| One of the first steps to successful wintertime walleye | | | | appearance from the walleye, pick up and move to |
| fishing relies on understanding weather figures into the | | | | the next hole. However, if you see walleye hanging |
| equation just as it does in the summer. Another | | | | around your hole but not biting, then takes things |
| essential tool is lighting conditions. Walleye go into | | | | one-step further. Use more vibrantly colored lures with |
| frenzy over low light settings. This is similar to what | | | | more action. Keep in mind that walleye move slower in |
| occurs during an overcast day in the summer. Walleye | | | | the winter. So does their attention span. You might |
| have a keener sense of lighting than their favorite | | | | have to keep at one lure a little bit longer than normal |
| baitfish snack. So times of lower light levels are prime | | | | in order to attract the walleye's attention. |
| feeding opportunities for them. | | | | Tips |
| Start winter ice fishing season off on smaller lakes and | | | | When fishing for walleye, it is always a good idea to |
| slowly work your way inward as the season | | | | vary the size, shape and color of bait you are using. |
| progresses. This method follows the principle that a | | | | This holds true for ice fishing as well. Any lure in |
| small lake is going to freeze over much sooner than a | | | | chartreuse, silver or black is effective for ice fishing. |
| big lake. Therefore, your ice-fishing season naturally | | | | Another popular lure color selection is rainbow trout. |
| extends. Steps At the start, ice levels are thinner and | | | | Go an extra step in hooking bait by using a bigger |
| mostly snow covered. For that time, it is best to work | | | | treble hook. This will let you place a minnow on the |
| one ice hole spot so as not to spook walleye that | | | | hook and still have that all-important wiggle room left |
| might be lounging just below the surface. As your | | | | over. Creating natural minnow replication using this |
| ice-fishing season moves into full swing, cover as | | | | method will go a long way in attracting walleye |
| much ice ground as possible in those first trips out. | | | | attention in the wintertime. |
| January and February are the ideal months to begin | | | | Another ice-fishing tip is to minimize the amount of |
| moving around. By now, the ice levels on the lakes are | | | | jigging action you actually do. Keep action in tune with |
| thick enough that walleye will not hear you coming. | | | | the reaction of the walleye. The slower movement of |
| Use a depth finder to help determine where the fish | | | | walleye in the winter will make slower jig movements |
| are hanging out under the ice. Once you feel that a | | | | on your part more successful. Do not expect the |
| good area is located, begin making hole openings. With | | | | walleye to give a big chase for bait. Keep it slow and |
| the hole now open, check water depth levels. Move | | | | simple. This is how walleye conduct life during the cold |
| approximately fifty feet in either direction and make a | | | | winter months. When you must have a slight jigging |
| new hole. Check the water levels in the new hole. | | | | motion to your bait, try to pair it with the sound of |
| Make a note if the levels are getting shorter or longer. | | | | rattles. |
| This will let you know whether you are moving | | | | To do this, you can use a rattling hook to send sound |
| towards shallow or deeper waters. An ideal ice fishing | | | | waves resonating through the icy waters. This new |
| setup will have several holes spanning various water | | | | sound will spark the interest of walleye and bring them |
| depth levels. Now it is time to start ice fishing. | | | | in your direction. Sometimes the easy meal trap is the |
| Notice the action going on around the hole you have | | | | most successful one. |
| created. After about five minutes and no visible | | | | |