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When walleyes are shallow, electronics just won't cut it. I've been catching walleyes for more than 40 years, and have caught literally thousands of them without the aid of electronics. Shallow walleyes are easy to catch, but can sure be tough to find. Years ago, before electronics came into play, I found most of my walleyes by casting jigs or crankbaits into shallow water points or weed edges, and along sharp breaks and sandbars off of river channels.

I always keyed on points jutting into deep water as well as weed edges near deep water. In rivers, I would look for sharp cuts off of sandbars or where the river channel cut closest to shore. Rip rap or rocky areas were always favorites of mine. In fact, all these spots still produce some money-winning catches for me year after year when fishing the professional walleye circuits.

My favorite jig for most walleye fishing conditions is the Odd'ball in eighth and quarter ounce sizes. I like to tip them with minnows, leeches, or half nightcrawlers, or plastic shad tails when working the shallows. Since the jig is a stand-up design, I can fish it shallow or deep. I can also fish it effectively in weeds, rocks and timber. It can be cast and retrieved, dragged across the bottom, or fished vertically in deep water if desired.

The jig is molded around a Mustad Knife Edge hook, giving it twice the penetrating power of a standard hook. That's important when setting the hook while casting shallow. When casting a jig, I use a five and a half foot Quantum medium action spinning rod and Energy reel spooled with eight pound test Stren Easy Cast or Magnathin. The medium action rod is important in that the bite telegraphs better than with a light action rod.

Hey, finding fish has never been easier than with the Odd'Ball way!