BEMIDJI, Minn. – Jigs and spring fishing are like Santa Claus and winter frolicking. But have you heard of Christmas in July? Surely. Maybe not Christmas in August, but you get the picture. Sometimes, stereotypes are ripe for breaking. Such is the case with jigs – often considered a spring thing – as Northland Fishing Tackle pro Brian “Bro” Brosdahl lays the haymaker to walleyes near the end of the dog days.
In the north country, according to Bro, surface temps are just beginning to cool with increasing winds and cooler overnight temps. The big fall bite will commence soon, too, but Bro is equally satisfied with the number of walleyes he’s currently catching, focusing on deeper rock spines and lush vegetation.
Jigging is the ticket. Bro’s failsafe combo is a Northland Deep-Vee Jig garnished with an IMPULSE® Smelt Minnow. The legendary walleye guide casts, lets the bait find the bottom, jigs with a sweeping action and pauses between motions. His chosen wand is a St. Croix 6’ 8”, medium action Legend Elite. Bright, contrasting jig colors in play, throwing 1/16 to 1/8-ounce in the shallows, 1/4-ounce in mid-depths, and 3/8-ounce in 20-feet plus.