iFish Lake St. Clair

Most reports coming from the upper Detroit River on the Canadian side.  Some fish coming from the niddle of the river as well.  Getting reports from 24′ to 34′ of water.  Look for off color water as it seems most fish are coming from that as opposed to clear water. Go for bright colored jig heads tipped with plastics.  Either brown worms or Fin-S and Gulp minnows seem to be working.  Fishing should hold out until the cold front hit’s later in the week.  Reports of limits being caught

In cooperation with Gleaners Food Bank and the Lake Saint Clair Walleye Association, Sindbad’s at the River is proud to announce the return of Walleye Palooza for 2010.

Tournament starts at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 and ends at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 2

Click Here For The Walleye Palooza Registration Form

Click Here For Walleye Palooza Tournament Rules

Boundaries for the Tournament will be from the north tip of Celeron Island in the Detroit River, to a line running due east from the Fort Gratiot Light in Lake Huron.

Weigh in will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and end promptly at 4:30 p.m.

Entry fee is $50.00 per angler with a limit of 4 angles per boat

Limit of 3 fish per angler weighed for individual classes. Individual Class prizes based on total weight of 3 fish will be paid out through 3rd place.

Blind Draw prize for best combined weight of the “Blind Draw” Team.

Biggest Fish prize

Amount of prizes based upon level of participation.

100% payout after Tournament expenses. (more…)

Jigging for walleye in the Detroit River at Springtime can be a challenge for first-timers.  This article should give you a better chance and with practice you’ll have it down and be putting limits of tasty Detroit River walleye in your boat.

Detroit River walleye jigging boat control

One of the most important aspects to jigging for walleye in the fast Detroit River current is boat control. Boat control will be much easier if you have a boat with low profiles and low wind resistance and are equipped with an electric trolling motor.

In the Detroit River you have 2 factors that want to control your boat; the current and the wind.  I always keep the bow of my boat into the wind regardless of the current.  This will make a big difference when it comes to vertical jigging.  The wind always wins.

This boat set-up will allow you to resist the wind and current at exactly the level required so that when you are walleye jigging, your fishing line remains vertical and you can easily maintain contact with the bottom.

Vertical Jigging Technique

If you lose contact with bottom, chances are good that your line is drifting away from you. Reel in and start fresh. You most constantly monitor the angle of the line to remain vertical.  One tip is to watch the angle of the line. If the lines starts to angle to the right, point the trolling motor to the right until the line is again straight up and down.

Detroit River Walleye Fishing Tackle

Most fishermen will use either 3/4 or 1 ounce jigs. It is most important to maintain bottom contact and know for sure where his jig is. My best advice is to fish the lightest weight jig you can and still feel the bottom and be able to keep the line vertical.

What bait should you use?  Some guys carry live minnows all the time. They catch fish. I prefer artificial baits like the Fin-S or Berkley Gulp Minnows. Sometimes an artifical tipped with a live minnow is the ticket.  Everyday is different, so switch it up. One website to buy walleye jigging equipment is Detroit Custom Tackle.  Learn more about stinger hooks from this In-Fisherman article.

Detroit River walleye jighead with stinger hook

Some fishermen use stinger hooks and some don’t. I do know that stinger hooks will catch those short striking walleye. There are different variations of stinger set-ups for walleye jigs. You can buy jigheads with the stingers already attached or tie them on to the jig eye yourself.  Either way works.

What Kind of Line and equipment for Detroit River walleye jigging?
I prefer a braided line for Detroit River walleye jigging.  Todays braids are very thin, don’t stretch and provide maximum feel. Leave the mono at home.  Some prefer flourocarbon.  I don’t see any issues with it except for the chance of getting bit off.
I prefer a medium heavy rod with a baitcasting reel.  The reel should have a fairly fast retrieve so that you can get the fish in the boat quickly.

So, How Do I Jig?
Jigging methods vary from sharp snaps of the rod tip to slow up and down movement. My best advice would be to try a variety of techniques and let the fish tell you what they like.

Detroit River Chart

Here is a link to a NOAA nautical chart showing the Detroit River.  Use this when you hear a fishing report that references a certain arear that the walleye are being caught.  Detroit River Walleye Fishing Chart

Criteria For Selecting A Walleye Fishing Boat

By: Daniel Eggertsen

When it comes to selecting a good walleye fishing boat, you really do have some fine examples to choose from, but to get you started in the right direction, there are some pieces of advice that might help! You really have to consider that buying a boat is going to be a substantial investment for you, and you really do want to plan carefully, so you make a wise choice that is going to stand the test of time and trial.

If you are in the fishing industry, your needs will be a little different from the average angler, so consider that factor before making a final choice.

Generally speaking, motors in the 6/25 Horsepower ranges that have 4 stroke capabilities, will allow you to troll sufficiently without using so much fuel. That is an important consideration, but if you are fishing tournaments where getting from point “A” to point “B” in record time is important, you might want to look at larger outboards with as much as 200 Horsepower capabilities.

If you are just an average walleye fisherman, you will probably really want a multispecies boat. You will need to determine if you plan on taking people out on your boat and if you plan to use it strictly for fishing or if it will be used recreationally as well. Be sure your boat is large enough for the maximum amount of people likely to be on it at any given time. If any friends or family members will be operating it, be sure it is easy enough to operate. If you plan to use it for recreation, check to be sure it is sufficient to do things like pull skiers. Be sure to check the safety records on your potential boats, and be sure it will trailer well and easily.

Because of the backtrolling you do when you fish for walleye, be sure the command center of your boat is at the stem. If you plan to fish for other species like bass or muskie, be sure there is a sufficient fishing platform that has enough of the vital instruments you will need at the bow even though you have them at the stem for walleye fishing. Luckily, many boats do have a multiple species approach to functionality, and actually have miniature command centers all the way from stem to stern.

A good organization for boats with big outboard motors and a little kicker motor, it is a good idea to have command centers at the bow, console, and the stem of the boat. It usually allows for just a bit more mobility if you choose a console over a tiller model.

One good example, among many, of course, is the Yar-Craft 1895 SC model multi-species boat. This boat offers a lot of storage, a good straight drift, a very smooth ride that allows you to stay dry in the boat, big, spacious live wells complete with lights and great circulation, auto bilge, hydraulic steering, and a good, battery charger built right in. It has a bow design with a double flare, that is time tested to give a comfortable, dry ride.

Author Resource:-> Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best walleye fishing information possible. Get more information on Walleye Fishing Boats here: http://www.askwalleyefishing.com/

Article From ArticleSlide.com