Bigger Walleyes - During the day!

[Mark nielsen]

While in Canada some years ago I met up with a gentleman who taught me the art of Rip Jigging. I have had great success. Walleye bite to attack not for hunger and when they bite watch out! They smash it! If you haven't tried it give it a shot. You'll be hooked for life! I use 20lb green with a silver jig. Great sucess during the day. The fish are generally bigger too!

[David Anderson]

Must have been "The Griz" you met.

[Mark Nielsen]

Is this a faternity here. Sarcasm seems rampit. You give someone a tip an all that you get is sarcasm. This is a very welcoming site I must say!

You must already know everything. Sorry to share!

[Fishoil]

I don't think there was any sarcasm intended there. "The Griz" is known as the inventor of Rip-jigging.

[SUPERTROLLER]

Mark, you need to read these things with an open mind. It is very seldom that someone will come on here and blatantly bash you for your statements. This isn't like other sites where people go at it tooth and nail all the time. Don't be so defensive.

Good topic to start a discussion on though. What size jigs do you Rip with and what is it tipped with?

[Mark Nielsen]

I use 3/8 oz tipped with nothing.

I sincerely apoligise for over reacting. I found this site a couple nights ago. I have never used a post site.

Thanks for being open supertroller!

Mark

[Bad Finger]

True, the Griz is generally know for doing a lot of rip jigging on Winne. If you never heard of him, he is quite the character. Also famous for never wearing a hat no matter how cold it is. Check out this link:

http://fishwiththegriz.com/griz/

I like the picture with Kent Hrbeck.

[the legend]

Hi Mark! what do you mean by rip jigging?? Big flat land dummy here!!

[Mark Nielsen]

It is a flat spoon (I use stainless colored 3/8 oz) that is ripped vertically in a quick motion and allowed to fall gently. I use a 6ft study rod with 20 lb line. Walleye are attracted to the spoon and attack it. They do not bite out of hunger. They bite instictively to attack. I am not a Pro at this. I'm sure there are plenty of others out there who can testify to this method. I just know it produces bigger walleye for me. It work even when the walleye are spawned out and passive. They bite to attack and when they do watch out. It's no nibble and it's great fun. I buy my spoons on line. They are not cheap 4 bucks a pop. Break if you buy more. Be prepared to lose some. It's well worth the hit!

Mark the rookie!

[rmitchel]

All right -- I have to know more. To start, where do you buy the spoon -- web address hopefully.

Thanks.

[the legend]

Cool Thanks I'll try it sometime . My dad used to get lake trout like that with a jhonson silver spoon. He would let it lay and give it a good jump and let it settle and when he got one lookout!!!

got any favorite name brand spoon???

[Mark Nielsen, Forest Lake, MN.]

Check out National Fishing and Hunting Supply the: Cordell CC. Spoon.

See: www.nationalfishingsupply.com

[David Anderson]

Mark,

Obviously you are not aware of the imfamous "The Griz" here in Minnesota. His claim to fame is the so called inventing the technique he specifically labels as "Rip Jigging". In fact he actually sell a jig specifically for this, under his name. Now, you said you met a gentleman in Canada who taught you rip jigging. Granted, he isn't the most hansome guy in the world, by his own accord, but he is a gentleman. Claiming to be the inventor of rip jigging, and the fact that you did not identify the person, I just put 2 and 2 together and assumed that you may have been blessed by being taught by the master himself. But alas 2 + 2 = 3 in this case. Oh well, you win some, ya lose some. Either way it's a great technique. Try it with a bucktail jig as you can control the placement to the bottom pretty good. You are correct, as it is definitely a reaction strike and can be fierce. Good luck!

[Hooky]

Is it possible to entice it a little with some live bait or would it just come off when you rip it??

[Vickie]

Hi

So are you going to tell us the name of the guy in Canada who taught
you rip jigging or not? By the way I saw "The Griz" on Winnie last summer and guess how he was fishing? You guessed it - rip jigging.

Happy Fishing.

Vickie

[JBL]

Vertical ripping a Hopkins (or Cordell) spoon also works on Erie smallmouth. If the bite is slow, and the fish are deeper, say 22-30ft, I'll tie one on, and at times they just attack it. Most hits are on the drop, so try different widths/weight until you find the speed they want on the drop. Caught quite a few 5#+ this way.

Walleye In-Sider has an article about the Griz and snapjerking plastic shads this month.

[tbomn]

Hey Mark,

Glad to see you have joined us on the site, always nice to have new ideas, and folks to share their fishing experiences with. I live up the road from you, in Circle Pines. Maybe we can hook up and do some river fishing together. I am starting to get itchy for open water and pool 4 calls! Email me at tbomn91847@yahoo.com

[Andy K]

Is this similar to slabbing?

Andy K/CO

[gremlin266]

Is this usually a deep water technique (below 20') or will it work shallow too? What about time of year?

[Mark Nielsen]

Thanks for the great note Dave. I'll try the bucktail.

Mark

[Mark Nielsen]

I use 20 lb line that does not give and tie on the spoon with no bait. I have caught them in 10 and 20 ft depths. Once you find the fish start rippin. Your arm might get sore and you'll think your up to nothing until it happens. As the spoon falls I seem to to get more stikes. The walleye will hammer it. Like nothin you have ever felt before. You're not lookin for bites or taps where walleye are subtle. They slam it!. It will knot your socks off! I never realized walleye could hit like this.

If I get tired I just throw out a spilt shot with live bait and bobber fish for walleye. My brother and I call it Bobber Battle. An alternative when your arm gets a sore from RIPPIN! Watch your bobber and have a bite to eat while you take a rest.

Works for me

Mark the Rookie!

[targa2]

On Rice Lake here in Ontario they have been rip jigging since Christ was a cowboy. However, they do it casting bucktails into that immense acreage of crisp cabbage weeds. Doesn't the "Griz" advocate rip jig trolling more so than casting. I tried the rip trolling method when I read about the "Griz" years ago.When the water was stained on the Bay of Quinte I would outfish my buddy using bottom bouncers 4 to 1.Thanks for those aching shoulders Griz. Man is that a workout.

[SUPERTROLLER]

We've been vertical jigging Hopkins spoons for many many years. This is truly one of the best ways to put fish in the boat. The Hopkins spoons are the most popular used in our area. (S.W. Lower Michigan)

I always thought Rip Jigging was done with a jig while trolling or drifting to cover more water. Do you guys that use this method use bucktail jigs or plastic tails of some kind and how heavy are the jigs you prefer to maintain a little bottom contact?

[Larry]

to the top

[stewart]

I've been meaning to try this, but you know, keep sticking with the same old stuff...

I remember reading a Dick Sternburg book on walleye that had a chapter on the Griz. I believe he used a homemade jig made of hackles. You trolled, snapped the rod forward, and immediately pointed the rod back to give perfectly slack line. When the jig hit bottom you ripped the rod forward again.

[Geno]

Hey Targa2...Are you talking the Rice Lake just north of Toronto, Bewdley, Bailieboro area ?

[gilly8000]

I tried rip jigging this winter with no luck, sounds like I gave up too soon, though. Next time I'm doin' it 'til my arm is sore. Good advice guys.

[Texeye]

For what it's worth.... It has been my experience, that rip-jigging is not nearly as productive in the winter as it is in the summer and fall when the fish are more active.This does not mean a slab will not catch fish in the winter.The presentation has to be different and a lot slower.We catch every species of fish in our lakes on slabs and I know without a doubt I can catch fish on them on any lake and about any time of year.If there is one that can be classified as an all-round slab,( I call them slabs because they first were slabs of lead)it would have to be the Hopkins 3/4 oz.I believe a slab is one of the most versitile lures made.They can be cast,jigged vertically,tipped with bait,slow trolled, and can be fished shallow,suspended,or very deep.I also feel action is sometimes more important than color.We have been discussing rip-jigging and that is usually a long fast stroke up with your rod tip and then a slower controlled fall.Just remember that if you are using fireline or braided line there is no stretch,therefore whatever you do with your rod tip will be passed immediately to your slab.Monofiliment will stretch and response time is slowed a bit.The main thing to remember is that it doesn't take much movement of the rod tip to produce a lot of action.I guess I better stop and quit boring everybody.I just know that if you ever learn some of the techniques of slabbing you will never be without one....or a hundred!!

[bigfish1965]

We used to use rip jigging techniques when I fished the Kawartha Lakes ( back in the 70's and early 80's) It was really the only mid-summer technique that worked on some lakes. However we did it different then I see it described here. We knew that walleye had to be inside the weedbeds, for it offered the only daytime protection from light. There were no deep holes on this lake. We had seen ripping on TV and gave it a shot. We used black maribou jigs with green or yellow pork. We would let it settle into the weeds on the bottom and wiggle it a bit. Then with a big upsweep rip the jig clear of the weeds and let it flutter back down. We assumed the word 'rip' came from ripping the weeds off your jig as you gave it the tug up. We won a few local tourneys with it. Some days the walleye would crush the jig, others it was if a perch was nibbling at the pork. Occasionally the walleye would hit just as you were about to rip up, this often resulted in a near dislocated wrist or shoulder. But fun!