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Seemed like at Storm lake last year, aggressive, ripping tactics worked pretty well. Some on live minnows, just letting them struggle and swim.Best tip I have is to be aggressive with a spoon or blade bait type, and also having a deadstick rod near by. I think most people are too subtle most of the time to attract nearby fish.
This year I plan to expand my ice fishing horizons target walleyes at least once in Iowa. Does anyone have any tips as for baits or what to look for as far as structure? I’ve caught many during open water (especially in SD and MN hahaha). But I’ve never targeted them in the winter. Where I live in southwest Iowa I don’t have much of an opportunity for walleyes that is close so I target bluegills and crappies. I plan to make a day trip or two to storm lake or spirit lake, so if anyone has any tips it would be much appreciated!
stealth. drill holes the night before and get there 2 hours before first light.
LMFAO....holes the night before? They would be froze.
an inch of drilling is better than a foot. usually i can just push them in with my heel.
How close to Lake Icaria are you? IDNR stocks walleyes in there.
Also, doesn't 12 mile lake have walleyes?
Durring the winter, I've had decent luck on walleye in Iowa. It is usually a morning and dusk bite not much durring the day for the most part unless you grind it out for hours. To get much of a consistent bite with walleye putting yourself on structure durring the dusk/dawn is pretty much the key. If your lucky enough to find that structured spot, that dawn/dusk usually will turn out a decent catch time and time again. The dredging in these prarrie lakes has helped out with the structure a lot.....before they were basicly bowl shaped structureless lakes where you had to fish transition spots if you could find them.Not sure where you are, but In worthington mn just across the boarder okabena lake is a pretty easy and good walleye lake in the winter......one deep 12-14 foot hole on a lake that is 7ft everywhere else. Just setup before dusk and a limit is pretty doable. However, it's a small window. Usually gets fishable ice mid to late Dec. then they turn on the air and the spot is open water the rest of winter. It's kinda funny....once it's fishable ice there is usually a little shanty town every night untill the air gets turned on. The pizza place in town even will even deliver out to the lake.
What are the lakes that have been dredged are you talking about. Would love to get on some walleyes through the ice. I don't have money too waste on going to Minnesota for walleyes so any information would be awesome.