Ice Walleye locations?

[s2h]

If your looking at a lake overlay map, what type of structure/depths do the walleyes sit in during the winter?

[Northlander]

Rock and breaks off points of shore or islands. If you can find a point that has some nice rock around it thats a good start.

I always start where I left them in the late fall.

[JoeTC]

Walleyes will often relate to what is known as classic walleye structure all winter. This includes weedlines, steep breaks, humps, points, ect. My ideal winter location for walleyes is the top of a steep break that goes into deep water. Along that break I look for turns or transitions from weeds to rocks or to sand. Walleyes will also be in shallower weeds on some lakes in the winter. Give these areas a try until you figure out what they are best relating to on the lake you're on as it differs with every lake. I think finding baitfish (usually young perch) is key to finding winter walleyes.

Joe

[south_metro_fish]

I am getting a good idea of what to look for for a good walleye location but I am wondering how to fish the break line. I have picked out a location with some deep water that comes up to the main lake basin on a point with a steep couture and a main break line around the deep water and I think there might be some rocks. I am planing on spending some time getting to know my structure better earlier in the afternoon with my camera and depth finder. I would assume you would want to fish around the break line. I know they come up from the deeper water so would I want to fish below the break line before sunset and work my way up to the break line by sunset? Then after it gets dark do I want to work my way up above the break line as it gets later. Or is it better to just stay on the main break line and work my way along it. I have a small portable so its easy to move around. Also if I dead stick a minnow on a tip up, do I want to set it right on the break line.

[Cicada]

I try to remember to check the minnow tanks at the baitshop before I tell him what I want. Minnows afterall, are fish and you can sometimes get a clue where to fish by what they are doing. If they are balled up in a corner, I will start on break lines. If they are scattered throughout the tank, I will look for a flat to fish.

[ironman]

That reminds me of a time when my dad and I went to Walker lake. Hit the baitshop and asked how the perch were biting. He said its been slow, went over to the minnow tank and they were all hugging the bottom and not moving much. He told us when its like that your better off staying at home. Well we didnt drive four hours for nothing. He couldn't have been more wrong. We caught over 200 perch that day...you could not use two lines..it was insane. Plus a limit of pike, I wanted to stay after dark for the eyes..no reason they wouldn't be on fire as well, but dad wanted to head back. This is probably the exception to the rule, I also look at the wildlife on the way to a lake..if everything else is active the fish probably will be too.

[Northlander]

Im not sold on the old minnow tank theory. It hasnt held up for me. I mean after all how does a minnow in a tank inside a building know whats going on outside? Internal factors like lights and covers and color of tanks, customer traffic probably are a bigger factor of minnow behavior inside a bait store.

Now outside in big metal tanks I may let it hold more weight.

[Bassboy1645]

hmmm...interesting theory that could maybe hold some merit. I look at wildlife in a natural setting. Are there alot of deer on the roads birds flying aorund alot? the animals you see are they feeding? moving or holding tight? You can pretty much set fish behavior by the same thing. If squirels are perched in a tree or you spot a herd of dee bedded in a woodlot hunkered down I will fish tight to a corner in a break or a point and offer a slower presentation. If the birds and squirrels are freaking out and moving around alot and seem highly active well same thing. I will fish a well known flat or shallow feeding area hopefully near schools of baitfish. If they seem active but moving not really feeding too much I look for flats. If thyre are any hard fast rules about anything walleye though I learned there is no such ting as rules!

[herefish101]

with the minnows in the tank thing, while the light noise and a few other things will affect the fish, does'nt barametric preassure dictate a fish's behavior a little more, and the preasure diffrence between outsid and in is usually very small, so then the minnows should be able to tell you. I like this, i'm going to try this.

What i found is keep a fishing journal, write down the weather conditions(temp, preassure) weather it's raining snowing ect. then update this info for each fish caught, it takes a while but eventually you develop a very noticable pattern. then you just referto the best day that most matched the conditions for that day and presto, instant fish. plus it gives you records to alwayse refer to when somone tries to say your telling a fish story. i've been doing this for two years now and i'm still learning more from my notes than i ever did watching videos. good luck and big fish to all.

[jigginjim]

A frienf of mine always the lakes hard on a falling barometer.

[codygulick]

This gives me an idea. I have a 125 gallon fish tank with 1 walleye, 5 crappies, 1 sunfish, 1 rock bass, and 1 perch. Some days the fish seem more active than others. I will have to take a look at them before I go fishing and see if there is any link to their activity and my fishing success.

[bigfish24]

would not been telling anyone that u have a fish tank with those fish in it you might get fined.

[Will]

Not if you purchased them legally from a pet store, like the one in forest lake ( they sell 'em ) although i've never seen rockies there