- Wilson’s top go-to bait for targeting fall river walleye is a jointed Berkley Flicker Shad. This bait “matches the hatch” when fishing dams and areas of fast moving water. In these areas fish are feeding on shad and other bait fish. It fishes well cross current, up current, or when worked slowly down current. When using this bait, simply make sure it’s ticking the bottom.
- When it gets colder, Wilson will often switch over to an old fashioned blade bait. The vibration is great for dirty river water, allowing fish to detect the bait – triggering bites when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to see the bait well. It fishes well shallow or deep. The 1/4 – 3/8 oz bait is all that is needed for river fishing.
- The best finesse bait for river walleye fishing for Wilson is a soft plastic Ringworm. Use the snap jigging technique and fish them fast or swim them slow on the bottom while dragging or popping it along. He also recommends choosing a lighter jig size, allowing this bait to really float along.
When looking to catch a lot more fall walleye on rivers, don’t be afraid to throw a Berkley Flicker Shad, blade bait, or Ringworm to hook into more fish.
