EOM Saturday, Slow But No Complaints!

[thebuckmaster]

Shack was up and lines were in at 7:20am.
My partner gets a good one on right off the bat but a no show on the ice.
Alot of fish showing up on the Vex. Alot of real lite hits but nothing staying on.
At 8:55am on the still rod I get some lite taps so I set the hook and fish on.
First fish ends up being a 24" walleye on the still rod with a chubby darter. 9:25am I end up getting a 19" walleye on the still rod with the chubby darter.
A few more lite hits on the jigging rod and that was it for my partner and I, called it a day at 11:30am.
Alot of fish and I mean alot showing up on the Vex all morning, I guess they did not like what we had to offer today.
Ended up with two and all in all thats a great day fishing in my books on a tough day.  

[Ac]

The fish that were light biting and driving your Vex nuts are the Goldeye...like a carpet on the bottom this winter. Nice fish caught though....deadsticking a Chubby 

[WALLYWHACKER]

just curiuos if you guys have tried leaving your bail open on your reel and holding your line with your finger  and dropping the line to free spool for 10-15 seconds the moment you see your line move to the side or feel a lite take.Then close the bail and set the hook. If your not,try it and see how many more fish you hook. let us know.

[Ac]

Unless the fish hit really hard hit I will let the fish run. When I feel a lttle tick I lower the rod tip....then flip my bail...let line out...flip bail back and wait. It is kind of a crap shoot when to set the hook....with loose line you can't tell if anything is there. Usually usually five seconds then set !!!

[WALLYWHACKER]

Thats  8) i know when there stealing minnows and biting very lite up here the walleyes will take out line for up to 20 seconds, a couple inches at a time and you'll still only hook them in the snout.

[Jiffy]

 WTG at EOM man good to hear that you caught some nice Walleye.

[thebuckmaster]

I agree with Ac it is kind of a crap shoot.
I always like keep some sort of slight tension so I can feel whats going on.
To answer WW, I have tried free bailing and agree if you free bail fot 15-20 sec. then set the hook, works but this bite was very very lite even for the seasoned pro.
The bites were not just goldeyes, I've been dealing with those goldeyes all winter.
Interesting feedback, thanks guys.

[HOS]

I will try that...  Always willing to learn differant techniques when it comes to icefishing for Mr. & Mrs. Walleye.... 

[firefighter]

Depends how much lure one is using. Tend to carry lite baits off but in current with say 3/8 oz. jigs I've had smaller walleye drop the bait. Just my two cents.

FF

[thebuckmaster]

As far as jigs are concerned I don't use lighter than 3/8 oz. on the red cause I am not targeting goldeye and also because of the current.
I agree with FF that smaller walleye will definitely drop large jigs.