Ice Fishing for Eelpout

[maros91]

Anyone ever target these? I have only caught a fair number while fishing walleyes, mostly dead sticking with a fat head about a foot off the bottom. Whats the best way to catch an eelpout? Any jigs? The ones I have caught put up a decent fight. When I go to Lake of the Woods I catch some after dark but is there "go to" way of catching one after another. I here they are "poor mans lobster" but I have never tried it. Just want to catch and release.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Biff, I have never purposely tried to go out and catch them but typically deeper water the better on LOW. They are bottom feeders so stick close to the bottom. Some of the other LOW veterans might have some better advice for you. As far as table fair goes... it's some of the best on the lake in my opinion. Fillet the back straps off of them and cube them up in about 1"x1" chunks and boil em'. Then dip them in melted butter!! They really are delicious! Oh by the way they put up one heck of a fight if you hook a good one. The biggest one I have had on was 13lbs. it was a good time!

[looneyducer]

Look for hard bottom on any structure that holds walleyes during the day, and then deadstick and jig with anything that glows at night.

[Northlander]

Glow spoons and jigs with minnow parts or smelt parts. Scent is key. Bang bottom to draw them in. If they come up and look but wont hit get some fresh bait on. Some of the scent pastes work well for pout. A feathered jig with scent in the feathers seems to hold scent better and get ya hits when you have lost your bait.