walleye bait

[Guest]

In Montana where I fish, we are not allowed to use live minnows because the FWP thinks the minnows can spread the Whirling Disease. My question is what is the next best bait?

[Guest]

I'm not familiar with montanas laws, but I would say the next best would be dead minnows. Can you use heads or tails of dead minnows? That really bites the big one that you cant use live minnows. Theres a lake here in MN that I like fishing that prohibits the use of live minnows, and that irritates me, I couldn't imagine all the lakes. Inform me what whirling is. I've never heard that term.

[This message has been edited by Bigguns3 (edited 10-23-2002).]

[Guest]

Whirling Disease is a virus that trout get and it effects their ability to swim. They go in a circle. It eventully kills them. The FWP has not been able to find out what causes this, so they are spending a lot of money to find a cause. Where I fish is a reservoir on the Missouri, called Canyon Ferry. 300 miles down stream on the same river you can you live minnows.

[Guest]

Spoons and swimming baits can sometimes out fish live bait in the winter. Try the jiggin rap by Rapala or the Glow Devil spoon by Scenic Tackle

------------------
MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[White-tips]

If you own a colorpoint or FL-8 you don't need live bait.

[Guest]

Whitetips how will an FL8 make the fish bite. I have an FL18 and it only shows me that their are fish down there.

[Guest]

oldjigger,
Welcome to the forum, it is a great place to share info.

I've used jigging spoons tipped with plastics for walleyes through the ice before. Berkely Power Baits are the best choice. These baits are made with real fish parts and scents. Replace the treble hook with a single hook and thread on the plastic. You'll be suprised with the results. Some times plastics will do that extra trick because of some of the action they give off. Check to see if you can use dead baits and if so use it.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[This message has been edited by MJ5 (edited 10-23-2002).]

[Steve Foss]

Trout shmout!

OK, got that off my chest and feel better after excreting bile aimed at flyfishing sports with $300 Orvis waders, $600 Sage fly rods, upturned noses and New England accents, when I fish for trout with spinning gear and crawlers.

Saw lots of the sports when I lived high up in Colorado.

Colorado joke: If God wanted Texans to ski, he'd have made bull**** white.

As for the fine points of fly fishing, Norman Mclean who?

Yeah, my disdain says more about me than about the sports, I know.

That being said, if you can't use live bait, use dead, or parts of dead, if you get my meaning.

In the land of the walleye, jigging Rapalas, Northland rattle spoons, Swedish pimples, all the regular lineup, goes standard tipped with a minnow head. My second ice rod always has a live minnow on it, but that's because live is legal and a good option. Active walleyes don't need a completely natural presentation. I've seen them come up 9 feet to hit a tipped spoon, jigging Rap or Cicada blade bait ripped upward.

Good lu ck out West,

------------------
Steve ([email protected])

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 10-23-2002).]

[Guest]

Thanks to all that replied to my question. I am anxious for ice to try these suggestions out using the MR. JIGGER rod holders.

[Guest]

Maggots can be an excellant alternative to minnows. When walleyes are turned off they will frequently outfish minnows. Three years ago on the Saginaw cameras showed the river carpeted with fish. Traditional presentations would only get a sniff. However, small panfish size tears with maggots would catch them. I might add that the largest (I forget the size number, but it is a five inch bait at around 1-11/2 oz.)swed. pimple tipped with maggots also caught some huge fish.

[Rick]

oldjigger,
you might want to try spoons and jigging raps tipped with Berkely Power bait.

The Angel Eye may be a very good spoon to use because of its flutter. It appears to be a wounded minnow whenn jigged properly. The Berkely Power bait on a treble will give it the scent you need to make em bite, after attracting ol' Mr Walleye in with the spoon.

[WallEYES]

OLD JIGGER
I would suggest Nils master jigging shads, and jigging minnows, then the salmo darter, then the northland buchsot spoon in that order. Have a friend go with you and use a jigging shad or darter and you with the spoon. Drill a few holes, Use the jigging shad first to pick out aggresive fish and have your friend come along in the same holes with the spoon or pimple and take all the neutral to negative fish. This method works for me on classic walleye structure such as points, humps,weed edges, and piles. GOOT LUCK

[Guest]

I'd suggest a "Drain Pipe" lure with a piece of cut bait from a trouts belly. but that's another whole topic !