Early Ice Walleye's?

[Dan Brelje]

Just wanted to get some insight on what you more seasoned anglers do for early ice Eyes. I am new to fishing walleyes on hard water and any tips i could get would be helpful. Where to fish: structure,holes,weeds,flats, etc.. and Presentation: Minnow, jig spoon, tip-up, etc..

Thanks in advance

[Mike Walerak]

I have two strategies for early ice walleyes. The first and most productive is to fish the most accessable structure you can get out on. Basically, it is first come first serve for these fish. There are always the folks fishing the same old community spots with marginal success. I have found one very valuble tool for searching out my own hotspots, the Sportsman Connection Map Book is priceless when it come to hunting down these spots. They have various lake informantion Secci depth, color, and survey info. The first thing I look for is a lake with a good population of walleyes, Second, I look for a somewhat easy access to a sharp break or point. With this map you will have maps of virtually every lake in your area so you can compare them.

Once I establish a few spots I will fish them in the evenings when the fish are most active. On these search missions it is important to take minimal equipment. I typically take a hand auger, LX-5, a couple rods in a bucket. A headlamp is a good idea too, as a lantern can attract other fishermen to your possible goldmine. Tackle can vary for area to area, lake to lake. I always have a swimbait such as a Jigging Rapala or Nils Shad tied on. A section of spoons are also important, my favortites are the Angel Eyes and Varmits. A still line or a tip-up is a must as well. If I am hopping holes searching out fish I will set a tip-up with a plain hook and minnow. If I am stationary I will have a bobber on a set line.

With this strategy, if I do not catch fish on the first outing I will scratch it and hit another spot, as there are many other spots to hit, via the Sportsman Connection map book!

The other stratagy I have is to fish tip-ups in the shallows. Most often I will do this right after the power hour. The fish that were on the breaks and points will have moved up shallow to feed. I prefer to have a small group of guys scatter tip-up across the shallow areas adjacent to the drop-off or point that you were fishing ealier in the evening. Although it can be, this is generally not a numbers game. Big fish are primary target, so larger bait is reqired. I like to use small pike suckers, and shiners.

The hot fist ice bite does not last too long so it is importand to take full advantage of it when it comes.

Good Luck

mw

[PerchJerker]

I agree with Mike, the first structure you can get to is what you want to fish. Being quiet is key, I usually don't bring my power auger or atv at early ice and I have all my holes punched before the last hour of daylight, up and down the break. Then I hole hop, usually with a jigging spoon, and often with a deadstick (jig and minnow) set in a rod holder or a 5 gallon bucket. Travel light and move a lot, I am looking for active fish at this time, not hunkering down and waiting for them to come to me.

[Northlander]

I hit the spots I left them on this fall.

[Team Otter]

Mike summed up everything really nice. The only thing I would add is that when Mike references shallow water, don't be afraid to experiment in that 1 - 4' range. The results can surprise you!

Again, well said Mike.

[Wiskers]

Ahmen to that.. a few years ago I hit Maple lake and started shallow. the ice was soooooo clear you could see the bottom as you walked on the ice. I could lay on the ice and watch fish come over to the bait area and chomp the hook.. that was sooooooo cool.........I was in about 4-5 feet of water over the rock piles. No need for GPS that year, you could see them though the ice with no snow on it.

[Fishin Beast]

My favorite way of fishing early ice walleyes is drilling a few holes on top of a drop-off, and fishing during the day at the deep edge off the drop-off a few feet. With a few tip-ups at various depths up the drop-offs (With a few people of course).

You can actually watch the walleyes move shallower as the tip-ups go in order deep to shallow. Then your holes are already ready to fish when they hit the top of the drop-off for the hot bite.

[Farley]

Fishin Beast, I do the same thing. I start drilling holes at the base of the dropoff, then one or two sets of holes going up the dropoff, then a few sets of holes on top of the dropoff. I usually start in the deeper water, setting up a tip up in the next set of holes that would be shallower, as daylight dwindles down, I move shallower, also moving the tip up shallower untill I'm right on top of the structure. This way you are not drilling holes and making noise in shallow water when you should be fishin.

[Mike Walerak]

I too work from deep to shallow. The catch is if I am shallow, most often I will keep a tip-up in deep water. In past experiance on some lakes, for no obvious reason certain sizes of fish will feed at different times. Sometimes bigones will feed first and sometimes the little will move shallow first.

I guess my point is to not put all your eggs in one basket until you have a well established pattern, even then you may be surprised. Most of the big fish I catch are the result of some fluke deal. I have caught some dang nice wallyes pike fishing in a few feet of water during the middle of the day.

When walleye fishing there are guidlines, but no set rules!

Now does this mean I will set up for walleyes in a foot of water at high noon? No, but would it surprise me if one was caught, Not really!

Sometimes it pays to try and make your luck!

mw

[Muskycrazy]

Hi . I live in Superior too . I have only ice fished once on the St. Louis for crappie . Seems you know your stuff about Ice Fishing Walleyes around the area . I'm going to give it a shot this year but have little idea where to go . Can you give me an idea where to go ? Anything will help Thanks , Roger

[Wiskers]

Another tip I leared from Gentz is to set up in an area and every so often venture out in a circular pattern and drill some holes and do a little jigging in each. This will give you an idea on patterns of fish in the are plus the drilling of holes away from you will get the fish moving and some times spawn feeding as they move around. It is not crazy to see him drill 10+ holes while fishing just to get the fish moving.

[Northlander]

Musky crazy I wont give you many spots on the river because a few of them are risky. I would fish walleyes because crappies are hard to find and tuff to get to.

Hit Boyscout landing area and once the ice is safe and boat traffic is over hit the Barkers Island Bay area.

Dont go out if you dont see someone out there and never fish the river alone.

[traviskoster]

any suggestions on early ice on lake of the woods heading up there on saturday and have fished there many times, but never this early was going to head up there today but decieded to finish up the fish house instead

[Team Otter]

Welcome to FM!

Just over the hump at Pine Island on the S end is tough to beat. 10 - 16' of water will treat you just fine.

[fiskyknut]

Travis, you may want to access at Morris point. Fish have been going crazy there. Pine should be good too once folks start getting across the bay, which should be any day now.

fiskyknut