When fishing in the fall you should search for the walleye in moderate to shallow depths and use jigs, spoons and crankbaits. During the winter months spoons, jigs and plastic worms seem to work the best. Keep in mind that the colder the water the slower the walleye move so use slow movements and fish as close to deep structures as much as possible.

Some of the Columbia River hot spots include the side streams and inlets where the river is full of oxygen and food nutrients. Areas of the river that are shaded by trees or large rocks and where the wind causes the water to churn will also be full of walleye. Downstream of any area where the water spills over into another part such as a water fall will be the home of the walleye.

Techniques for Walleye Fishing the Columbia River

Your technique is very important and jigging is normally the best way to catch walleye. This technique is simple but requires that you drift downstream with the current while lowering your jig. It needs to reach the bottom of the water then you will pull it upward a few inches and allow it to drop back down again. You do need to keep the line tight so you will notice when a walleye takes the bait.

You can also use an electric motor to move your boat through the water as long as you keep it moving in a slow steady pass. Using a motor will help you keep better control over the boat and where it goes. Whenever you are fishing in waters that are muddy it is recommended that you use bright colors such as fluorescent, pink, red, green, white and chartreuse. The size is also a factor because you need to match the bait to the size of walleye you are fishing for to get the best results.

It is important to know some information about the Columbia River before going out fishing to make sure you stay safe. For example, this river can be calm one moment and have swells as high as five to six feet a few minutes later. Make sure that you stay near the shore if you are in a small boat in case the weather changes quickly and always stay alert and look for unexpected weather changes.

To get the full “Columbia River Walleye Fishing – Secrets of Catching More” article you’ll need to download it here.