By Steve Lake

If you are going after Walleye the best places are from the Midwest Northward and into Canada. Walleye prefer sand and gravel bottoms and lakes with perch which they readily eat. I fish a lot of lakes that have a healthy Walleye population but no perch. Walleye are finding themselves in lakes further south. Lakes with Walleye will also have a population of other gamefish such as Northern, Smallmouth, Largemouth, Crappie, Musky and sunfish.

Finding Walleye’s has a lot to do with the Oxygen in the lake. Lot’s of fertile lakes don’t have a good oxygen level at the lower depths especially below the thermocline. This will force Walleye into shallow water 10 ft. or shallower.

Walleye spawn in water along shoreline’s where there is good water movement and gravel on the bottom. Spawning begins when water gets to around 48 degrees. From this time until about 10 days after spawning females don’t bite. Smaller males will bite during spawning. After spawning Walleye

You usually find Walleye’s in 30 ft. of water or less. In the deeper lakes you will find walleye along shorelines and hanging around shallow mid lake humps. I caught a 10LB Walleye right up on a rock cliff in Canada that went down into the water. I bounced a jointed Rapala off the wall. My uncle and cousin caught bigger the same way.

Lot’s of Walleye’s are caught at night. Cloudy breezy days with a little chop ( The Walleye Chop ) are good because this deflects the sun’s rays. On calm sunny days Walleye spend their time in shade by weeds or near the bottom in deeper water.

Fishing in the evening with a slip bobber and leech is a great way to catch Walleye. Anchor at the edge of a drop off and cast up into 4 to 8 feet of water. Trolling with minnow lures and shad raps is good also. there is usually a good bite for 3 or 4 hours after dark.

walleyes will hang at about 12 to 18 feet along the edge of the dropoff’s during the day. Slow trolling or back trolling with a 3 way rig with a leech or minnow or casting with a jig and minnow are good methods of catching them. During summer nights, troll in eight to ten feet of water along the tops of the midlake flats, next to the drop-off. Back trolling with a jig and minnow is very effective.

Mid summer is not as good of time to fish for Walleye but they can be caught. You may think that it is because it is so hot out but it is because the perch and bait fish are reaching the proper size (3 inches and bigger) to look really food to walleye and they gorge themselves on these fish. I am a firm believer in the bigger the minnow the bigger the fish caught!

Walleye can be caught through the ice around points and mid lake flats in 10 to 12 ft of water in early ice season. Jan. and later find them in 18 to 30 ft. depths.

This article would not be complete without saying a little something of how good Walleye are to eat! They are great!

To learn more about Walleye and the rare or even extinct Blue Walleye check out Tacklemaster Sports for lot’s of fishing information and resources.

website: http://www.tacklemastersports.com

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Careful planning and preparation is all it takes to make ice fishing the greatest time of your life or the worst.   Easy?  Take a look at the following tips and see how prepared you are to catch those fish!

Buy early

Make a list of the supplies you used last season and replenish them early.  Make sure you get all those Glo-Buster Bluelights or Lindy Tazers.  All you need to remember is four words: wise up, stock up.

Check the hole on the ice floor

Simply put, make sure the hole is clean.  Chips or chunks of ice could cause entanglements in one’s fishing line and could make you catch fish or literally break your chances of getting any, as these could sever the line therefore losing your chance of getting that trophy of a lifetime bluegill. Remember to keep the hole clear of any barrier.

Fish more, get the big four

The bait you simply cannot go on without:  wax worms, minnows, assorted PowerBait, maggots. It is best to keep these bait separated and as much as possible alive using coolers such as a small Coleman.

Clean `em all up

Inspect and clean the rods and fishing reels you are going to use.  Q-tips are best for taking out the nicks in every nook and cranny of your ice rod.  Non-freezing oil for lubing fishing reels is advisable.

Heat up

Do not forget to bring those heaters and pounds and pounds of propane cylinders.  One cannot fish comfortably if he or she is as cold as the fish under the ice.  Ice fishing should be fun and feel comfy too.

House up

The ice is harsh and cold but it doesn’t mean you have to feel that too.  Ice tents should be cleaned out as well by putting over a light coat of lubricant at the joints.  If there is any wear or tear, it is best to contact the manufacturer in order for them to send out the appropriate repair kit, as deemed necessary.

Gear Up

Better be safe than sorry, make sure you get a set of lifeguard spikes as well as a safety rope. Also, to feel less of the cold and at the same time be cool, pick up a fishing coat from the Carhartt Extremes Arctic Jacket.  Avoid frost bits on your toes and feet, the best shoes are the Irish Setters Versa Trax to keep you warm all over.