Walleye Questions

[blackmer826]

How far does everyone set their minnows off bottom? 2ft? also heard like 6 inches off bottom?

[jgouldin]

I go 1 to 2 feet of the bottom.

[blackmer826]

thanks. Anyone ever get them a few feet below the ice?

[Whopper Stopper]

thanks. Anyone ever get them a few feet below the ice?

  I do when fishing in 6 feet of wter 

              WS

[slipperybob]

Not all walleyes are bottom huggers though.

[blackmer826]

.......

[Hooked]

I usually go within 6 inches.

But it depends on the action, if nothing I set it a bit higher, or bottom bounce, really just gotta see what they're interested in.

[blackmer826]

thanks everyone

[Captain1978]

I always set mine between 2'-3' off bottom.  in deeper water. 1' if in shallow water. Only because if they aren't right on bottom they can see up and out better than they can see down.

[fishinjohn]

I try to vary my tip ups when im out... my depths range from 6'' off bottom to a foot.. usually not any higher than a foot

[Walleye_Slayer]

Depends on the depth..if I'm fishing les than 15 fow I set them 2-3 feet of bottom. If I'm fishing 20-30 feet of water I set them 5-10 feet off bottom..
I've had a lot of success jigging And setting tipups higher in the water column than what is "normal".. I'd even go as far as to say I catch more fish.. Walleyes generally hug bottom but they look up.. They can see bait easily if it's 10 feet off the bottom and if they want it they have no problem swimming up for it.. Sometimes I think it's even easier for them to pick out a struggling minnow or jig if it's five feet above them.. I've seen it many times when jigging where fish will scream off the bottom and rush to hit a jig 10 feet up.
Hope that helps

[thndrvlly]

Also depends on weeds, always above weeds, I never drop bait in weeds,unless I know for a fact there's a open area in weeds, if not hit the weed line, depending on depth of water I'm usually a foot off bottom

[Devilwood]

I set them just above the depth that I'm seeing fish.  If I'm not seeing fish, I'll set them about a foot off of the bottom.

[icedrill]

are you guys using tip ups with live minnows?  what hooks and leaders?  never fished walleye with tip ups, just pike

[fishinjohn]

Live minnows! Read some of the other threads on structure/hook size.. most questions are answered

[Vtgooseman]

2' at the most.

[steelheader]

Was catching some last week suspended 15 to 20 feet off bottom ( lake Ontario ) fishing in 42 feet , coming in suspended and very aggressive . I think some of this was due to fishing just off a very sharp break with a 20 foot basin above it and the fish were coming off that , " driving " bait off the flat into open water , just something to think about around sharp breaks .

[husb0023]

I find them about half way in the water column near really steep drops as well.  Normally 15' in 50' of water

[buck 1]

Was catching some last week suspended 15 to 20 feet off bottom ( lake Ontario ) fishing in 42 feet , coming in suspended and very aggressive . I think some of this was due to fishing just off a very sharp break with a 20 foot basin above it and the fish were coming off that , " driving " bait off the flat into open water , just something to think about around sharp breaks .

  where is lake ontario locked up enough to ice fish on  ?

[steelheader]

Over 30% of ontario has ice on it , chaumont , guffin , henderson .... etc.

[ESOXAC]

Any thoughts on fishing march eyes in moderate current on the st lawrence near lake ontario?  Appreciate any input.  Thanks!

[conesuscrab]

1-2 feet off the bottom.  Small single hook with a fluorescent bead above.