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Ice Fishing the River....tips?


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I started ice fishing the river last winter and have put in quite a bit of time in a variety of locations and have yet to get even a bite. Can anyone offer up suggestions of a setup that gets bites on the ice? I mark plenty of fish on the flasher, but cannot get anything to bite.....

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What stretch of river are you fishing? How deep have you been trying. Generally the deepest holes with the least current produce.

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Well, that's just it. I have been fishing anywhere from 12-25 foot deep holes, current seams, backwaters, main chanel, slack water, you name it. I've tried jig/minnow, jig/minnow head, waxies, rattle jigs, glow jigs, plain hook, colored hooks, fatheads, crappie minnows, spoons, just about everything in the tackle box. And yet, i still cannot get a single bite. I've heard so many big fish are pulled through the ice on the river, but i can't even get a small one to bite. confused.gif

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The time of day is critical. Ive been ice fishing the river for almost ten years and about 95 percent of the walleyes ive caught have been between the 4-7 pm range. And keep tryin different spots until you find them because when u do find them theyll probally be there all winter. Good luck!

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Buckshot with a head of a fathead sometimes i even have put two heads on to spice it up. That has been my hottest settup. Their are two sizes of buckshots the smaller one i use in low current the big one one i use in heavy current. Otherwise ive had some luck with nils master or some sort of rapla with a live fathead. Ive had littliest luck with shiners on like a swedish pimple or a fish n eye. I havnt even been out on the river this year ive been real busy but hope to get out soon.

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  • 1 month later...

I am new to the river fishing especially during the winter. I look to be doing a little bit of it in the near future. Do many people use tip ups with live bait, or is it more jigging that does the trick for winter walleyes? I know that you are suppose to find the deeper holes, but are there any other good tips that anyone could pass along? Any tips would be helpful.

Thank you

Tony F

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icenads-

whats your email, i have a question or two you could maybe answer for me.

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I havnt fished the river this year at all. My favorite spot has seem to have silted in where it used to be 10 to 12 feet and now is is only around 6 to 7 feet. Been doing all lake fishing this year. Dont know if i can help u out but my email is [email protected].

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