Spring Walleye Tactics?

Need some suggestions/tips for catching early spring walleyes. The lake is pretty clear with a 65ft max depth some sand and gravel. Also somewhat of a newbie been using 6lb test with minnows and 1/4 to 1/2 oz gumball jigs. Thanks for all the help!

I agree on the shallow comment. Thus the reason I use mainly shallow running cranks and where only a pair of chest waders. You get some funny looks when you walk out to waist deep water, turn around, and start pitching the crank back towards the shore!

shallower than you would think and fast than you would think.

Fish the wood early in the year. Timber jigs. 1/16 to 1/8 ounce. Get right in the wood. You will find fish there. Gotta keep moving, though. Hit some wood, catch a few fish, then find the next chunk of wood. Keep going, some trees will have fish, some won't.

ST Look into doing a little slip-bobber fishing. Easy to do. If you have 2-3 guys in the boat you can experiment with 3-4 different set ups and then switch others over once you start catching fish. Google Greg Bohn and you will find more information than you could use in a life time. He has written several books and articles relating to slip bobber fishing. Good luck.

Walleyes are like women ,about the time you think you have figured them out they change all of the rules. :>) Walleyes are lazy fish.They lay on current edges.And anywhere the current has a break in it . That might be over rocks or over mud .Also on mud flats .Where spring water is warmer The point is a place food is easy to get .Might be a drop off or even in 12 inch of water next to a tree or rock.More big walleyes are caught in 12 inches of water than one might think . It has been said that walleyes are found in the top 1 to 10 foot of water .That is not 100% but a common thought and I have bounced my Buck hair jig off of a rock next to shore and 8 pound walleye slams the jig. Good luck fishing .

Thanks for the help!

How do those gumball jigs work with the little tiny spinner? Is this spinner attachment primarily used as a trigger mechanism? Can the gumball spinner be used with walleye minnows or will they "KO" the minnow out of submission. Also, how are these spinner jigs in spring or post-frontal conditions?

Spring lake fishing myself and another person(wisconsin) I always drift if there is wind I use 2 downside (wind)bottom bouncers with inline spinners.minnows.2 upside spinner rigs with with various wieghts to reach depth nightcrawlers. each person throwing big jigs 3/4 to 1ounce and ripping them off the bottom as soon as you contact bottom. use bucktail tinsel jigs no bait on jigs. works wonderful link to the jigs I use http://www.riverwalleyes.com/bucktail-jigs.html

Fish by the island if there is one, or rocks.