The Detroit River has been firing, and we recently had the chance to put some of our newest walleye gear through its paces alongside the crew at Peel 'N' Drag Guide Service. The verdict? The new lineup delivered — big time.
What We Threw
We hit the water with three new additions to the RMA Tackle Co. lineup:
- AntiKang Swim Shady — our new swimbait-style soft plastic
- Neko Ono plastics — rigged on chartreuse jig heads
- Troutermellon & Tiger Kang Walleye Jigs — the newest colorways in our walleye jig family
The Breakdown: 1 oz vs. 1.3 oz Walleye Jigs
One of the biggest takeaways from this trip was how much the jig weight mattered depending on where the fish were holding.
The 1 oz walleye jigs were the workhorses of the day — perfect for covering water and staying in the strike zone at mid-depth ranges. They excelled with the chartreuse jig heads paired with the Neko Ono plastics, drawing consistent strikes from active fish.
When we started targeting bigger walleye holding in deeper water, the 1.3 oz jigs became the go-to. The extra weight kept the presentation tight to the bottom and cut through current more effectively — exactly what you need when you're fishing the deeper Detroit River channels where the trophy fish stack up.
The Colors That Crushed
Chartreuse was the clear winner on this trip — a classic Detroit River color that continues to produce. The Troutermellon and Tiger Kang colorways also turned heads (and walleye), proving that a little contrast and UV pop goes a long way in the river's stained water conditions.
The AntiKang Swim Shady brought a different profile to the spread and excelled when fish wanted a larger, more aggressive presentation.
Pro Tip: The Minnow + Soft Plastic Chunk Combo
One of the most effective tricks we used on this trip was tipping our jigs with a live minnow and pinning it with a small chunk of soft plastic. Threading a minnow onto the hook and then using a piece of soft plastic to hold it in place keeps the bait secure through repeated casts and strikes — and adds scent, action, and profile all in one. It's a simple rig tweak that made a noticeable difference in hookups, especially on finicky fish.
The Takeaway
If you're heading to the Detroit River this spring, here's the simple game plan:
- Start with 1 oz jigs to cover water and find active fish
- Drop down to 1.3 oz when you're marking fish deep or fighting heavier current
- Go chartreuse — always go chartreuse on the Detroit River
- Mix profiles — pair jig heads with Neko Ono plastics for finesse, or go big with the Swim Shady when fish are aggressive
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