- 1). Stay close to the mouth of the river. Not all spawning walleye travel far upstream. Most fish stay within a couple hundred feet of the lake from which they came.
- 2). Fish only when the sun is out. During the winter, you catch very few fish before sunrise or after the sun sets. Walleye will be more active and geared up to feed from the little bit of sun and warmth of a January day.
- 3). Look for areas where walleye can hide. Rocks, fallen trees, and any remaining vegetation left make great hiding places. These spots allow the fish to ambush any nearby swimming minnows. Cast your bait as close as you can to these objects and retrieve it slowly. Because fish react slower in the cold water, do not be surprised if it takes several casts to entice them to grab the passing bait.
- 4). Search the river for rapids or dams. Fish like to congregate in the calm waters just downstream from fast water or obstructions. This will generally be your best chance to find a large concentration of walleye.
- 5). Use top water baits in shallow water. In the areas where water is less than six feet deep, try using jigs, spoons, and plastic worms to catch walleye that are near the surface. Be sure to retrieve these slowly and steadily for the best results.
- 6). Try live minnows in deeper water. Starting at the bottom of a minnow's head, hook your bait through both of the fish’s lips. Attach a couple of split shot about two feet up the line so that the minnow can settle close to the bottom. Cast your bait upstream and use a slow, pumping retrieve once your weights have touched the bottom.
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