might not be much, but in significant current and depths, along with the resistance from the fishing line, this bait offering might become susceptible to lagging behind, causing potential tangles and lost sensitivity.

Specializing in custom colors with hand-painted craftsmanship, Motor City Walleye Jigs are some of the most sought-after and recognized articles of tackle produced in southeast Michigan. Their specialty in consideration is to create ideal and aesthetically pleasing jigs for Great Lakes walleye with high quality materials and artisan care. Available in either ¾oz or 1oz, they have earned a reputation of getting the job done, especially in river scenarios that yield significant current. To browse their color selection and make a purchase, visit their account on Facebook or Instagram and send them a message.

Visit Motor City Walleye Jigs on Facebook and Instagram to browse their selection and place an order.

The annual migration of spawning walleyes most often peaks mid to late April on the Detroit river, followed by St Clair river from late April into mid-May. Fish can be taken on the jig any day of the year on these waterways, but these weeks are the apex of walleye productivity. Amongst a plethora of opportunities to appreciate nature and wildlife in the great state of Michigan, the St Clair and Detroit River systems stand out truly for being some of the best walleye fisheries in the world. If you are reading this and you think it is too late, do not worry! Loads of fish are still caught throughout summer on the jig, sometimes in the earlier hours of the day or even in the nighttime, but that is an article for the future.

It is with great appreciation to tournament angler, Jared Coulter; Captain Brandon Stanton of Team Gunsmoke Sportfishing; Keith, owner and operator of Motor City Walleye Jigs; and Bob/Andy woodman, all for their photo contribution and input that went into this article. Photos included are shared with their expressed consent. Please consider supporting these individuals in business by following them on social media platforms and more. They are all examples of special individuals who contribute to what makes fishing as a whole so special.

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