Jig size and how you retrieve it can make the difference between catching and not catching walleyes. Gofron feels the lighter the jig, the easier it is for walleyes to inhale it all the way into their mouths, increasing your chance for a good hookset. Gofron's favorite combination for most situations is a 1/16-ounce jig and 4-pound Berkley XT Solar mono. But he also stresses that it's vitally important to stay in contact with the jig at all times. Using lighter jigs calls for experience and angling skill.

"If you're losing contact with the bottom and your jig, you're probably moving too fast. For example, say your fishing a river using a 1/4-ounce jig. Then the wind starts blowing and you lose contact with your jig, so you increase to a 1/2- or 3/4-ounce jig to stay in contact with the bottom. You're probably moving a lot faster, changing your presentation completely.

"Many anglers forget that wind increases the speed of a jig presentation, which can make a huge difference if the fish want the jig slow. Before I change my jig size, I adjust my boat control to compensate for the wind. The absolute key is to stay in contact with your jig, which includes being able to maintain contact with the bottom."

All good pitchers develop their own style and methods of pitching and retrieving jigs. The best maintain an intense level of concentration so they always know exactly what their jigs are doing. They find the best locations and use the best jig presentation possible, whether it's a retrieve that has worked in the past, or a combination of lifts, pops, drops, and drags developed on a daily basis.

"How I work the jig depends on the type of day and how the fish are reacting to what I'm doing with the jig," Gofron says. "In the morning when the water is colder, I start off by pitching the jig out and letting it sink. Then I lift it a couple inches, drag it, then let it sit, but not for long. Lift, drag, sit; lift, drag, sit. If I pull and feel a fish on, I start dragging it a bit longer.

"As the day goes on and the water warms, walleyes become more aggressive. I often start popping the jig a bit more, and the fish almost always hit on the fall. When they start hitting aggressively, more fish with the same attitude likely are in the area. Popping the jig helps the fish spot your presentation."

Gilman almost always uses a slow, but fairly steady retrieve when pitching shallow. "My favorite jig for pitching shallow cover is an 1/8-ounce Northland Weed-Weasel tipped with a leech or a half crawler. The weedless design makes it fairly snagless. It also has a slower fall rate than, say, a round-head jig," Gilman says.

"I like to work my jig over the fish, almost like working a crankbait. Walleyes in shallow almost always will come up to feed. Occasionally, I let the jig fall, but most of the time, I use a steady retrieve back to the boat. By keeping the bait moving above the fish, active walleyes come up and hit it.

"Walleyes rarely rush to inhale the jig as soon as it hits the water, as a bass does. Most of the time, they follow the jig, sometimes striking after a few cranks of the reel. They may even follow it to the boat before hitting it, so concentrate and be prepared for a fish to hit right at the boat."