Instructions for Assembling a Walleye Fishing Rod and Rig

The world of fishing is a sport everyone can enjoy for a lifetime. Walleyes are the prized state fish of the great state of Minnesota. I've fished in the northern 10,000 lakes for 16 years and enjoy catch and release the most with this beautiful fish.
These are instructions for assembling a walleye fishing rod and rig for still boat or bank fishing.
The assembly is my personal style of fishing for walleye passed down from my father.


I get all of my equipment at Cabela's

Equipment:
Fishing Rod
Fishing Reel
Fishing Line
Fishing swivel or snap
Live bait floater 3/8’’ x 3/4’'
Hook size 4 or 6 (Jigs can be used as well)
Fishing weight  ½ ounce or 3/8 ounce (walker sinker or split top)
Toothpick
Clear vinyl tubing, 1/8 inch diameter
Accessory beads
Nail clippers
Snell Holder

A spinning rod and reel is the first component in the assembly process. A rod of this nature will allow you to work jigs and light cranks -- two mainstays in the walleye angler's arsenal. A medium-action graphite rod that is between six-and-a-half and seven-feet long will nicely do the trick, especially when teamed up with a high-quality spinning reel that is rated for 8 or 10 pound test line.

I personally use a G.Loomis Walleye Series Spinning rod with a Quantum Spinning Reel lined with a Stren Premium Magnathin 8 pound test line. The rod has increased sensitivy in the upper third of the rod, while having a reasonable amount of backbone in the lower half. Make sure your reel has extremely smooth drag. These qualities allow you to react to light bites and battle with ease.

A common mistake people make is incorrectly spooling up your fishing reel. You should first tie a knot at the end of your line then make a lasso with your line and tightly pull it around your spool. Pinch your line on the poll to create a little tension. Turn the fishing line spool so the flat circular side, with the logo, is pointed towards you. This will allow the line to unwrap off the spool and wraps on your spool in a continuing motion. Make sure you leave about 1/16 to 1/8 inches to the front of the spool to avoid line jump and tangling when actually fishing.

o 8lb Test Fishing Line
o Fishing swivel or snap to connect your rig to the main line
o Live bait floater 3/8’’ x  3/4’’. Floaters keep your bait drifting above the lake floor
o Fishing hook size 4 or 6, dependable on your live bait size. Jibs can be used as well
o Fishing weight, a walker sinker or split top ½ ounce or 3/8 ounce dependable on water depth and flow
o Toothpick, used as a stopper for live bait floater
o 1/8 inch diameter clear vinyl tubing, used to protect the knot
o Accessory beads, used to protect the knot and provides watervibrations
o Nail clippers to easily cut the line
o Snell Holder

To tighten a knot properly, always lubricate the knot before you tighten it. A small amount of water or spit on the knot allows it to draw down smoothly. The water or spit then dries and the knot locks in place.

Knotless Knot (Left)
Modified Snell Know (Right)

Measure out 20 to 30 inches on line. (About an arm length)

1. Pass the main line through the hook eye from above and along the top of the shank. (Right to left)
2. Take the main line and pinch it along the barb.

3. Wrap the main line around the hook shank and end line about 7 times.

4. Keep the loops tight and the main line in tension.
5. Pass the main line back through the hook eye from above.

6. Give it a little lubricating saliva and a good pull on both ends to tighten.

7. Clip the excess end of the line off with the nail clippers.
The Knotless Knot is now completed on the hook.

1. Slide a floater on the line about 6 inches from the hook.
2. Use the nail clippers to cut a toothpick in half.

3. Insert the 2 halves into the floater. (The toothpicks act like a stopper and prevent the floater from moving along the line)

Main line is marked black

1. Pass the end line, left to right, through one swivel eye.
2. Pass the end line again through the same swivel eye to create a loop.

3. Cross the end line underneath the main line (black line).
4. Wrap the end line around the main line 5 times.

Pictures of the wrapped lines.
Make sure there is still 2 visible loops.

5. Take end line and put through both loops made.

6. Lubricate with saliva.
7. Give a good put on both ends to tighten
8. Clip the excess line with the nail clipper

The Modified Snell Knot is now completed on the Swivel.

1.  Slide the fishing weight on to the line so the flat side is in direct series with the rod.

2. Slide an accessory bead on top of the weight,
3. Slide the clear vinyl tubing on top of the bead.

4. Slide another bead on top of the clear vinyl tubing.

Take the end of the rod line and tie a Modified Snell Knot on the other eye of the swivel.
This will combine the rod line and rig line.

Make a few extra rigs and place them in a Snell Holder, in case you have troubles with your line.
With a little practice, you will be able to make rigs in less than 2 minutes.
Enjoy!