[oucorry]

Never have ice fished before but a pretty good article about it.

Shallow Water Ice Walleyes


The words “walleye” and “deep water” often go hand-in-hand, and for good reason. Jigging deep holes in rivers, working live bait along deep flats, and trolling crankbaits over deep water for suspended fish are all productive methods for producing walleyes. There are times however, when one needs to associate walleyes with a different word in order to produce action; that word is “shallow”. As there are numerous “deep” bites for walleyes, there are also multiple “shallow” bites as well. One such period for anglers to key in upon for some fine shallow water walleye action is during ice fishing.

One of my favorite ways of catching walleyes through the ice is via tip-ups at night in shallow water; by shallow water I’m referring to depths of 2’-5’. Generally, this shallow bite is best before the ice thickness begins to exceed much more than a foot or so, although give the right conditions I’ve caught walleyes when there was more ice than water! I typically begin my search for flats or shorelines containing some sort of cover be it wood, vegetation, or a combination thereof. While cover is not always necessary for a spot to be productive, it is a good starting point when looking to identify the “hot bites” on your favorite lake, river, or reservoir. Other good area to check out are the saddles between islands or sandbars, shelves extending from the shoreline into deeper water, and shallow spots in close proximity to current breaks or eddies.

Generally speaking, the shallow water bite is best in low-light periods such as early morning or evening or at night. I prefer to begin drilling my holes and setting my tip-ups well before “primetime” in an effort to minimize the spooking of fish. In addition, once the run begins, it’s best to be already set up and prepared to maximize your fishing success. I prefer Frabill Pro-Thermal tip-ups for two reasons for this style of fishing: one, they block any light from streaming down the hole allowing for a more subtle and natural presentation and two, they help prevent your hole from freezing which is especially important when the action is slow or the fish are being finicky. At night good tip-ups lights are a must to detect strikes early. While there are a variety of models on the market, I prefer the Arctic Fire tip-up lights are they are reliable, easy to install, visible from a long distance, and good on batteries – all important qualities when planning on spending an evening on the ice.

In addition to quality tip-ups and tip-up lights, a good headlamp, lantern, and flashlights are important to have on-hand. About the only time you’ll need the extra light sources is when you do not have them – be prepared, it makes for a much more enjoyable and productive time on the ice. As I’ve mentioned in past articles, I always like to drill extra holes initially when setting up. This allows me to hole-hop easily should a particular area prove to be holding more action than another, again maximizing my fish catching time.

Fishing shallow water walleyes through the ice is an exciting way to score on some of the most overlooked action of the season. In addition, the bite is one of the better opportunities for scoring with a true trophy while on the hard water! When it comes to the big ones, let ‘em go and let ‘em grow. I’ll see you on the water

[birdman]

Good read.. Walleye fishing on the hard water has always given me trouble. I can never seem to get a good pattern on them. I've caught a few, but never as good as when we target during open water.

[oucorry]

I have never tried ice fishing before, I just don't think that would be my cup of tea.

[shortbus]

I don't know man, sitting in a chair in one place drinking cold beer and BSing, sheltered from the elements if need be, sounds like a good time to me.

[birdman]

Coop hit it right on the head. It's more "ice drinking" than anything. J/K, it's really quite the experience. Pretty darn amusing when you get into using the underwater cameras and sonar.

[walleye4]

Originally Posted by oucorry

I have never tried ice fishing before, I just don't think that would be my cup of tea.

Ahh, come on! Next winter head north and I'll take you on the ice. I have all the gear and could take you along for a day of crappies, wipers, and walleye.

I'll donate the first trip but will have to charge a GUIDE fee for additional trips.Just razzing, I don't guide. Your welcome anytime!

[birdman]

Dang walleye4, that's one hell of a sled of death !!!!! And that crappie in the first pick is a brute.. Dang near as big as the smallie. I've never had any luck here in Colorado on icing smallies. Is there a go to bait you would recommend or just your usual spoons / jigs tipped with wax or mealies?

[walleye4]

Originally Posted by birdman

And that crappie in the first pick is a brute.. Dang near as big as the smallie. I've never had any luck here in Colorado on icing smallies.

There is no smallies in the pics man. These are just crappies and Wipers. There isn't many smallies in this next of the woods. But for the wipers, we use jigs & spoons.

[oucorry]

Man, what a day!! I might have to change my cup of tea

[birdman]

Should have paid more attention i guess. Do you ever hook into many largemouths on the ice or mainly wipers because they tend to school more?