The Detroit River is widely recognized as one of the top destinations for walleye fishing in the United States, particularly during the spring season. Although there are numerous presentation methods that can be effective, vertical jigging with heavy jigs weighing 3/4 and 1 ounce is the most commonly used. This is because the river's heavy currents, the fact that walleye prefer deeper water, and the fish's widespread distribution make vertical jigging the most viable option. However, it is important to have the appropriate gear to execute this technique effectively. Here are some tips on how to "gear up" for vertical jigging:

As a tournament fisherman I always held to the belief to use the lightest jig possible to keep contact with the bottom. Not a bad rule if everyone in the boat is a skilled jig fisherman and your TOTAL focus can be put on boat control. When I started guiding my thinking changed-and to my surprise so did my success!

I spend most of my time in the Upper River, from the mouth of Lake St. Clair downstream to the Ambassador Bridge, but will head further south if necessary, to catch fish. The Upper River is loaded with shallow flats, deep drop offs, rock beds, and deep current areas.

The Saginaw Bay can be a phenomenal bite as soon as the ice leaves the Bay, and night fishing is a great way to start catching early season walleye. Shallow water, less than 12 feet is full of walleye in the pre-spawn to post-spawn calendar periods and they are hungry!

The Western Basin of Lake Erie is a large body of water, with diverse fishing options such as reefs, islands, water color changes and multiple baitfish options all packed into one general area. Let’s review how I determine starting points, lures, lure colors, speed and depths to target.

As an avid ice fisherman for over 5 decades, I’ve learned there are a lot of things we can do to be safer on the ice and increase our odds of returning safely home. Having gone through the ice myself and been part of rescuing other ice anglers that have gone through, I wanted to cover a few of the things that will help you get home safely this ice fishing season.

Sea duck hunting on Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay is an exhilarating experience that requires the right equipment, skills, and safety measures. With our experience and use of layout boats and tender boats, hunters can enjoy a safe and successful hunt for longtail ducks and scoters.