Trouble Catching Walleyes through the ice? Try this...

Mid-winter walleye fishing can be an arduous affair – locating concentrations of fish can be challenging, feeding windows are shortened, and the weather can be downright unpleasant. With that in mind, many anglers who choose to pursue walleyes during the months of January and February often opt for a finesse approach, having convinced themselves that marble-eyes are apathetic in relation to feeding and thus difficult to catch. While finesse fishing has its own time and place, a different approach, one involving a more up-tempo and aggressive mind set, can often be key to scoring on walleyes during this timeframe.

You cannot catch what isn’t there, thus locating walleyes becomes the priority first and foremost. Mobility is key during the wintertime as anglers may need to check a variety of areas and structural spots; this of course means anglers must be able and willing to drill numerous holes over the course of a trip. Good electronics are a must as they help ensure proper angler positioning, identify when fish are below, and allow anglers to monitor how fish react to their presentation. Sonar/GPS combinations, such as the Humminbird Ice 55/385 ci Combo, enable anglers to initially get on prime fishing locations even more efficiently and allow them to return to potential hot holes quicker on return trips. Underwater cameras are also excellent tools in locating prime walleye locations in winter, especially when fishing in clearer water conditions.

To this point, not much is different from how one would go about a day of ice-fishing; the change-up is in the presentation. Perhaps one of the hottest on-ice presentations in recent years for walleyes is the use of lipless crankbaits presented via vertical jigging. While most anglers are familiar with lipless crankbaits, many do not consider the bait a viable walleye lure let alone an ice-fishing option. Truth be told, the lipless crankbait is an excellent walleye producer both during open water and ice-up conditions. Some fisheries biologists believe that the walleye is one of the most ‘noise-loving’ of all freshwater species, and this could certainly lend credence as to the effectiveness of lipless cranks for this heavily sought after species.

Tackle and equipment for working lipless crankbaits while in pursuit of walleyes is not overly complicated. A medium or medium-heavy St. Croix Legend Ice rod is perfect for working lipless cranks, and should have a reel spooled with a quality ice-fishing braid such as Sufix Performance Ice Braid, which handles beautifully in cold weather, resists ice build-up, and is super strong while still maintaining sensitivity and durability. In clear water situations, a fluorocarbon leader can be utilized to aid in avoiding spookage due to line visibility.

While there are a multitude of lipless crankbaits on the market, most, like the Rattlin Rapala, are filled with small bb’s, resulting in a noisy higher pitched sound. A lure such as the Rapala Clackin Rap, which has a larger single shot inside of it, produces a deeper unique sound that the fish really seem drawn to. Both styles of lures will catch walleyes, but it is imperative to let the fish “tell you” which sound they are willing to respond to on any given day. Work the lure with an aggressive ‘rip’ upwards towards you, moving the bait a couple of feet before letting the bait fall back down and pause for a bit; vary the number of rips between pauses until the ‘magic number’ has been established. The noise and vibration these lures produce when presented in this manner not only calls in fish from a distance away, it also acts as a major strike triggering mechanism.

If you haven’t tried vertical jigging for walleyes through the ice, you’re missing out on one of the most effective methods for scoring on these toothy critters, especially when lipless crankbaits are involved. It takes an aggressive mindset, contradictory to much that has been written and spoken concerning mid-winter walleyes, but the effort is well worth it! I’ll see you on the water…

Tight lines,