Top tactics for ice ‘eyes revealed

Winter walleyes pack on weight

Ice fishing for walleyes is gaining in popularity throughout the walleye-fishing world. The reasons for the spike in popularity vary from angler to angler, but there are two reasons that seem common among most ice-fishing fanatics. First, ice fishing gives folks in the frigid north something to do after football season is over. Second, and most important, you can catch hogs through the ice.

Walleyes pack on a ton of weight in the fall in preparation for the winter, and their spawning ritual is in the early spring. So now is the time that they are plump and might offer you the opportunity to hook the fish of your lifetime, or at least give you an excuse to not be plowing your driveway.

There are numerous ice-fishing techniques to use when pursuing walleyes. However, three standout methods are to use a Jigging Rapala, a Northland Rattling Buckshot Spoon, or a slip-bobber and bait.

Jigging Rapala

“I think the Jigging Rapala tipped with a minnow is one of the best lures for catching walleyes through the ice,” said Crestliner pro Scott Fairbairn of Hagar City, Wis. “Hook the minnow through the skull first and out the lower jaw. This is very important to action of the bait. Sometimes just the Rapala alone is sufficient.

“With this bait you can tease the fish up,” he said. “If you see a fish on your sonar come in to look, lift the Rapala a few inches and then just wiggle your rod tip subtly. If nothing bites, raise your lure a few more inches and continue. Do this until the fish loses interest and then drop back down.”

Northland Rattling Buckshot Spoon

“I will use a Northland Rattling Buckshot Spoon with or without bait,” Fairbairn said. “If I use bait, I will usually use just the head of a minnow on the hook.”

Use a retrieve similar to the one you use with a Jigging Rapala.

“It is pretty much the same routine here as the Rapala, but pay attention to the stroke,” Fairbairn said. “Let the fish tell you what they want. Sometimes a jiggle-jiggle-jiggle followed by an aggressive pop-and-drop will trigger a reaction bite.”

Slip-bobber

“I use either a plain hook with split shot above or a jighead to present a minnow,” Fairbairn said. “Many states you can fish multiple lines, so setting one up as a dead rod makes sense and accomplishes two things.

“I have watched fish on an underwater camera come in and look at a big shiner on the dead rod and then become triggered by the rod I’m working,” he said. “In short, the bobber rig becomes a decoy. Sometimes the bobber rig will fire off repeatedly telling you the fish want your presentation to be very subtle.”

Structures

Traditional structures are still worth hitting while ice fishing, but Fairbairn said he feels basin or flat areas are tops when chasing ‘eyes during the middle of the day.

“I suggest you look for basin or flats areas to fish during the middle of the day,” Fairbairn said. “Be prepared to be mobile. You will want to be on the move looking for aggressive fish. Give it 15 minutes, and if you don’t catch any fish, move on.”

Target walleye highways when the light is low.

“During the low-light periods, seek out a place to park on a walleye feeding route,” Fairbairn said. “At dark the fish will make a short feeding foray along a favorite feeding route – usually a breakline, rock pile or dying weedline.

“Position yourself in an area that you know the fish will be coming by and stay put,” he said. “Too many fishing opportunities are missed at this time of day by moving around instead of waiting.”