{"id":8841,"date":"2022-04-07T10:50:33","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T15:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northlandtackle.com\/?p=8841"},"modified":"2022-09-15T05:13:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T10:13:17","slug":"spring-crankbait-river-walleyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northlandtackle.com\/spring-crankbait-river-walleyes\/","title":{"rendered":"Crankin’ for Early Season River Walleyes"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

\"Fishing <\/a><\/p>\r\n

Seasoned river rat gives a straightforward sermon on spring crankbait river walleyes.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

BEMIDJI, Minn. (March 30, 2022) – In the spring, the lion’s share of anglers troll cranks on a long line or lead core slowly up the river channel. Yet, there is a group of current specialists Northland pro-Brian “Bro” Brosdahl calls the “river rollers.”<\/p>\r\n

“We run up and down the river hitting multiple areas run-and-gun bass style, but for walleyes-strategically pitching crankbaits and slow reeling – or rolling – through the contact zone. Cast up close to shore or structure with a Northland Rumble Shad<\/a>, and rip it once about every two- to three-feet, reeling the handle slowly, rolling it through the fishy areas,” notes Brosdahl.<\/p>\r\n

With river water temperatures in the 40s and 50s, walleyes are lethargic but still looking to feed. On most casts, the Rumble Shad lip will bounce off rocks and other structures, causing fish to react. This digging motion wakes up the walleyes. Look for areas such as wing dams, log piles, sandbar breaks, riprap, and current seams.<\/p>\r\n

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\"Rumble <\/a> Rumble Shad (Perch) \"Rumble <\/a> Rumble Shad (Gold Perch) \"Rumble <\/a> Rumble Shad (Bubblegum Tiger)<\/p>\r\n

Wing dams<\/b><\/p>\r\n

Wing dams are a line of rocks piled from shore out 40- to a 100-feet to push current to the center of the river. They allow barges to carry cargo up and down a relatively shallow river. Wing dams not only break current but hold walleyes on the front current side and sometimes on the tip. In front of a wing dam, as the water roars across, a current seam or slack-water forms. This is a great spot to slow roll a Rumble Shad<\/a> or Rumble Bug<\/a>. Position your boat 30- to 50-feet upriver from the wing dam. Ideally, you want to position in the center, which is better for casting and reaching both ends, as well as behind the boat. Trolling motors with a lock feature are ideal for wing dam fishing. Pitch up to the wing dam top and reel back. Also, casting down to the front side and banging the bottom, and working on a slow curve back to the boat can produce.<\/p>\r\n

It should be understood, though, that some wing dams hold more fish than others. Some lend better access to deep water or might be in the middle of a stretch of wing dams. Productive wing dams often have an irregular shape, such as a missing spot due to ice or boat traffic or damage to the rocks. These gaps will hold fish. This is your target point for casting. In terms of finding wing dams, most are marked on GPS maps. Many anglers will use side finding technology on a drive-by to see if there are active fish or unique features, looking for one- to four-foot contours, which helps to find the target zone for pitching and rolling cranks.<\/p>\r\n

\"Rumble <\/a> Rumble Bug (Perch) \"Rumble <\/a> Rumble Bug (Gold Perch) \"Rumble <\/a> Rumble Bug (Bubblegum Tiger)<\/p>\r\n

Logjams<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

High waters and floods are constantly eroding the river, and sometimes trees will pile up in river areas. Sometimes, one or several logs down on a riverbank will hold walleyes. The current often cuts a scour behind the logs. Many of the log piles Bro fishes will be in four- to six feet of water but have a 10- to 12-foot scour hole behind it.<\/p>\r\n

Bro remarks, “Position your boat in front of the logs within a reasonable casting distance. Pitch your Rumble Shad<\/a> or Rumble Bug<\/a> past the logs and slow roll through. Walleyes will hit it as the bait is passing through the hole and sometimes right at the logs.”<\/p>\r\n

Bro suggests using a heavier braid in the 12- to 16- pound class, which lets you retrieve lures from snags.<\/p>\r\n

Sandbars<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Walleyes will also hold on sandbar cuts; they break the current and are a good ambush spot for passing and schooling baitfish. Sandbars are most often located on the slack end of current seams and river bends. Sand is ideal for rolling a Rumble Shad or Rumble Bug and digging down the sides with less chance of snags, although one should always keep in mind that there could be brush or wood sticking out that is buried in the sand.<\/p>\r\n

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\"Walleye <\/a><\/p>\r\n

Riprap<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Riprap rock is typically installed to prevent shoreline erosion. Rolling cranks along the riprap is highly effective in the first ten feet of the cast. Most fish along these rocky areas are tight to shore, so Bro recommends positioning the boat within 20-feet of the shore and pitching at an angle up or down river to reel the Rumble Shad or Rumble Bug down the rocky steps holding fish.
Some riprap areas span hundreds of feet or yards. Most of the fish are in small, irregularly shaped areas, however, where the riprap forms a point or some other anomaly.