ICE ’EYES
This winter, tackle more walleye wherever they swim with these 12 time-tested tactical tips
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Isolated patches of deep water are walleye magnets#4 HIT DEEP POCKETS
On the same weedy walleye lake I just mentioned, there’s one pocket of slightly deeper water in the 12- to 15-foot range that attracts hordes of winter walleye. This isolated dip of deep water is no more than a few hundred metres in size, yet it’s as though the lake’s entire walleye population drains into it. The very best of these pothole lakes offer the fish only a handful of such places to escape the light.
As a matter of fact, so many walleye drain into the pocket on my favourite lake that I never use my snow machine or ATV to access it. That way, my tracks won’t reveal the location. I’m also careful to only walk out on blustery, snowy days so that my footprints are quickly covered over, along with my holes when I leave. Find one of these drains and you’ll pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel, so don’t abuse the privilege.
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Make your lure seem to flee to trigger a hesitant walleye to bite#5 ATTRACT AND TRIGGER
One of the enduring misconceptions about winter walleye is that they’re sluggish and prone to belly-to-the-bottom habits. Nothing could be further from the truth. In order to catch them, though, you do need to first attract them to your lure, then trigger them into biting it. Most lures excel at either attracting or triggering, although a few can do both equally well (see tactic #6).
To call in the walleye, drop your lure to the bottom, then reel it up 12 to 18 inches. Next, lift your arm steadily, while you flick your wrist briskly to snap the lure up a foot. Pause at the apex for a second before letting the lure flutter back down under controlled slack line. Now let the lure pause slightly longer, and if no walleye shows up on your sonar screen, keep repeating the process.
When a fish does appear on the screen, initiate the triggering mode by keeping your lure in front of the fish, jiggling it ever so slowly using a subtle wrist action. As the walleye closes in, stop moving the lure and wait to feel the fish hit it. If the walleye instead appears to back off, shake the lure frantically to call it back over. When the walleye returns, pause the lure, then ever so slowly lift and jiggle it as though it were attempting to flee.
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Compact spoons such as the Bully are top walleye attractors#6 USE FLASHY LURES
One of best lures you can use to attract winter walleye—I call them flash baits—are small, compact spoons. My two favourites are the Williams Bully and a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce Acme Kastmaster. Don’t fret about the colour; silver, gold or firetiger will serve you well anywhere across the country. When the fish are active, you’ll see them rush in on your sonar screen, then feel them smack your bait.
When walleye are more cautious, however, you need to dress the treblehook. Some anglers use a live minnow, but I don’t because it will pop off when I briskly snap the spoon. A much better option is to remove the treblehook, skewer on a real or soft-plastic minnow head onto the shank, then reattach it (also see tactic #11). That way, the metal spoon will act as the attractor, while the rocking minnow head serves as the trigger.
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