Keeping Walleyes on

[Guest]

Do you guys have ever trouble with Walleyes coming off when they reach the hole? I have been jigging for Walleyes a lot in the last couple seasons. I seem to lose a lot of them nearthe hole. They hit the edge oif the ice or they come up under the ice a little ways fom the hole and they bounce off. I am using 1/2 ounce sidewinders and
I try to be as careful on the reel in as I can. Do any of you use trailer hooks? Any tips in keeping them on?

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Rob Taylor
www.bendmyrod.com

[Steve Foss]

Some guys like the coning attachments for their auger, which makes an angled-out cut at the bottom of the hole like an upside-down funnel.

I keep the pressure on when I see the fish near the hole. If it's just an eater, most tackle is heavy enough to get the nose pointed toward the hole and haul it up and out without fooling around. I've had the most trouble when I've tried to baby a fish coming toward the hole.

Of course, if you've got on a bigger fish, what I just said doesn't mean squat.

Also, when using a Jiggin Rap or one of the similar lures, I always snip off the front and rear hooks, because they always seem to catch on the bottom of the hole, and all the fish I've caught on them get hooked by the treble, anyway.

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 12-08-2002).]

[Wables]

I started losing fewer when I swiched to 10" holes. It makes it easier to get them turned up so you aren't fooling around with them near the hole.

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Wables

[Steve Foss]

I cut 10-inch holes too. Maybe that's why I don't have much trouble.

[Lunker]

another thing you could to is to cary an ice chisel like those you use at first ice or some thing like it and widen the bottom of the hole out so that you can get 'em to come through easier.

[Guest]

Yeah I will try that but my problem is not getting them through. It's more tht when they first get to the top and bump the ice they fall off. Sometimes that's a foot from the hole. I think the one guy above may be correct. I may be babying them too much. Might be better to get em there and get em out. I don't know. Some days they have that castmaster all the way down there throat and others it is barely in them.
Thanks for all the advice everyone

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Rob Taylor
www.bendmyrod.com

[Valv]

I have trouble sometimes too at the hole if they are not hooked well. I mostly fish using a small jig inserted into back of minnow, I noticed when jig is too small, and the point doesn't stick out much from minnow, it won't "hook" fish well and I loose it at the hole. If you have a very light line you have to "baby" them a little, otherwise with a heavier line.....just bring them in.

[Guest]

That's another thing. I always put a small piece of a minnow on the back of my castmaster but I think it cannot be too big. Just a small piece that does not hang way off the hook. That I think has caused me trouble as well. A lot of guys swear by not putting a piece of a minnow on it and it probably works for Walleye. I do not have much like on perch, crappie, and bass without some flavor on there however.

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Rob Taylor
www.bendmyrod.com

[Jim W]

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Didn't read al of the replies, but my suggestion would be to get away from "sidw winding" lures.

SHort story: Several years ago, I was fishing with a few buddies on LOTW.
I was the only one using a jigging rapala, but I was getting the most action(at that time).
To make it shorter, I lost waaay more fish at the hole than the others who were using spoons.
Yah, I tried cutting the nose and tail hooks off etc, but the design of the lure made for more hook-ups on the edge of my hole. With regular spoons like the Angel eye, once on, rarely will they come off.

It does happen, but not as much!

Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W