walleye fishing with 3-way rig

[nuts]

I read an artice that Mark Martin wrote a while back about river fishing with a 3-way rig using rapala or similar stickbaits. Has anyone ever used this type of rig? If so what type and size of bait? How much weight? length of leads on dropper and bait?


Tight Lines

Nuts

[jimbos43]

It would vary slightly, but a 3 foot lead to the lure and about 12 inches to the weight would be a good place to start. Sinker weight would have to depend on river current, if you were trolling upstream, which would require a heavier weight , or drifting downstream which would let you get away with a lighter one.

[Canadian Hunter]

I know a couple guys that fish the detroit like that, they use 2-4' lead to the weight 6-10' leads to the lure's.

They use rap's during the day and big chrome pencil's at night. Great method for running down those slopes at night!

[hot-tot]

it all depends on the water you are fishing if its under 20 ft i use 2 to 3 ounces over that 4 to 6 ounces it's hands down my favorite way to fish the river i have been doing it all my life on the river if you dont have handlines it's the way to go go about a foot and a half off the bottem and about 2 to 4 ft back u will need a m heavy rod and a open face reel is a must as well i love going thru the stacks like that and getting one then watching some guys stop jiggin and tryin it it's funny as heck just remember have the right equipment for it

[nuts]

hot-tot do you use a floating type bait? Or a sinking or countdown?

I also assume that you motor up stream like the handliners? is this correct?

Thanks for the help on this one guys.

Tight Lines

Nuts

[trout]

I have used 3 way rigs from shore to catch walleyes since about 1977.
I cast upstream and chug it back to shore, I also use a lighter test to the sinker so if it snags I can break it off with out losing the whole rig.
From a boat the three ways help to keep the bait in front of the fish.
In the river the walleyes seem to be in the last ft of water hiding behind all the little rocks and breaks right on bottom.
If you can't "feel" bottom your not using the right set up and you'll miss many bites.

[The Whale]

10-4 on that one Trout.


Whale

[hot-tot]

i agree trout thats why in the current i go with a few ounces just to make contact with the bottem i have found though you dont have to make contact every time just once about every 5 times or so have caught many just above the bottem just trolling it yeah floaters are the best raps thunder's little flat's and spinners in about late may on as well use the floating harnesses though