Takers vs. Lookers

[Ice9]

Fishing on Minnetonka has slowed for me in the past few days, but I've still had a lot of fish come in and look (later in the bite-time so I know they're not perch.) My friends and anglers around me have continued to stick fish on jigs while I'm missing them. Still taken some on tipups and bobber and minnow, but I think I'm making a mistake with my jigging approach. Any suggestion on jigs for Tonka? I've tried a bunch of different kinds but I'm worried that I'm using the wrong size, color, or style. What do you do if you're marking fish coming in but they're not taking? What kind of action do you impart to your lure? Whole minnow or part? Fathead or shiner or other? The last couple of times the fish came smartly up to the jig and then just as smartly left. I'm using light line so I doubt that's it. It may just be confidence--I feel like I'm snakebit.

Ice9

[Tonka Boy]

From my experiences I stay away from spoons on Tonka. I always read the reports, and of course they say spoons. Who gives them this junk????

I like to use smaller glow jigs, plain hooks, or fireball jigs. For the most part I leave my bait motionless. Occasionally they will sniff so I'll incorporate 1-2" movements with the rod tip-quickly then let it sit again. Repeat as needed.

My 2 cents. Although I'm sure there are others who will disagree.

[EBass]

You got me on this. I was next to TB and he got two and missed one, while I saw nothing on my vex 15 ft away. Tip ups on Tonka have been better for me so far this ice season. I do think that the weather plays a huge role in their activity. Well that's what I'm blaming it on

[schr0563]

The tip-up bite has been strong because they are generally placed away from the center of activity, and the with lack of snow this year, this is almost the only way prevent spooking fish. I know that I have tried my share of jigging, without lanterns, candles, and even heaters, but the fish still seem tenative. The spoons that have produced well the past few years aren't doing so this year. The next time I get out I am going to try some smaller horizontal type jigs.

Last night I was on Excelsior Bay. I only managed a couple 10 inchers. Man it was cold. I was surprised to get the couple I did because the ice sure was booming. On the plus side, there is around 12 inches of ice now, so the next time I head out (tomorrow), I'll be driving.

[DoctorB]

I always use a spoon - NilsMaster (which I guess isn't a spoon) until it gets dark and then a Northland Buckshot Rattle in conjunction with a deadstick on Tonka. The jigging lure has always caught more and definately the bigger fish for me on Tonka. This year is no exception. I am probably close to 50-60 fish for the jigging lures thus far. The only thing I see differently this year is that I have the most consistent action deeper on the structures versus up on top. This has usually been in 29 to 40 feet for the structures I fish. Bites on top (12-18 feet), have been more sporatic and usually only several a night right at dark. Targeting perch is definatley important, much like you'd follow sunnies around in the spring and summer for bass. I only keep a couple of fish (walleyes) a year (winter) from Tonka but they are always packed with young of the year perch and sunnies. For what that is worth.

[BUCKET]

For some reason I NEVER catch Metro Walleyes using fatheads, shiners, or small suckers. It doesn't matter what season it is. For me, the big minnows seem to work best only up north or on larger lakes where the fish are more abundant. I only use the big minners for tip-ups around here. Try a smaller jig and a little crappie minnow. I think that increases your chances to catch all species of all sizes. Seems to work OK (most times) for me. Just keep trying new things and exploring new spots.... that is MORE than half the fun for me anyway. $0.02

[Muskieguy]

I agree with Bucket..been out a few times with spoons/fatheads/shiners looking for eyes with no luck. Got my only 2 eyes of the year crappie fishing with tiny jigs and small crappie minnows.

Muskieguy

[Ben1022]

Any of you jiggers have any advice on keeping a whole minnow on the spoon for an extended period of time? I usually have one deadstick w/a lg minnow and generally jig w/a pimple or some other jigging spoons w/a whole minnow but keep losing the minnow after about 10 minutes. I also like to use a smaller minnow while jigging vs. the head or tail. Plus, I get the trebel hook looped around on the snap swivel if I only use a head or tail. My experiences have always yeilded larger fish on jigging vs. deadsticking.

[Reefdawg75]

This has been very difficult year to get the walleyes to bite. I usually fish out of Wayzata and Excelsior. One common saying about Tonka is to fish the weed edges. That is what I have been doing on or near a nice piece of structure. There will be tons of perch action right before the sun hits the tops of the trees and then a few looker walleyes after dark. I am starting to think that the weed edges are not the answer in the winter. I am now going to target deeper structure 30' to 45'. I have gotten larger fish in the fall time in deeper water. There are not as many perch deeper I have found. I have also tried several presentations and hook and minnow still as possible has been the best. Does any one else think that deeper might be better?

[schr0563]

Here's a question for people who fish deep water. When you are in 25-40 feet of water, what areas do you focus on, and how do you find these areas? The few times I have ventured beyond 25 feet of water, I am only there because someone else has caught fish there. When I scout out this area, it all looks the same to me. What should I be looking for?

[DoctorB]

I fish the deep water in conjunction with structure on Tonka and regularly do so down to 40 plus feet, although others may do differently. Look for the bottom lip of structure that you normally fish. If the structure rapidly drops from 18 to 33 feet and then slowly tapers off into 40 feet, or 100 feet for that matter, then set up in the 32-34 range. I firmly believe that the walleyes nudge up to the break before dark and spend time here before running up the structure to feed (they feed down here too!). Thus you have a greater opportunity to catch more fish, in my opinion. I have seen so many walleyes on the camera many, many times on the bottom lip on Tonka that it isn't even funny. When they come in, they are literally everywhere. As mentioned above, inside turns are key as well. You just can't pick a spot, you need to know the layout of the structure and where the funnels are that the fish run up or where rocks or hard bottom areas relate to the structure. I think the bite is earlier here versus the top of structure, by 10-15 minutes or so, but lasts longer and is more dependable. I like fishing the tops too, but I think you will catch more walleyes if you fish the deeper lips. This year I couldn't get much going shallow, so I've spent most of my time in the 28-34 foot range, which is where I've caught 90% of my fish this year.

Now, all that being said, in my experience, my biggest fish each year are caught on top in 14-18 feet and often a good half hour or so before the main bite. The big ones don't really have any reason to be shy about hanging deep.

[Clayburn]

A small to medium sized shinner with a plain hook 10" off of the bottem is hands down the best Walleye offering on any lake within 60 miles of the twin cities!

[schr0563]

Is 40-45 feet of water out of the question for getting into eyes? I have a couple places that look good on a map, but I have trouble comprehending fishing at that depth.

[DoctorB]

No. You can catch them that deep. I typically go that deep later (end of Jan/Feb), but have caught fish out of 40 this year. Good luck.

[BUZEHOWND]

I also, have been working the weed edges in 16-19 ft and have had very minimal success on Wayzata Bay, not even a pike yet. I would like to try that 30-40ft range and was wondering if you typically will find the walleyes on the bottom at those depths, or if they are up a few feet?