Walleye questions.

[Fishing_Rookie_123_]

The other afternoon I was out and I managed to hook a monster walleye (I lost him at the hole, but he was WAAAY bigger than the 24"er that I caught last fall). Catching this fish made me come up with a couple of questions about walleyes:

1. Do big walleyes school up with other big walleyes? Or do the really big walleyes roam around solo?

2. Do individual walleyes stick to one area, or will they roam the whole lake?

I'm just wondering if it was just dumb luck that I caught this fish where I did or should I expect to catch more big walleyes from this spot.

Thanks-Randy.

[prov1900]

OK, I have never caught one through the ice as I don't really fish for them that much..through the ice. I catch plenty during the soft water season and to answer your four questions...yes to all. A 24 inch walleye is a big fish, regardless of the bigger one that got away. A 30 inch fish will certainly "hang out" with a 24 incher. Big walleyes school, big walleyes hang out solo. Certain areas of the lake attract big fish/all fish during ice season, or as far as that is concerned, during soft water season too. Big walleyes/all walleyes will also roam large areas as well. Wouldn't call it "dumb luck" at all. Sounds like you got a honey hole. Mind giving me the GPS coordinates? Just kidding.

[Fishing_Rookie_123_]

That's exactly what I want to hear. I caught this fish on a small lake where I regularly see people fishing on top of my holes from the day before (usually in some random spot that I was checking out without any luck...in fact, I decided to fish this spot because somebody had set up directly on my spot from the day before). Unfortunately, because of this, now I have to get stealth on the way I fish this spot.

[EyeSkater]

I just don't know if there is any particular way to target big walleyes under ice...finding them that is. Being ON walleyes is the issue. Then maximize your odds by fishing early, late, and all day too! To a large extent it's like deer hunting for huge bucks. You find the deer...you try to do everything right...and you hunt as hard as you can. Nothing will ever take the place of time spent staring down into your ice hole.

The other thing, as you've recently found, is getting the fish up on top after hookup. When I know I've got a 9+ lb 'eye on the hook I actually calm way down. I make sure the hook is well set and then I fight the fish patiently. I'm in no hurry to force the issue and have a wild thrashing/lunging trophy walleye at the bottom of my hole. I fight them until they tire and then gently lead them into the hole. I use my scoop to assist in lifting the fish out of the water...I'm 100% against gaffs, with the exception of a lip gaff maybe. I love looking at a glistening-wet 10# walleye with no injuries or blood on it. Just a cusomized Do-Jigger hanging from her jaw. Ahhh yes!

'Eye-Skater

[TCon17]

I had been catching crappies and sunfish all day with a nephew and a had a tip up out on a particular outing. I had gotten a bunch of northerns through out the day, as the sun went down, i caught a 31" eye on my crapppie rod on a small jiggin rap. havent caught another out there yet. So sometimes it is dumb luck, unless they are always there and i just cant catch another one, which is probably my luck.