new to walleye ice fishin

[tomjay]

I live in upstate NY and have gotten many good hints from this site.  During Late Jan. to early Feb., what depthe are the eyes hanging in?  Should I go shallow? or Deep?  Max depth of where I fish is around 45 ft. with lots of perch and sunfish in this lake.

[Water Wolf]

During mid winter walleye typically are deep throughout the day and venture into shallower water early morning and in the evening. If there is heavy snowfall or thick ice to reduce light penetration you may get extended periods on the morning bite or even a mid-day bite. Try around the steepest dropoff going into deep water and look for structure like rock live weeds etc. In the evening try the same areas just shallower like 6-10 feet.
Also if you can find where the perch are you should have walleye close by.
Be careful though, the ice get thinner the further out on the lake you go.

WW

[tomjay]

Thank you for the reply... new to the site and you're the only one to offer advice.  Been fishin my whole life, but ice fishin is new to me.. seems a bit like luck.. like playin poker with no chance to raise on a bluff... but as I'm findin out, there are good things you can do... I have other questions, but I figure I'll not hog the site with my questions right now... thanks again...

[Pasquatch]

I would like to echo WW's advice, that's pretty solid advice to follow. Just go and read the other threads on walleye on here, there's alot of good info if you take some time to read it.

Feel free to ask questions, that's what makes this site great.

Your best chances will be to go in low light conditions, near dropoffs and weedbeds.

What types of tackle are you pursuing them with?

[tomjay]

I would like to echo WW's advice, that's pretty solid advice to follow. Just go and read the other threads on walleye on here, there's alot of good info if you take some time to read it.

Feel free to ask questions, that's what makes this site great.

Your best chances will be to go in low light conditions, near dropoffs and weedbeds.

What types of tackle are you pursuing them with?

We have been mostly using tip ups with single hooks and 2-3" shiners...I've since switched to #12 trebles and 6' of pline leader.. seems this is the recommended set up and I have yet to get out to try it due to the weather.  My buddies and I have always (well, the 5 times I've been out) fished 6" off bottom in anywhere from 10-25 ft... we catch a couple here and there, but were mostly losing hits.. I blame that on the single hooks we were using.

[tomjay]

still trying to navigate around to figure out replies, so I'll try this way.  I've been out 5 times with my buddies who claim to know alot about ice fishing, but according to what I'm reading here, they don't know JACK!!  I've since switched from black braid line tied to a number 8 single hook and a big butt sinker, to a #12 treble with six foot of 8# p line leader and a #3 split shot.  They also claim that 6" off bottom is the only way to go, but I'm going to stagger 1', 3', 5' tip ups off 12-20' of water.. see how that works... does this sound like a plan?  We are fishing a pretty severe drop off from shore.. goes from 3' to 35' in about 25 yards.. They also yank the bejesus out of the set when they have a hit... should I be doing a more gentle set, especially with that 8# leader?  any help would be appreciated as I'm sick of listening to their smack.. I always seem to catch the least..

[Water Wolf]

Your new setup sounds better.
If you can I would try your setup on a dead stick rod. Just set your rod in a rod holder and watch your line and rod tip once you see a bit of a pull or a tap gently test it for weigh, not too much or the walleye will feel you and drop the bait. Once you feel the weight set the hook. I have found this easier than the tip-ups. If you want to go with your tip-ups try circle hooks. With a circle hook just start pulling up and the fish should hook it's self due to the hooks unusual shape, no need for a hard hookset.
Just some food for thought

WW

[bwalleye]

I've been out 5 times with my buddies who claim to know alot about ice fishing, but according to what I'm reading here, they don't know JACK!! 


Me too.  I have had to unlearn a whole bunch of stuff.

Good fishing..Share how you are doing

[esox slayer]

TomJay...I'm a rookie when it comes to eyes through  the ice as well, and I live up near Chaumont Bay.  Pike I can get, perch I can get, walleyes I have to learn and I've learned a lot on here from these guys, as soon as we get ice I know a spot where the ledges drop off deep and fast, good rocky bottom and perch are plenty..it should be prime area.....send me a personal message (pm) and I'll fill you in...Esox...

[Jim111]

I'm certainly no expert (at anything) but I tend to catch fish. MY "trick", if one exists is to fish solely at night for 'eyes, using tip-ups and in shallow, but near deeper water. We generally get there a couple hours before dark each afternoon to give ourselves plenty of time to set-up and even cut extra holes for later on, or if we get a "hot hole". That way, we won't make noise after dark. They will begin to move into the shallows right at dark usually and get shallower as the night wears on. We often fish until midnight even, if we have to, to limit out. I use tip-ups with a 5-foot mono leader and #6 or #4 Eagle Claw baitholders and live minnows in various sizes. We seldom have a bait any more than a foot or two off bottom and are usually set-up in anywhere from 7-10 feet of water, with some shallower, some deeper, for early and late bites. By 10:00 PM or later, they are often in lessthan five feet of water. We generally will move tip-ups in shallower, as the evening progresses. We use a sweeping arm motion (never a jerk) to set the hook and often allow the fish to take the bait several minutes, if it's not really flying off the spool. Smaller fish often sit right by the hole with it, bigger fish will run. We unhook and release fish right in the hole, if we plan to release them. If the hook isn't immediately visible, we just snip the line with scissors, as close to the mouth as possible, and don't handle the fish to be released or even haul it from the hole. Never pull a fish from the hole by the line, if you expect it to be released and survive. Good luck. I have all out tips-ups rigged with a one-inch wide strip of reflective tape around the tops of the tip-ups and a 1.5-inch square stapled in place on either side of the flag. You can then check for flags easily and from a distance, using a cordless, handheld spotlight. Walleyes see just fine in the dark and lights near or at a hole can drive them off.  If it's illegal to nightfish where you live, try to plan trips on low-light days or during storms or just at the start of one. Good luck. -Jim

[WALLYWHACKER]

Tomjay have you tried off any mainlake points in 5-10ft of water? first couple hrs of a.m.light and last 2 hrs daylight in p.m. You could also try some transition areas such as edge of big shallow flats near deeper water.Good Luck!

[fishnut]

Just at the start of a strom always seems to do well for Walleye.  Don't know why.  Maybe it's the light decreasing factor.