Bottom-bouncers and Wolf River rigs work well spring, summer, or fall. Deep weedlines near the river channel also continue to produce fish in early summer. On one trip, my fishing partner, Don Leishman, and I anchored along a weedline where the Albany River dumped into a big lake. The action was fast and furious, with too many double-headers to count. In rivers, fish upstream and downstream of all structures or cover.
Many anglers miss a lot of fish because they only fish the downstream sides.
During the hot part of summer when river levels are low, I've found walleye concentrated at the base of falls and rapids, where the water is cooler and more oxygenated. On bright days in clear water, summer river walleye can also be packed tightly under submerged timber and trees. I recall one hot, sunny day on a slow, low meandering river when our favourite holes failed to produce. Finally, in desperation, I pitched a jig near a submerged shoreline spruce tree. The strike that followed was so violent, I assumed it must have been a pike.