Jigging vs Trolling - Odd Comparison

[cycleguy]

Couldn't help but think about this:

When we talk about jigging, it is pound the bottom, maintain bottom contact or face not getting bit.

Trolling, look for fish up in the water column… the most active fish.

I get the thought behind both for sure… but there is something odd about the concepts when you compare them. Like the polar opposite reasoning applies based on what you have tied on. Too much time on my hands thinking of fishing I guess.

[wakina]

When Jigging you will be fishing primarily for males. While trolling you will be fishing primarily for females, the females stay off the reefs in deeper water until ready to spawn. In other words trophy fishing while trolling.

[cycleguy]

I'm just used to waters here, and walleye being bottom or structure oriented. On Erie, post spawn and as the season continues, then a great majority of the fishing is trolling, and those higher active fish?

Thanks for the info… I just thought it was interesting.

[ebijack]

It is a reaction bite more than anything. The males are concentrating on spawning, which requires being on the bottom. The females are looking for warmer water before they spawn, then after the spawn, then on goes the feed bag. The water warms first in the upper 10fow typically. So the females suspend during the sunny days in that warmer water. IF conditions are right. The females typically are not all that interested in feeding till after the spawn.
Rivers are both males/females on the bottom to avoid as much current and they haven't put on the feed bag till after the spawn. When the river water warms, is when they start to suspend. IMHO
But I still get ALOT of walleye off the bottom trolling thru out the season after the spawn has happened.