Key to Hard Water Walleye

[Eye Slayer]

After last seasons crappy ice, I'm getting psyched up for the hard ice this season. So to get the conversation moving a bit, thought I would pose this question to you masters of the hot icy hole:

For walleyes, what is the most important factor to consider and how do you personally approach that factor. For example, if time of day is the most important factor, what time of day should you be on the ice? Or, if lure selection is the most important factor, what is your favorite lure of choice?

[irishjigs]

IMO, I'm getting on the spot(s) at least an hour early before I want to target walleyes and get everything ready. Holes drilled, lantern lit, house set up, etc. I will start on the break from deeper water to shallow water, and move to holes drilled on top of the particular structure (flat, rocks) during the prime time. In other words location and time are very important to me. Baits I can adjust as the evening/morning goes.

[Northlander]

Exactly.

[fiskyknut]

My Walleye fishing is done on the LOTW 95+ percent of the time so it may not apply elsewhere.

First is the seasonal location of the fish.

Second is their location thru the day, ie. location early and late vs. their location midday.

Lastly are my particular bait and lure presentations.

Simple as 1 2 3!!!

fiskyknut

[croixeyes]

Likewise with me,location and time of day are the most important factors for catching eyes.This of course varies with the bodies of water you fish.Some lakes such as Lake of the woods have great day bites.However the vast majority of lakes fall into the catagory of early morning and dusk into dark bites.Secondary but still very important is the methods used to catch these fish.

Imo color makes a bigger difference in winter than in open water.Think of it this way,on ice your sitting and fishing one small hole for x amount of time,I know of no one that consentrates that amount of time to a single spot in open water.Thus,the presentations of bait and lure can be just as critical as location.One last thing to think about while fishin for old marble eyes is noise,be as quiet as possible when yer out.It doesnt take much noise to spook off these toothy critters.Oh yea,if I had to pick my two top producers it would be hook and minnow or jiggin raps.

[Jim Hudson]

Like everyone has said.. Location is the number one key.. Just like any fishing situation.. Be on the fish and you should be able to get bit... All lakes are different knowing the seasonal patterns of the fish in each are key.

And for walleyes, in general, early morning and late evening are your best bets for a good bite. Getting there early (in the morning and the evening) increase your chance at success. Usually you can pick off the fish as they move in to feed and as they move back out to their daytime or late night haunts. Just move with the fish... Fishing during the daytime can be productive as well, the bites may be fewer, but you can still succeed.. Just have to know their travel routes..

[MuskieJunkie]

In one word, mobility.

[mr fishfry]

Hello There,,,I think you guys are forgetting a few things here. If you are fishing deep water say around 20 feet. Walleys are not spooky. Shallow water yes, they are very spooky. Also R U V rays bother large Walleye eyes more than the small Walleyes.So usually they will be deeper. Color for the bait, they just see color better during different times of the day. Remember fish go to the shore line to feed once a day, but bite when teased all day long.For the larger Walleyes they will go to feed as shallow as the U V Rays will alow them to. The small ones get alot closer to the shore. Winter they move around less. They go to their winter flats. Summer they are in the flats closer to the shore. On large lakes.I always first look at the sky to see if it is a blue bird day or not. The cloudier the shallower they go. Then I use location. Then I use color.Then I use speed. What I see for color is not what a fish see for clor most of the time or day.This works for me, I hope I helped alittle. May a 12 pound Walleye be on your line.

[Eye Slayer]

Thanks for all the input guys! I appreciate it... I have always stuck with panfish and pikers during hard water but thought it would be fun to try walleyes a couple times this year.

Last question, do you tend to find walleye in deep or shallow during the peak fishing hours (morning or evening) while on the ice? And are they tight to the bottom, suspended, or tight to the ice? Just curious where I should be looking for them on the graph!

Thanks again for all the responses!

[Sutty]

Walleye are on the bottom most of the time. They don't suspend like crappies. Fish real tight to the bottom during daylight and just bring it up a little when it is dark out.

[Coach1310]

Walleyes relate more to deep water during daylight hours(most of the time), but like was previously stated if it is cloudy or it is a lake with good weeds in winter, don't overlook weedlines and weedy flats especially on clear water lakes. Look to fish the breaklines and open water around humps, flats, bottom transitions during the daylight and move up onto the humps, flats and bars during primetime. If you find an area(on a camera) that has a lot of bait, make a note. Fish go where they go to either hide or eat!