Technique
One of the best pieces of advice in terms of walleye locations on the Columbia River is to pick up a contour map of the river. This will detail the areas of underwater structures in the river. Start at the deeper water depths as walleye season gets underway.

As the season progresses move towards shoreline and drift with lead head jigs as the water begins to settle. Now is the time to start trolling the river. Do this with minnow plugs and a spinner-worm combination. As the weather begins to warm and the sun starts to shine, walleye are ripe for the picking. One of the best times to traverse the river in search of walleye is none other than the night.

Start searching for walleye with a bottom walker presentation. In this set-up, place a weight on the line in order to keep the lure in constant contact with the bottom surface. Maintain boat position directly equal to the deep water edge of the shoreline. This is likely to have the greatest concentration of walleye populations. A locator on the boat should pinpoint this location with exact precision.

There are three proven methods for attracting Columbia River walleye. One is a lead head jig paired with a night crawler, fish meat or another appetizing delight for the walleye. This is ideal for river water depths of 30 feet or more. Jig weights should be kept in the 1 to 2 ounce range whenever possible. Weights in this size will help the angler keep in contact with that bottom surface regardless of what the water conditions are.

For the discolored waters of the river utilize a minnow-imitating lure with jigs weights in the same 1 to 2 ounce range. Place the weight several feet above the lure to allow for optimal depth distances to be reached. The final method for chasing walleye in the river is a worm-spinner combination. This can be done standing still or trolling the river waters.

The Columbia River is one of the greatest places to hunt down the walleye. There may be many hiding spots for the fish but there are enough techniques available for coaxing them out of hiding and into a boat with the snap of a line.

To get the full “Simple Steps For Walleye Fishing On The Columbia River” article you’ll need to download it here.