March is the month of peak steelhead and walleye in the Grand River. With the amount of snow we’ve had, once the spring rains hit, we start to get all the run off. The river is going to come up fast and furious. When you’re fishing steelhead that only means bigger spawn sacks, AKA Choker Bags. I will tie them about as big as a dollar piece, with heavier leader line, 10 to12 pound Maxima, Shag Nasty Custom Floats, and hook size 4 to 1/0.
When the water gets really muddy I like to put about a one inch piece of yarn Snell knotted to my hook above my spawn sac for higher visibility. When I cure my skein, I strain it with a spaghetti strainer and let all that juice collect in a bowl. Then I take small dishwashing soap container and clean it out really well and put my juice in there. It makes an awesome dispenser for your juice with the easy pop up top.
It’s a quick and easy way to juice up the yarn for more scent. And after a half a dozen casts, if my spawn bag is still good, I’ll put some of the goodness AKA “Spawn Juice” on there as well. Refreshes your bag just like you put a new one on. When the river gets muddy they start to rely on other instincts other than site. Adjust your fishing tactics to the conditions. When there is high water that means there is going to be more pronounced seems and eddies. Fish in their feeding zones and you will hook more fish.
This is also a great time of year to break out the wobble glows. Again with the water mudding up trigger more instinct hits. They will pick up vibrations with their lateral line going down there side. A wobble glow is a great way to go. A lot of anglers like to use the clown wobble glows with chartreuse with red dots and the peach cobbler are just a few local favorites.
The big breeder walleye are in the river and there coming up from Lake Michigan to spawn. Catching 10 to 15 pound walleye are not an uncommon thing in the Grand River. Using buck tail jigs, jigs tipped with minnows, white twister tails, 3 inch paddle tails and Husky Jerks are the ticket. On the Grand River all the good spots you can walk to. You will see that this time of year Fulton Street Bridge will be lined up with anglers. Poles being worked with Hot-N-Tots and anglers holding another rod back bouncing spawn into the holes. The west side of the bridge holds a lot of fish.
Typically throwing towards the west shore is the go to spot. On the east side of the bridge towards the middle, there is a really nice point that comes out in front of Charlie’s Crab allowing anglers to fish from shore. You will see other anglers throwing buck tail jigs off the bridge as far as they can and then bringing them back slowly. You fish that bridge and before too long you will catch a 10 pound walleye guaranteed.
March is my favorite month on the Grand River. Grab a buddy and some fishing poles and come down to my bait shop at 736 Bridge Street and we will help put you where you want to be. That bait shop has been there for 49 years. Come see why. Take care and get some Fish ON!!!
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