Walleye are found in almost every body of water, and because they’re so willing to feed no matter what time or season it is– even during winter when others tend herbivores- walleye often top records for largest catches. The world record currently stands at just under 20 pounds, but most weigh about one pound per hookup, bringing their total weight up close to 40+ pounds. how to catch walleye ice fishing? If you love fishing, then it’s worth targeting these tasty fish. They fight well and taste significant fried or baked–both factors that make them an enticing target for anglers wherever they are found across America.
Walleye fishing can be a great way to spend time in cold weather, and this guide will show you how. There are plenty of opportunities for catching walleyes through the ice with a rod or line on any panfish bait (though we’ll focus most intensely there). Get ready!
How To Catch Walleye Ice Fishing
To catch a walleye, you need to keep a few things in mind. Here are they:
Pick The Right Place
Walleyes are not inactive during winter – they change their usual activity patterns. To catch them, you’ll have to provide different tactics from what worked in the summer months due to the changing seasons and unpredictable weather conditions that come with it. Walleyes are typically found in deeper water during early winter and first ice, but this isn’t always the case. If you’re looking for where you might locate these fish, look out for shallow lakes with steep drop-off areas that have large amounts of deep open water very close to shorelines as well.
Walleyes are a great fish to catch during winter because they feed heavily on insects and other bugs that come around this time of year. Look for shorelines near lakes where streams enter the water source as these will be more warm-water destinations than cold ones with lower swimming conditions.
Pick The Right Time
Ice fishing for walleye is an art form that you can do at any time of day, but the best times to fish would involve mornings and evenings when light changing makes it difficult enough without adding sun glare on top. You’re looking for periods where there’s limited visibility due (in part)to ice crystals forming around objects like trees or rocks in waterways. For example, these areas will produce more than others with less clarity because freezing temperatures overnight have insulated them.
Walleye are always on the move, but it’s easy for your bait and technique if you know where they like to hang out during low-light conditions. When dawn or dusk comes around in this period, walleyes will head up towards sunken islands or points, making them perfect prey! Hitting those feeding windows with an early morning rise means more fish than ever.
Pick The Right Baits and Lures
Walleye are predators that feed on smaller fish. The primary forage could be anything from smelt or baitfish, but they’re typically Yellow Perch and Spot Tail Shiner (or Gizzards). If you want to find some nearby potential prey mentalities in your area, go ahead and identify what types live around here.
The best way to get them on your line is by using natural baits. These can include nightcrawlers or minnows, but sometimes it’s better to try something different for that one big strike! Catching walleye during winter requires vibration with movement, so lures like jigging plastics will work well; these also have swim action, which makes setup easy. Just attach some weights according to how deep water covers around their area (less than 10 feet usually suffice).
Walleye fishing in the winter is much more aggressive than during summer. To maximize your success, try combining these lures with small pieces of natural bait like nightcrawlers or leeches to add some smell and taste! If allowed for live baiting purposes, use shiners instead – they’re just as effective but don’t hassle the fish too much when attached next-to other types such as minnows so it won’t spook them away from their favorite food source soon enough.
Walleyes are known for their acute vision, and it’s no different with this fish. Research has shown that they can perceive colors better than others depending on what kind of light source you use them in: reds seem more intense than oranges or yellows; green appears to be right up there next to blue as one of the best choices when targeting these intelligent creatures. You don’t want it to be too dark or light, so make sure you pick either reds or oranges depending on how clear water is where it is located about other colors (lightness).
Use Right Tackle & Equipment
Walleyes are one of the most challenging fish to catch, but it’s possible with just about any rod and reel combo. In wintertime, you’ll want a fast action piece that can handle ice-cold waters. Reel setup is also necessary when fishing during this period because your line will get brittle if it’s not strong enough or break at all, depending on how thickly coated by snowfall was last year (or whatever). I recommend choosing an action rod with fast line speed like 28″ length rods to avoid getting stuck while fighting fish due to their blindness.
When choosing a line, don’t forget that you need an extra-cold weather environment and the proper equipment for ice fishing! 1000 size should be enough to get your heart racing. And make sure not only do I have my rod ready but also some fresh baits in tow.
When fishing walleyes on icy waters, an 8-pound monofilament line is enough to take care of your needs. The stretchiness will ease the shock and stress when fish bites aggressively, so you can get in some suitable ice holes before it’s too late! Add leaders with swivels for an easy cleanup strategy after each catch.
Final Words
Whether it’s for walleye or any other type of fish, many tips can help you catch them. However, not all will work in every environment, and some might even be harmful to your game. You can apply walleye tips for ice fishing in any type of water with just minor adjustments on-the-spot. Get to know your local area and try using methods that work best for it – such as luring or bait presentations.
