Finicky Walleye Help

[lilFEET]

So I have been fishing for walleye on a local lake and they seem to be very finicky. For about the past three weeks the days I went out I can only seem to catch 1 walleye. I am marking more fish but they don't seem to bite. I can usually catch one about and hour before dark and after that they are just sniffers. They come up to my jig and the minute you move it there gone or they will just stare at it for a couple minutes then slowly leave. I have tried every jig in my tackle box. Even tried a dead stick. Just curious on some tips you guys might have for getting the finicky ones to bite. Thanks for listening and I cant wait to see some of your responses.

[DaveZman14q]

Try lip hooking a smaller fat head and leave your jig (preferably a stand up jig) on the bottom. the minnow will squirm but will go no where. It has worked for me in the past.

[tunrevir]

The stand up jighead is a great suggestion and can often trigger those sniffer fish. There are two lines of thought on this, go small and subtle or go big and bawdy. Sometimes an overized spoon fished slowly will outproduce a subtle presentation and other times a switch to finesse tactics like a small spoon with waxies or a standup jig head will work. Keep in mind that on most local lakes your doing well with 1-3 fish a night. Anything over that number and your doing really well! If you know you have eyes that are in the area then try all different approaches untill you get one to hit and refine from there. There aren't any rules when it comes to fishing so try anything and everything you know and if that doesn't produce try something else Good luck and tightlines!

Tunrevir~

[hhguide]

Tail hook a minnow with a Jig head. Either go smaller or go way bigger, thats what I would do.

[Chef]

I've had success using a drop-shot style sinker with a Northland Floating jig head and a 2' leader Ice Fishng.

I've also vigorouosly jigged Raps, Nils and Chubby Darters when they're neutral or negative and had them come in a slam the thing as it settles. They either bail or bite.

[lilFEET]

Thanks for the great info guys and I thought about the stand up jig when I got home but I guess I will have to wait till next weekend to try that one. Do use bait on your Chubby Darters or jigging raps?

[Zoob]

After reading this thread, I went out and did exactly that -- put a lip-hooked fathead on a standup glow-jig and parked him on the bottom (about 6 inches off, actually) of 20 FOW. Mid-afternoon, time to kill - didn't really expect much, but thought I'd give it a try (since my walters have been hiding as well).

Not exactly a walleye -- but it cured my weeklong dryspell. =)

[south_metro_fish]

Is this something you would want to use on a rod or would this work on a tip up too?

[slurpie]

Bros scud bug and bloodworm. Caught some eyes when couldnt get nothing else to go. Alot more fun on a spring bobber and 1 lb test.

[riverrat56]

Diamond jig and a crappie minnow tail or a waxie (preferably a soft dead one that wiggles real nicely) has put fish on ice for me this year when traditional stuff fails.