How to Ice Fish For Walleye

Ice fishing for walleye in the winter requires locating the underwater points and structures where the walleye hide during the colder months. The bait and technique used to catch a walleye is going to be different from fishing in other seasons. Walleye anglers prefer to jig rather than use tips ups for fishing. A slow and even jigging will help you catch walleye during the winter when the ice is thick. Follow these steps to catch walleye in winter.

Things You'll Need

• A map of the lake
• Fish locator
• Quarter ounce jig
• Slip bobber jig
• Rapala
• Hex Wobbler
• 3-inch minnows in a bucket
• Ice drill
• Ice house if not going portable
• Fish net
• Bucket for caught fish
• Fishing rod and reel

Instructions

1. The first time out for the year you should be fishing portable. Portable means going out on the lake or river without an ice fishing hut. You will move around the ice using a map to find the underwater structures where the walleye can be hiding. A fish locator works well for ice fishing and locating schools of fish. If you are not going portable, but are taking along the ice fishing hut, find a place where some fish are located and set up the ice house.

2. Look at the map and find the points where the walleye lurk during the winter months. These points will likely be close to the shoreline where the batfish are located. The walleye hide near underwater weeds, rocks and by downed deadwood. They can be in water as deep as 50 feet as well.

3. Drill three or four holes in a 30-foot area. The holes should be easy to get to if a fish bites. The fish locator will help you determine the best locations for the holes and the depth of the water. If using the ice house, only drill one hole.

4. Use a quarter ounce jig spoon with a minnow. The minnow should not be more than three inches during the ice-fishing season. If the walleye are not biting the minnow, use a Rapala or a Hex Wobbler.

5. Jig for the walleye, but do not overdo the jigging. Walleyes move very slow in cold waters. They will not take the bait that is hard to catch. The slip bobber jig works well for ice fishing walleye.

Tips & Warnings

• Carry all the fishing gear on a sled.

• Dress in layers for ice fishing.

• Do not walk on ice that is thin.

• Make sure ice is at least six inches thick.

• Use caution when driving on frozen lakes and rivers.