walleyes that won't bite

[Panfish Killer]

Went out tonight looking for some eyes, caught one pike and had many eyes come in and look. Was using a plain hook with both a shinner or rainbow. Also used a silver and a gold buck shot rattler with a minnow head still no luck. Is their a certain way to jig these? Any help would be great. Thanks!

[pdk511]

I know same here, I was marking them all over the bottom today and I couldent get one to bite! A cammera would have been usefull for that. Maby it was just the wrong time or sumthin...im not sure

[Panfish Killer]

I tried my aqua vu but the lake I was on is very dirty and it is hard to see. When it got went to the fl18

[Deitz Dittrich]

Could have been the weather. IF the fish are not feeding, there is not a whole lot you can do.

Next time you have this happen and you get fish to look, try teasing them up higher off the bottom. If you can get a fish 3-4 feet off the bottom you can sometime turn a looker into a biter.

[Gadgetman]

I have had the similar situation, but without the camera you just dont know. I finally caught one of "them" and it turned out to be a rock bass...

[EBass]

This sounds like Tonka.

[riverrat56]

Lots of things you can try, but like Deitz said, if they aren't hungry they won't bite.

Some things to try though:

Switch to "panfish" tactics, use very small jigs and wax worms, eurolarva, minnow tails, or plastics; the "After dinner mint theory"

Downsize to a smaller jig of the same type, I would recommend a 1/32 Forage Minnow spoon, tipped with a minnow head. When walleyes get finicky the first thing I do is ditch the jigs that rattle, even a change from a Buckshot spoon to a Forage Minnow spoon can make all the differnce. I stick to a few proven colors as I don't think it is a huge differnce maker for walleyes, these would be red, green, and any metalic (gold or silver)

Another trick I have used for finicky walleyes is to switch it up to a small Swedish pimple, but I will use either a snap or put another split ring on the top eye. This gives the jig 2 points to pivot on, when snaped up it will tip to the side and shoot outwards on the fall. Small jigging raps or Chubby Darters can also work in this situation, but I prefer to use a 'Pimple

As far as jigging motion goes, I will usually jig fairly aggressivly until a fish shows up on the screen. The last thing you want to do is stop jigging completly as that is what got the fishes attention in the first place, but I will slow down and only twitch the jig, moving it less than an inch upwards. If the fish will raise up to the jig but then sits there and won't hit, sometimes very slowly but steadily raising this jig up a few feet will get the fish to chase the jig and hit it thinking that an easy meal is escaping. If that doesn't work, I will drop the jig to the bottom and pound it on the bottom a few times, then let it sit partially on the bottom, but take up some of the weight, so it is sitting at an angle.

Sometimes it just takes moving to find some active fish, but this should give you a few things to try!

[ziinyalove]

thanks, riverrat... very good advice here. can't wait to try out your tactics. went walleye fishing yesterday and we got a lot of interested nibbles and tugs, but no catches...

[riverrat56]

If you even get a chance to sight fish walleyes, you can learn alot about sensing bites and when to set the hook. tThey will nose up to the bait and then flair their gills and suck it in (most times), if you have on too heavy of a spoon they cannot inhale the bait as far and you will get "short strikes". Alot of bites you will only feel as there is no weight at all, not a tap or pull like normally thought.

Welcome to FM btw!

[Jim Almquist]

I am with riverat56

Downsize the bait and lure and be aware that they might not bite but will inhale your bait without you feeling a thing so if it looks like it is ON your lure lift your jig real slow and be ready to set if if feel any tension. The amount of time it will inhale and exhale might be just a couple of seconds. I have used a 3/16oz ballhead jig with just a minnow head with some luck when the bite is tough.

[Team Otter]

Nicely done Nick.

[Panfish Killer]

Thanks riverrat, this is my first time fishing walleyes, besides lake of the woods, in the winter. Maybe next time (sat) I can get a few. My wife has never caught a walleye and she gives me [PoorWordUsage] when I know i have a good spot, but don't catch the fish

[ziinyalove]

thanks, glad to be here! lotsa good advice here. maybe I can sight fish, if we try the shallower water... which sounds like may be a good bet this time of year.