This is the time of the year that winter river walleyes are in their prime. The walleyes have all moved up to the staging areas right below the dams on the Mississippi and they are in open water. The walleyes like this area because the "hole" below the dam is a resting place and a feeding area. This area is high in oxygen and fish migrate to this area to rest before starting the spawning cycle.

In fact, many anglers have already started fishing the Mississippi. The Mississippi River from Prescott, Wisconsin down remains open year-round, and has large a population of both saugers and walleyes.

Look for breaks in the current. They may be behind islands, points, and below bars in mid channel. In strong current, walleyes group tight to structure. In softer current or low water periods, like winter, they often scatter, and hold on edges of barriers or current breaks.

Other spots may be structure like gravel or sandbars, shallow rocky shoals near drop-offs, wave-washed points, deserted sandy bottom beaches, or bottlenecks between two different landmasses.

Rip-rap is also good, particularly where current hits the rock, such as on a windy point with deep water access, or near a culvert where fresh water is filtering through a rock causeway.

Feeder streams funneling into a river represent yet other spots which fisherman should check out. The mouths of these tributaries often turn into fishing gold mines, especially after a heavy rain washes fresh food and fresh water into the river.

Depending on the force of the current and the water clarity, fish may be as shallow as a couple feet deep, or in the bottom of a washout hole, or river channel 15 to 20 feet deep. If the current is stronger than normal, the fish probably are hunkered in a slack water area. All anglers must learn that "current" sets the rules for location and presentation when fishing rivers.

I will ask some local tackle and bait store owners where most of the walleyes are located. I want to concentrate on the most active bunch and they may be located up by the dam or right on the lip of the wash out hole down river from the dam. I eliminate a lot of searching by asking questions concerning the migration of the walleyes.

If the walleyes are concentrated at the dam I will fish them with a vertical presentation. The jig of choice here is at least a ¼ oz. maybe even ¾ oz. depending on the current. The important fact to remember is that I want the presentation to be as straight up and down, vertically as possible. If the jig is too light it will float off the bottom and I need to make contact with the bottom at all times. If the line that I select is too heavy the line will get a large bow in it and make my vertical presentation useless. I will probably go with the heaviest Fireball jig to allow me to make contact with the bottom and 8 lb. Easy Cast line to prevent the bowing in the line.

When the tailrace areas becomes crowded with boats, start moving, downstream to holding areas. Flooded timber can be good at times. Try flipping a Lipstick or Whistler jig tipped with a minnow into cover. Use your bowmount electric trolling motor. I prefer the MotorGuide, because it is quiet and usually in stained water you can stand right over the top of the fish without spooking, them.

When the particular structure is shallow don’t hesitate to use the slip bobber method. Attach a one-eighth ounce Fireball jig with a piece of plastic grubtail and a minnow to your slip bobber rig and allow the waves and wind to do the vertical jigging for you. If those walleyes are biting short, attach a stinger hook to your Fireball jig.

Finding the walleyes in the current breaks is the key, and refining your presentation will allow you to boat more fish. Remember these tips and I hope to see you on the water this spring.