Updated: November 2026. Ugly Bug and Flicker prices and sizes checked on the live gapen.com product pages Nov 11, 2026.
The best walleye jigging lures for open water, the short answer: a stand-up jig like the Gapen Ugly Bug (from $3.10, 1/32 to 5/8 oz) tipped with a minnow, crawler or leech, hopped or jigged vertically on rock, plus a Gapen Flicker jigging spoon in 1/4 oz ($5.32) or 1/2 oz ($5.72) with a minnow head for suspended or scattered fish. Pick the lightest weight that still keeps you on bottom in your depth and current.
Below: a jig-or-spoon picker, a weight chart by depth and current, four ways to work an Ugly Bug, how to work the Flicker, and what to change when the bite slows.
Ugly Bug or Flicker: which walleye jigging lure should you tie on?
| Gapen Ugly Bug | Gapen Flicker | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Wedge-head stand-up jig, created by Dan Gapen Sr. in 1969 to imitate crawfish and hellgrammites | Compact jigging spoon that flutters on the fall and flashes on the lift |
| Where it shines | On bottom: rock, rip-rap, wing dams, current seams, gravel points | Off bottom: fish suspended a foot or more up, or scattered on flats and basin edges |
| Best tipping | Minnow on light colors; crawler or leech on dark colors | Minnow head, wax worm or a Gapen Red Ball |
| Walleye sizes and price | 1/8 to 5/8 oz for walleye, from $3.10 | 1/4 oz $5.32 or 1/2 oz $5.72 for walleye |
| Retrieves | Hop, drift, vertical, downstream swing | Short jigging strokes, then pause; vertical or cast and count down |
| Weak spot | Not built to fish high in the water column | Treble hook grabs rock if you drag it on bottom |
Our shop rule of thumb: if the walleye are on the bottom, and in rivers and on rock they usually are, the Ugly Bug goes on first. If your electronics show fish a foot or more off bottom, or the jig bite is dead and you need to cover water, switch to a Flicker and fish it over them.
Why is the Ugly Bug a good walleye jig?
The Gapen Ugly Bug is an anti-snag stand-up jig: its wide-forward, narrow-back wedge head pivots up and out of rock and sheds hang-ups about 85% of the time when you put pressure on the line. On bottom it holds about a 45 degree stand-up angle so a walleye can scoop it, and when you jig it vertically the same head rides level. That is why it works on the rocky river and lake bottoms where walleye feed and round-head jigs get stuck. It is made in the USA. For a fall-only playbook, see how to jig an Ugly Bug for fall walleye.
Which Ugly Bug weight should you use for walleye?
Pick the lightest Ugly Bug that still keeps you in touch with the bottom. This is the walleye part of the size advisor on the Ugly Bug product page:
| Weight | Water depth | Current or conditions | Walleye use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 oz | 5 to 10 ft | Light current | Shallow walleye; casting rocky banks | $3.10 to $3.50 |
| 1/4 oz | 8 to 15 ft | Moderate current or light wind | Casting or vertical jigging | $3.10 to $3.60 |
| 3/8 oz | 15 to 20 ft | Steady current or wind | Deep walleye; vertical jigging in rivers | $3.10 to $3.80 |
| 5/8 oz | 20 ft and deeper | Strong river current, heavy wind | Deep walleye; vertical jigging | $3.10 to $4.40 |
Price depends on color. If you lose bottom contact, go up one size. If the jig drags or hangs, go down one.
How do you jig an Ugly Bug for walleye?
- Hop (casting a point, flat or rock bank). Cast, let it hit bottom, then on a tight line hop the jig forward a few inches and pause. Most eats come on the pause while it stands at about 45 degrees.
- Drift (river runs and current seams). Cast upstream or up-current, keep light contact and let the Ugly Bug tick bottom as it drifts. Lift only enough to feel the wedge walk rock.
- Vertical (boat over deep fish). Drop to bottom, lift about a foot and let it settle. The head rides level on the lift, which is what you want for deep walleye on 3/8 to 5/8 oz.
- Downstream swing (wing dams and seams). Cast upstream, swing through the seam and retrieve with the current so the jig stays in the strike zone longer without digging in.
When it does catch rock, resist ripping it. Keep steady pressure on the line and let the head pivot free.
How do you fish a Flicker spoon for walleye?
The Gapen Flicker is a compact jigging spoon that flutters on the fall and flashes on the lift. It comes in sizes from 1/64 to 2 oz; for open-water walleye we carry 1/4 and 1/2 oz with a minnow head on one barb of the treble hook.
- Drop it to bottom.
- Lift it off bottom with a short jigging stroke, then pause.
- Let it settle again, but stop a foot or two above bottom.
- Lift and pause again. Keep working up the water column toward where the fish are showing.
- No strike? Drop back down and start over. Many fish eat as the spoon settles.
Use brighter colors, including the glow finishes, in stained or low-light water and more natural finishes like Perch, Shad or Sucker in clear water. The Flicker is made in the USA and fishes through the ice too. For the full rundown, see what is a Gapen Flicker spoon.
What should you tip a walleye jig with?
| Situation | Lure | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cold water, fall into early winter | Ugly Bug, light color | Minnow |
| Rock and crawfish water | Ugly Bug, dark color | Crawler or leech |
| Short strikes on the jig | Ugly Bug | Minnow head instead of a whole minnow |
| Suspended or scattered fish | Flicker, 1/4 or 1/2 oz | Minnow head on one barb |
| Stained water or low light | Either, bright or glow color | Minnow for action |
| Clear water, bright sun | Either, natural or dark color | Minnow head |
What do anglers say about the Ugly Bug?
The Ugly Bug averages 4.79 of 5 stars from 56 reviews on gapen.com. Steve H, fishing the 1/4 oz, put it this way: "Fantastic, actually terrible, the fish attack them so hard, they keep breaking my line."
To be fair, not every review is a love letter. Trent Baumann asked for beefier hooks on the Ugly Bug. If you are fishing big river walleye, set firm with a steady sweep, keep your drag set right and check the hook point after a rock-heavy drift.
When should you not jig for walleye?
- Walleye spread out on a long, snaggy bottom in current: pull a crawler harness behind a bottom walker instead. See how to rig a Bait-Walker for walleye in current and Bait-Walker vs bottom bouncer.
- Once the lake locks up: move to ice jigs. See best walleye ice fishing jigs.
- River smallmouth on the same rock: drop to a 1/8 or 1/4 oz Ugly Bug. See how to fish an Ugly Bug for river smallmouth.
Shop the Gapen Ugly Bug
Gapen Ugly Bug Jig: the original anti-snag stand-up jig since 1969, 1/32 to 5/8 oz in 16 colors, from $3.10, made in the USA. For walleye, carry 1/4, 3/8 and 5/8 oz. Shipping in the contiguous US is $7.95 on orders under $75, $3.95 on orders of $75 or more, and free on orders of $200 or more. Questions? Call the shop at 1-877-623-2099 and talk to an angler.
Walleye Jigging Lures FAQ
What is the best jigging lure for walleye?
For walleye on or near the bottom, a stand-up jig like the Gapen Ugly Bug tipped with a minnow, crawler or leech. For fish suspended off bottom, a jigging spoon like the Gapen Flicker in 1/4 or 1/2 oz with a minnow head.
What size jig should I use for walleye?
Use the lightest jig that keeps bottom contact: about 1/8 oz in 5 to 10 feet with light current, 1/4 oz in 8 to 15 feet, 3/8 oz in 15 to 20 feet, and 5/8 oz in 20 feet and deeper or strong current.
How do you jig for walleye in a river?
Cast upstream, keep light contact and let the jig tick bottom as it drifts, or sit over the fish and jig vertically, lifting about a foot and letting it settle. A wedge-head jig like the Ugly Bug walks out of rock better than a round head.
Are jigging spoons good for walleye?
Yes, especially for suspended or scattered fish. Use short jigging strokes, then let the spoon settle a foot or two above bottom. Many fish eat as it falls.
What color jig is best for walleye?
Brighter or glow colors in stained water and low light, darker or natural colors in clear water on bright days. On the Ugly Bug, tip light colors with minnows and dark colors with crawlers or leeches.
Does the Ugly Bug snag less?
Yes. Its wedge head pivots up and out of rock and sheds hang-ups about 85% of the time when you put pressure on the line. When it does catch, hold steady pressure and let it pivot free.
How much is the Gapen Ugly Bug?
On the live product page in November 2026, the Ugly Bug starts at $3.10, and walleye sizes run up to $4.40 for 5/8 oz depending on color. The Flicker is $5.32 in 1/4 oz and $5.72 in 1/2 oz.
Gapen Tackle Company, a family tackle shop in State Center, Iowa, making jigs in the USA since the Ugly Bug in 1969.