Jigging for Walleye Ice Fishing Silver Spoons & Lures in Clear Water We recommend silver colors for clear water situations because they mimic minnows and reflect light to call in fish Use Bright Colors in Stained Water Two Pole Approach in Shanties On Finicky Bites Default to Live Bait
How do you target walleye ice fishing?
Walleye like to move around in small groups that patrol relatively large areas every day, stopping by the same structures repeatedly Because of this habit, another great way to find them in midwinter is to look for “choke points” where fish movement is channeled into a smaller area
What size lures for ice fishing walleye?
While the larger #5, #7 and #9 sizes work great for walleyes and other large fish, the smaller #2 and #3 work amazingly well for perch When the walleye bite gets tough for me, I downsize to the small sizes for perch, though I recommend modifying it with a larger treble hook versus the one that comes from the factory
What depth should I ice fish for walleye?
Tip #4: The Best Depth to Ice Fish for Walleye In clear lakes, you will find walleyes between 10 and 20 feet (3-6 meters) This deeper location should be near the steep underwater incline where the water is 3 – 6 feet deep (1-2 meters)
When do walleye bite best ice fishing?
The best walleye ice fishing is during the 30 minutes before and after sunset in winter Following this peak, they continue feeding with lower intensity during the night, followed by another peak at dawn (though this second peak is not as strong as the one at dusk)
How do you jig for walleye in the winter?
Use your rod tip to follow the outline of your hole in the ice, in a circular motion Another way to achieve horizontal movement is to move your rod tip from side to side This gets your jig swinging back and forth in the water, producing a different movement that can draw a walleye toward your bait
How far off the walleye do you ice fish?
Baits can be set within 6 inches of the bottom, even half that, which is often where the bait should be when Walleyes are only slightly active
What depth do walleye like in winter?
As winter progresses and the water gets colder, walleye move into deeper water In mid-winter, they are often found in basins that are 30-40 feet deep, and like to hold in areas that are close to more shallow structures, such as underwater hills or mud flats rising to a depth of 10-25 feet
What depth are walleye at in winter?
Throughout a winter’s day, the fish will range in depth from 20 to 50 feet Walleyes in the tailraces tend to hug the bottom, so you should select lures that reach the river’s floor in a hurry
What colors are best for walleye?
The most basic and most productive colors for targeting walleye are purple and green These colors come in a variety of shades and can be used in a large range of depths For sunny days, select bright or flashy purple or green, and for cloudy days try a solid, darker green or purple
What is the best depth to ice fish?
For many lakes, the best depth to start ice fishing is in the 8 to 20 foot zone However, depending on the species, time of year and underwater structure, depths less than 5 feet or more than 20 feet might hold more fish
Do you need a metal leader for walleye?
For walleye per se, you do not need to use a steel leader at all, as they won’t be able to bite through your mainline However, if the water you are fishing in contains pike or muskies, you can use a 10-15lb fluorocarbon leader instead of steel, in order to prevent bite-offs
Is fluorocarbon good for ice fishing?
Fluorocarbon ends up being one of the favorites for ice fishing because it is stronger than monofilament and more abrasion-resistant Fluorocarbon lines also sink faster than mono which makes for a more natural fall for light-weight ice jigs
What size line do you use for ice fishing?
In open water, line of 6- or 8-pound test may qualify as “light,” but ice anglers commonly scale down to 4-, 3-and 2-pound test with 1-pound line a serious option as well Fish below the ice are sluggish, and they will not put up as hard a fight as they will in warm water conditions
How do you catch walleye in the winter?
DEEP SPOTS Deeper river pools, ones out of the flow of the river’s main force, become the wintertime sanctuary for ‘eyes Holes located below current-deflecting structures like gravel/rock bars often hold fish
What do walleye eat in winter?
“During fronts and at other periods throughout winter, walleyes filter into soft-bottom basins to eat bloodworms,” Brosdahl says “But they also feed on perch, crappies, troutperch, and other species in the vicinity
What’s the best time of day to catch walleye?
Generally, the best time to fish for Walleye is early morning and late evening When the sun is high at midday, Walleye move deeper and hold tightly to shade providing Cover During periods of low light however, Walleye will move in shallow to feed on baitfish holding close to shore
What time of day is best for ice fishing?
Many experienced ice anglers agree that ice fishing is best during the first couple hours after sunrise and for about two hours before and after sunset Every lake is different and each type of fish has unique habits that could make the bite good all day
How far off the bottom should you ice fish?
Instead, you need to get your lure at least 18 inches up off the bottom where the crappies, perch, pike, walleye and sauger can see it If you’re fishing for lake trout, on the other hand, you rarely need to lower your lure more than 40 feet below the ice, even when you’re fishing over water twice that deep
How do you catch a late ice walleye?
Look for late-ice walleyes to be drawn to wherever creeks or streams enter natural lakes Even subtle flows like drainage ditches can attract pre-spawn walleyes and adjacent flats in the main lake can be hotspots On manmade lakes, look for walleyes to head towards the reservoir’s source
How do you catch walleye in 50 degree water?
For big walleyes, in the fall when water temps drop just below 50 – Fall Time is Hog Time The key to success is to use subtle presentations Crankbaits trolled at slow speeds can often initiate strikes The key is to get baits that have a good action at slow speeds (less than 18 mph)