Finding walleye during the fall transition can be boom or bust due to their nomadic nature, but the process can be sped up and simplified with the right strategy.
Tournament freak Dylan Nussbaum uses structure scan technology to look out away from the boat to locate fish-holding funnels as well as the fish themselves. Schools of roaming walleye show up clearly over the hard sandy bottoms they roam, making them much easier to locate. Once located, reaction style baits aid in swiftly covering water and triggering strikes from walleye on the move.
His 10 tips for fishing a Snap Jig for fall walleyes include:
- Graph for the fish
- Find the pinch points
- Setup downwind and work up to them
- Wait until you see them on your electronics
- Pitch to the fish once close enough
- Work the jig with big rips
- Work shallower water for more aggressive fish
- No snap for better action
- Medium rod and low-gear-ratio reel
- Use the bigger No. 6 Snap Jig
The Rapala Jigging Rap has become one of the most productive walleye baits of all time on or off the ice and can be found in nearly every serious walleye anglers arsenal. The bait itself has taken on several variations over time, and it’s cousin, the Flat Jig, was developed to be fished at greater depths and in stronger current thanks to its weight and aerodynamic design. Dylan has found success with those applications using the Flat Jig, but it has also come to bring him tournament fame fishing it in as shallow as 5 feet of water, and there are some compelling reasons why.
