Are you interested in doubling your walleye catching success when vertical jigging? The easiest way to do that is to fish twice as many rods. If you can work two rods with the same precision as one, it only makes sense that you’ll catch twice as many fish. Of course that’s easier said than done. Running two rods, adjusting them for depth, keeping bait on each jig, and maintaining the proper action on each rod is not as easy as it is with one rod. OK, so maybe you don’t actually double your catch… but even if you increase your catch rate by 60 or 70%, it’s well worth the effort.

The first key to mastering “Two Fisted Jigging” is to use the right trolling motor. Boat control plays an important part to this technique. Obviously you need to use a foot-controlled trolling motor, leaving both hands free to do the jigging.

If you’re learning this technique in a river, Fall is a good time to try it. Current is typically reduced this time of year, there are fewer anglers around giving you plenty of room to maneuver, and the fish are congregated in predictable areas offering lots of opportunities to catch fish.

When “double jigging“, the rods should mirror one another. Both should exhibit the same action, maintain bottom contact and work the bottom six inches of the water column.

Bringing a second rod into the equation will do much more than just put a second lure in the water. Experimentation is one of the advantages to the Two Fisted technique. It can serve to double the “learning curve”, helping you to pinpoint the right bait and setup for the situation at hand. Using a matched set of rod/reel combos is nice, but using two rods can also help you determine what rod length and action fits you best. By using a 5’6″ rod in one hand and a 6′ rod in the other, you’ll discover quickly which one catches more fish for you.

The two rod jigging presentation also lets you experiment in other areas. By varying the type, color and size of the line you use on each rod you can determine which gives you better feel, hook-setting ability and more bites. Other experiments may include bait preference and jig dressing. Bait one jig with a piece of real crawler, the other with a plastic such as a Berkley Power Jig Worm. On one jig, add a plastic grub body and a minnow, the other one fish “bare” with a minnow. The possibilities are endless and will do a great deal to aid you in honing your presentation.

When it comes to choosing the right size jig for a given situation, a larger jig may make it easier to feel the bottom and keep the presentation vertical… but I have found that by fishing lighter jigs, an angler can get more fish to bite. After all, that’s the goal. The more fish that bite, the more you’re going to catch.

It’s long been argued that adding stinger hooks to a jig may increase hooking percentage, but at the cost of fewer hits. If a stinger hook is designed properly to allow full freedom of movement to the bait while still offering added hooking ability, there is no sacrifice in numbers of bites.

When it comes to adding grub bodies to jigs, time of the year can make a difference. In the fall, I’ll usually fish a jig “bare” with a minnow, and add a plastic body in the spring for more bulk and added color. However, I have seen a definite preference by walleyes for larger minnows in the fall.

A lot walleye anglers still hesitate to follow the lead of many bass fishermen when it comes to adding rattles to their jigs to enhance attraction. Adding rattles such as Northland Tackle’s Buck-Shot Rattles to a walleye jig not only makes it more effective in dirty water, but works better than a plain jig even in clear water. That’s why the Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Jig is now my #1 Go-To jig in all vertical jigging situations.

Multi-rod presentations are commonly used in trolling, bottom bouncer fishing, even live bait rigging. True, these techniques can all be accomplished by using a rod holder to handle the extra rods, but the idea is the same. More lines in the water mean more chances for experimentation and more opportunities to catch fish. Don’t be stuck being a “One-Armed Walleye Bandit”. Try a “Two Fisted” attack, and double your pleasure.

Be sure to check local fishing regulations for rules pertaining to the use of multiple rods per angler. Some states and provinces still only allow one rod per angler.