Live Bait Rigging And Jigging For Walleye With Vmc
VMC offers a range of hooks, rigs, jigs and other products specifically designed to maximize the effectiveness of live bait presentations for walleye. Here are just a few noteworthy products guaranteed to breathe new life into your minnow, leech and nightcrawler tactics, and help you catch more walleye this season.
NEXT-LEVEL BAIT RIGGING
Working a live minnow or leech on a bait rig along the bottom is a reliable technique for catching walleye holding on flats, drop-off ledges, humps and points. The basic anatomy of a bait rig consists of a walking or egg sinker threaded on the main line, which is tied to a swivel, followed by a length of monofilament and then a hook or a floating jig head. Not keen to accept the status quo, the designers at VMC identified several opportunities to improve upon this live bait set up.
Take the Switch-It Slip Sinker, for example, a snag-resistant weight featuring an easy-to-open snap connector, which eliminates the need to cut and/or re-tie your rig. These sinkers come in 1/4-, 3/8-, 1/2- and 3/4-ounces to cover various bait rigging scenarios.
The new TechSet Live Bait Hook is another winner. It features a precise, technical locking curve that maximizes hook sets and locks a fish in place so it won’t get away. These 1X strong, forged, hi carbon steel hooks are available in black nickel, tin red, fluorescent orange and glow colours in 2, 4 and 6 sizes.
Last but not least, the floating Hover Jig is another rigging essential every walleye angler should own. When you need to keep a minnow, leech or nightcrawler up and off bottom, you won’t find a better tool for rigging than the Hover Jig.
LIVE BAIT JIGGING ESSENTIALS
Dance a jig tipped with live bait in front of a floor-hugging walleye and odds are the fish is going to bite. The new Hard Ball Jig and Neon Moon Eye Jig are great for fishing minnows, leeches and worms. Bucktail Jigs and Hot Skirt Glow Jigs tipped with live bait will also consistently catch walleye.
Also be sure to carry some 1/8- to 3/8-ounce Hammer Head Jigs for presenting live leeches and minnows. Featuring a short-shank, this jig has a meaty, weight-forward design and is perfectly balanced to keep hook riding up. Hammer Heads have a second line attachment perfect for clipping on a Quik Strike Trailer Hook.
Quik Strike Trailer Hooks can be attached to any jig, however, by easily placing the Crossover Cap, which covers the Fast-Snap, directly over a jig’s hook. Trailer hooks are useful for sticking light biters, and you’ll trigger more strikes from fussy walleye using Quick Strike Trailers featuring a VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble.
WORM HARNESS MUST HAVES
The new TechSet Spinner Indiana Floating Harness and TechSet Spinner Colorado Harness are necessities to have in the boat for late spring to early fall walleye tactics. Put a juicy nightcrawler on one of these worm harnesses and pull it behind a bottom bouncer and you’ll catch loads of walleye relating to the lakebed. Just as effective is trolling a spinner rigged with a worm behind a snap weight for suspending walleye.
TechSet spinners feature standout custom colours and UV Bright finishes. The Hook’s Technical Locking Curve design also works to an angler’s advantage, and will keep walleye pinned after they bite. Made with high-end components, including premium hex blades, #10 rolling swivels and 12-pound Sufix Monofilament Leader, TechSet Spinners usher in a new era in bait spinner rigs.
SENSATIONAL SLIP FLOATS
It’s no secret walleye are low-light feeders, and you’ll never miss seeing a night bite when using the VMC Lighted Slip Float to fish live bait. Lighted Slip Floats are the perfect choice for presenting a minnow, leech or nightcrawler on a Neon Moon Eye, Hard Ball or Hammer Head jig over rocky structures, flats and along shorelines.
Lighted Slip Floats have a water-activated auto turn-on design for no-fuss operation and prolonged battery life. They come in the three sizes.
WRAP UP
Minnows, leeches and worms all have their time and place when it comes to coaxing strikes from walleye from spring to fall. To get the most from live bait presentations be sure to stock up on VMC’s rigging and jigging products, including sinkers, hooks, jigs, worm spinners and slip floats. Lastly, do yourself a favour and pick up some UV-proof Rapala Tackle Trays for keeping these various live bait rigging items organized and well protected.