Fishing Michigan

Are ready to go to battle?  That’s how it can feel sometimes fishing on the bank of the Maumee River down in the Toledo area.  It reminds one of fishing salmon in the streams of the northern area of the Lower Peninsula.  People to the right, more people to the left.  But if you are one of those folks who doesn’t mind a little company, or you just don’t have a boat but love the taste of walleye,  this is the spring hot spot for you.

Starting with the basics this is what you need to get yourself some early season walleye from the Maumee.  You will need a selection of floating jigheads, size 1 is ideal.  Also effective are the lead head jigs, in a variety of 1/4, 3/8th and 1/2 oz jigs.   Seven times out of ten, you will be using the 3/8ths oz jig, but circumstances can dictate going lighter or heavier depending on the current.  You are going to need some egg sinkers (same size as the lead jigs) to carolina rig the floating jigs, and some twister tails to put on both styles of jig. 

The ideal rod for this is a 7 ft 6in spinning rod,  medium to medium light strength.  This is very effective in controlling the drift as the current takes your bait down stream.  Sometimes due to crowded conditions, you might have to go with a 7 ft or even 6′6″ rod.  Usually a reel spooled with 8 lb mono works best,  but you can go with a 10 lb line with a 6 or 8 lb fc leader.

Waders are not necessary, but knee high boots are nice to have.  Anyone can catch a fish in the river during the prime time of the run, just make sure its inside the mouth, because big brother will be watching you in green from the top of the bank!  Its not worth it to try and keep an illegally hooked fish, between the fines and time, OUCH.