Ice
Fishing for Walleye
When it comes to fishing for
walleye, you don't need to wait for spring, summer, or fall to come.
You can fish right through the cold, hard ice.
What Ice Anglers Do
If you are truly a serious ice angler, you should watch out for the
early formation of ice. You should also be religious enough to watch
it transform slowly into ice. Once it happens, you need to wait a
little longer, perhaps a couple of weeks, before walleye will start
to gather underneath. Normally, their bite will soon disappear and
the oxygen level will disappear. Your best solution will be to look
for where the fish move and get to them.
Factors that Affect Movements of Walleye
There are many factors that can affect the movements of walleye
during the winter. For instance, they have the tendency to move into
deeper water. This may be due to the dropping water temperature.
They can fall into the preferred and the maximum temperature of 39
degrees Fahrenheit.
There is also shortened daytime coupled with snow cover and ice.
This will tremendously destroy aquatic vegetation. It will cause the
weeds to turn brown until they wilt and die. The elimination of
weeds can mean the loss of their food source and protective cover.
Walleye also tend to move deeper when they are bothered by different
types of fishing traffic. This includes the passage of snowmobiles,
cars, and noisy trucks. Any ruckus happening on the top of the lake
will force the walleye fish to dig deep.
How to Find Them
So you can truly succeed with walleye ice fishing, you should know
when to hit the iced water. In fact, you may have to settle for a
late trip during the winter. At this time, walleye fish will be
preparing themselves as they are about to spawn during the spring.
The challenge, however, is ice fishing in the middle of dead winter.
You will have to think of the water below as well as the movements
of the fish during the day. What makes it worse is that even if
there are predators, walleye fish may not be active at all.
Your best solution is to be truly flexible in locating the walleye
when you are ice fishing. You should permit yourself to move from
one location to another. This is because the fish do move all
throughout the day, and you should be able to follow their path.
Know Where They Will Likely Spawn
When late winter starts to set in, walleye will travel. They will be
looking for specific locations where they can spawn. If you are
aware of their migration routes, you can start digging the holes and
wait for the walleye to come.
If you know where they will likely spawn, it will be very easy for
you to catch them. This is because once the water temperature starts
to heat up and they began moving into the area, they are usually
hungry and will be happy to take a bite of your bait.
When Is the Best Time to Fish?
The best time to ice fish for walleye is during late evening or
early in the morning. The reason may not be mainly because of the
walleye but because there could be so many anglers during the middle
of the day. You need to ease out on the competition.
You will also be extremely helpful if you can dig holes in different
locations and in varying lengths. You shouldn't expect that you will
be able to get them when you settle for similar levels.
Equipment to Use
Don't use a lighter line. This is because when you cut a hole, you
may be creating jagged edges. This will make your line very
susceptible to breakage. Heavier line will work best even if you're
seeking average-sized walleye.
Many anglers use the jigging technique to attract walleye. And
because they will be extremely hungry around this time, they may be
somewhat aggressive during their feeding frenzy. It's wise therefore
to make use of a bait and a lure that possess flash or vibration.
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