Snap jigging has revolutionized walleye fishing, and anglers that haven’t yet tried it are missing out. Instead of the traditional methodical and finesse approach that many anglers take, snap jigging is on the complete other side of the spectrum. A specific rod for snap jigging walleye is necessary for this technique.
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Best Rods For Snap Jigging Walleye
St Croix Avid Spinning Rod (Best High End Choice)
St Croix Triumph Spinning Rod (Intermediately Priced)
Okuma Dead Eye Pro Spinning Rod (Budget Option)
Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod (Budget Option)
When anglers think of walleye fishing, they typically think of live bait and finesse tackle. That has completely changed however in the recent years with snap jigging become more and more popular among walleye anglers. Snap jigging is a fishing technique that refers to aggressively fishing for walleye with artificial lures. As the name suggests, you snap your rod upwards to pull the bait quickly off of the bottom before letting it go back down. Instead of fooling fish with live bait, you are triggering fish with artificial lures.
Best Time Of Year
Snap jigging for walleye works best during the summer months when water temperatures are warmer. From my experience, snap jigging excels when water temperatures reach 65 degrees or higher. A snap jigging approach can still be used when the water temperature is slightly cooler, but the snapping motion should be slightly subdued.
Main Lure Types
The two main types of snap jigging plastics that are commonly paired with a jig head include the straight tail minnow and paddle tail. It seems like one day the walleyes prefer one and the next day they want the other, so experimentation is key.
Straight tail minnow:
The straight tail minnow has a much faster fall underwater compared to the swimbait due to its decreased water resistant. My favorite straight tail minnow lure includes the Kalin’s Jerk Minnow Jr and Northland Impulse Smelt.
Paddle Tail:
When choosing a paddle tail swimbait for snap jigging make sure to choose one with a stiffer plastic. Paddle tails that are too soft will not swim correctly at the high speeds required. As far as size goes, just try to match the hatch in the body of water you are fishing. A good starting point is the 3.5” size. My favorite swimbaits include the Storm Largo Shad and Xzone Swammer.
Jigging rap:
The jigging rap has been a staple in ice fishing for countless years, but only recently has its effectiveness in open water been realized. The jigging rap, or other lures of the same style, are essentially heavy pieces of lead that dart left and right when snapped. My two favorite lures of this style include the Rapala Jigging Rap #7, the Northland Puppet Minnow (5/16oz), and Acme Hyper Rattle (2.5″).
Snap Jigging Location
As far as location goes, snap jigging works pretty much everywhere walleyes live. However, the bait that you should choose depends on the bottom composition of the spot. For example, jigging raps are fantastic when the bottom is sand or gravel but are difficult to fish in weeds due to all of the exposed hooks. If fishing weeds, a straight tail minnow or swimbait on a jig head are the lures I would go with.
Jig Size
Adjust your jig size to the depth you are fishing. There is no one size fits all for jig heads and experimentation is key. One day they’ll want a slower fall and the next they’ll want it much faster. Change jig sizes until you find the weight that works. Generally, ¼ oz for less than 10 ft of water and 3/8 oz for over 10 ft are good starting points. As a rule of thumb, heavier jigs are more favorable for snap jigging compared to lighter jigs.
Rod Specifics
Like I said before, this is an aggressive technique that requires a specific rod for snap jigging walleye. Unlike traditional walleye setups, you will want a fast action rod with a medium power for snap jigging. A slower action rod with a lighter power will not allow you to jig as aggressively as you need to with this technique. Additionally, I would recommend a rod between 6’6” and 6’10”. Once you start getting towards 7’ and longer, the rod tends to become too heavy and not stiff enough in the tip section. I’ve provided some of my recommendations for a snap jigging rod at all different price points.
General Information: High-modulus SCIII Carbon Blank, Full Cork Handle, Fuji Guide System, andFuji Reel Seat
Pros: Extremely sensitive, lightweight, and comes with a 5-year warranty.
Cons: Expensive
General Information: SCIII Carbon Blank, Full Cork Handle, Sea Guide Guides, and Sea Guide Reel Seat.
Pros: Lots of great lengths and powers to choose from and comes with a 5-year warranty.
Cons: More expensive than some of the budget options (intermediately priced)
Okuma Dead Eye Pro Spinning Rod
General Information: 30-ton Graphite Blank, Split Grip Cork Handle, Sea Guide Guides, and Custom Pipe Reel Seat.
Pros: Sensitive and lightweight for its price, and comes in many great sizes
Cons: Some anglers may prefer a full cork handle
General Information: 24-ton Graphite Blank, Full Cork Handle, and Stainless Steel Guides With Aluminum Oxide Inserts.
Pros: Budget friendly, comes in many great walleye sizes, and comes with a limited 5-year warranty
Cons: Less sensitive and heavier than the other rods
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If you interested in other walleye rods, check out the Best Walleye Spinning Rods Under $100
If you want to learn more about snap jigging, check out this article
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