How to Jig Twisters for Walleye

Jigs are one of the most versatile fishing lures available for catching game fish, including walleye. While anglers often attach live bait to their jigs, many prefer to use plastic twister tails when the fish are feeding aggressively. Plastic tails stay on the hook better than live baits, so anglers can spend more time catching fish and less time rigging their hooks. When pulled through the water, twister tails' action mimics that of a minnow or other fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Fishing rod and reel
  • Line
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Instructions

    • 1

      Load a medium-action rod and reel with 6- to 8-pound test fishing line.

    • 2

      Tie a lead-head jig to the fishing line using a Palomar knot. Choose a jig that is heavy enough to stay on the bottom. In less than 10 feet, 1/8-ounce jigs work well. One-quarter-ounce jigs are best in 10 to 20 feet of water, while 3/8-ounce jigs are better in water deeper than that.

    • 3

      Thread the twister tail onto the jig. Push the hook point into the top of the twister and thread the plastic up the hook. When the plastic is just below the jig head, push the hook point out of the plastic. Push the twister tail the rest of the way up the shank of the hook so the plastic is straight on the jig.

    • 4

      Cast the jig and twister toward areas that hold walleye, such as drop-offs, points, hump and reef edges, and weed edges. Wind-driven areas are especially productive for fishing jigs and twisters. Let the jig sink to the bottom and then reel slowly so the jig swims just above the bottom.

    • 5

      Experiment with the way you retrieve the jig and twister. Let it sink to the bottom and then work it back to the boat with a series of hops. Once you catch a walleye on a particular retrieve, replicate that retrieve until the fish quit biting. Then experiment again.

    • 6

      Drop the jig and twister straight below the boat if you have located walleye in a confined area. Let the jig and twister sink to the bottom, and then begin lifting your rod and dropping it, which is a technique known as vertical jigging. Experiment with how high and how often you lift the jig off the bottom.