Algoma Walleye Riding High

We here at The Fish'n Canada Show have really come to appreciate the great fishing that the Algoma Region has to offer, especially the walleye! Agreed the brook trout in Algoma are among the biggest and most plentiful in the province but being able to not have to travel to the absolute upper reaches of Ontario makes Algoma walleye fishing in a class by itself.

Since most of the walleye waters in Algoma are classic examples of what walleye water should look like, the typical presentations seem to all work well. For instance, a jig and a minnow is without a doubt the most deadly walleye presentation we have ever used here and most of the local and visiting anglers we have talked to agree.

During the past couple of filming seasons though, we have tried to move in different directions with walleye presentations especially when the fishing slows down. Let's just say, when the jig and minnow don't work. . .you better start thinking!

The tactic we would like to talk about came from pure desperation as well as putting our heads together and using our electronics for more than just depth finding.

In the smallmouth bass community, drop-shotting has become very popular. It was invented and brought to North America out of necessity due to tough fishing in deep clear water. We believed the first drop-shotters practiced their technique in salt water and the Japanese then took on this deadly system in their clear, highly pressured bass lakes. After the word got out in the USA and a couple of major bass tournaments were won by drop-shotting, history was made. Today it's one of the most popular smallmouth bass fishing techniques in all of Canada.

Remember though, we're not talking smallies here though. The walleye of Algoma have been our guinea pigs in our own drop-shot experiments.

We first discovered the technique when we were holding directly over a bunch of walleye but couldn't catch them on the good ol' jig and minnow. Even if we lifted the jig off of the bottom and held it at fish level, our success was mediocre at best. That's when the drop shot came out: a #2 drop shot hook, a small 1/8-ounce drop shot weight and a lively minnow.

With the hook positioned around 12 - 18 inches above the line, we simply dropped the rig over the side of the boat, directly into the fish showing up on the depth finder screen and BAM. . .a new walleye technique was born.

A few pointers must be noted

• If the fish are on the bottom a jig and minnow will outproduce a drop shot rig.
• Light line is a must on a drop shot since these fish are up and mobile 6- or 8-pound fluorocarbon is best.
• Leeches and worms work as well.
• Hook the minnow through the lips, leeches through the sucker and worms in the front tip (once through only on all).
• Don't move the rig much, let the live bait do most of the work.
• Drift as slow as possible or stay still if necessary.
• We have found the evening to be the best time.
• Use a quality fish finder and learn to read it properly.

This walleye technique has since worked for us all over the country from Alberta to Northern Ontario to the Bay of Quinte and so on.

Good luck drop-shotting for Algoma walleye, you've got the resource and now you have one more technique!

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