April isn't forgiving. The water's cold, the fish are sluggish, and mistakes get punished. But if you know how to dial in your jigging game, early spring can be one of the best times to boat big walleye. Right now, they're hungry but cautious, and putting a jig right in front of their nose is often the only way to get bit. This post is about teaching you how to do exactly that.
Pick the Right Jig Weight for the Conditions
When the water's barely scratching the 40s, control matters more than speed. You want a jig heavy enough to maintain bottom contact, but light enough to flutter naturally. Start with a 1/4 oz for shallow, slow-flow spots. Move up to 1/2 oz if you're fishing deeper breaks or faster current. The key is feeling that jig tap bottom, not dragging it. Every bounce should be deliberate, like knocking on the door to see if anybody's home.
Use a Subtle Lift and Drop Motion
Spring walleye don't chase much. They're looking for something easy to inhale. Forget big sweeps. Instead, lift the jig about six inches to a foot off bottom with a crisp snap, then let it fall on a semi-slack line. Watch your line like a hawk. Most bites won't feel like a thump. You'll see a twitch or a "tick" in your slack. If you wait to feel it, you'll miss it.
Focus on Transitional Structure
Early spring is all about edges. Walleye stage where mud meets rock, where flats drop into river channels, where warm back bays spill into main lake basins. Find a soft-to-hard bottom transition in 10 to 20 feet of water, and you're in business. If you fish these edges methodically, you'll find pods of fish even when the screen looks empty.
Why Jig Profile Matters More Than Color
Guys spend hours arguing over color, but this time of year, shape and fall rate are the bigger deal. You want something that looks like a dying baitfish, not a fireworks show. A jig like the Ghost Jig—with its realistic profile and subtle flash from the Smile Blade—gives you the kind of quiet, natural presentation that triggers cold-water fish. Keep it simple: shiner colors for clear water, darker tones for stained.
Spring walleye fishing rewards patience and precision. There's no faking it—either your jig is where it needs to be, or you're wasting time. Master your control, slow your rhythm, and trust the process. The guys who pay attention to the little things now are the ones stacking heavy stringers before the crowds even show up.