Walleye Lakes

[3GreenHornet3]

I've been looking to start doing some Walleye ice fishing. Does anyone have some general advice: jigs, bait, water depth, structure ect. Also a few lakes that I could try in the area. I'm not looking for anyones honey hole, just a general idea so I can give it a try. Grew up pan fishing, but never had the opportunity to fish Walleye. Thanks in advance!

[Borch]

Welcome to the forums!

Some lakes that have good populations of walleye in the area are Grand, Pearl, Horseshoe chain, Rice, Koronis and Little Rock.

You can find eyes from 5-30+ feet of water right now. The person who looks for structural elements, (points, bars, humps) before hitting the ice and coming up with a game plan is more likely to have action. I like 1/16 & 1/8 oz Lindy Rattlin Flyer or rattling Varmit spoons, Lindy Darters and a plain hook on a deadstick this time of year if I sit for a while.

[pushbutton]

first off welcome to hso! secondly it is a little difficult to answer questions like that because there are so many variables, but here is a quick rundown. the chain, birch, koronis, rice, and other smaller lakes have decent populations of walleyes and would be a good starting point. as far as tackle, the current popular lures are ones that have a chambered ball in the them like a rattlin flyer, but really boils down to what you have confidence in. as far as bait, crappie minnows/ fat heads or pieces of them. depending on the lake you are fishing they can almost be anywhere....in general though...low teens through low 30's(not much help i know) similarly they also can be found in numerous areas through out the lake, but in general the more structure you find usually the more fish you will find. keep in mind structure can be as something simple as depth change or bottom composition change. my best advice is to go back a reread past threads and spend some time on the dnr's lakefinder. good luck!

[osok]

Borch and Pushbutton are right. And to add a few more you should look around your area (Holdingford) and around the Grey Eagle area. Big Birch holds some nice fish, I haven't had much luck there, but boats around me have caught some nice fish. Not sure how the hard water bite would be.

Last year 2 rivers was productive for me. That lake was hit hard for Croppies last season and that over shadowed the walleye bite, and it was hard to get your bait down to the walleyes @ times.

Haven't fished it this year. I understand it's a zoo yet again.......sigh.

[Lost Cause]

funny to see you call two rivers productive for walleye, my dad calls it the dead sea. guess that just speaks to his skill as a fisherman

[osok]

funny to see you call two rivers productive for walleye, my dad calls it the dead sea. guess that just speaks to his skill as a fisherman

.

LC I probably was lucky and found a holding area or something. I've found the dead sea on many occasions while right next to me is the hot hole or boat.

[SpearPike]

Eric u are a lost cause! lol

[3GreenHornet3]

Borch, pushbutton, and osok, thanks for the advice. I'm hoping I can get out this weekend and give it a try. Thinking about trying Big Birch. Heard a few people have been getting some out there. I'll let everyone know how the trip goes. Thanks again!

[Rick G]

If you hit Birch might try the rock humps between sleiders island and grass island. Also a nice bar running off the westward tip of sleiders that has been good to me in the past.

[bturck]

A couple of others that I would check out in the Grey Eagle area are Big Swan and Long lake. Both produce walleyes, and if the eyes are going they both have good crappie populations. Good luck with your search many things to be learned in the process.

[3GreenHornet3]

Didn't get chance to make it out to Birch... Spent a good portion of the night on Bass Lake right by Long. No Walleyes, but did manage to catch a couple decent crappies. Does the extremely cold weather affect the walleye bite?

[3GreenHornet3]

Thank you for the tips! Hoping to get out to Big Birch sometime this week.

[Rick G]

Bass would'nt have been my first choice for walleyes but there are some in there. I used to fish it for panfish about ten years back and we would get some eyes off the hump just out from the access and around the point on the east side. Never much for size or numbers but they are there. How was the water quality? It was always one of the cleaner lakes in the area and never had much trouble seeing 10-15 ft down.

[piilo]

You can use a large variety of jigs, but it really takes a few times out on the lake to find what is working and when. You could try using frosties or forage minnows, or even try a buck snort jig (buckshot). It is always a bonus to have glow jigs as well in these varieties. These are a few i have had luck on any way. Good luck! Remember, you can't appreciate ice fishing without using a hand auger.

[pushbutton]

thanks for the post and welcome to HSO! have to disagree with you though, i have not used a hand auger in close to 25 years and appreciate ice fishing even more!

[Borch]

thanks for the post and welcome to HSO! have to disagree with you though, i have not used a hand auger in close to 25 years and appreciate ice fishing even more!

Given the number of holes I drill I'd be in a lot better shapes that's for sure!

[pushbutton]

your certainly not alone!

[piilo]

I'm in a pretty good shape from crankin out them holes ya know. I was thinking about having ice hole drilling practice! Jk, it would be nice to have a nice power auger.

[osok]

I'm in a pretty good shape from crankin out them holes ya know. I was thinking about having ice hole drilling practice! Jk, it would be nice to have a nice power auger.

Piilo, what worked for me to get a power auger was I took my wife out fishing one very nice spring day. The fishing was spotty and she thought we should move. I had already drilled well over a dozen holes and was quite content where we were. So I told her to grab the auger and go find where the fish were......... about 20 mins later she came back all red in the face and looking tired when she sheepishly said she could only drill "2 half holes".

"So it's a little harder than what it looks like huh, so why 2 half holes?....oh never mind".

"Yes it is......you can buy a power auger now".

[Fishing Buddy 6]

I am wondering how the travel is on big birch. Is it safe to travel on the lake with a truck. Are there any spots to watch out for. any info would be greatly appreciated.

[DriftlessFisher]

With new blades on a hand auger you can really crank them out. and its a free workort. not even hard actualy.how long does it take you power auger guys to drill a hole in say 12 inches of ice?

[piilo]

Ha, if I had a wife I would probably try that one! I will put it in the fishing log for later reference. Anyone find eyes in the St. Cloud area at all?

[bc21]

I've been finding a few in 20 fow. Small jiggin' raps and tear drops tipped with crappie minnows. Seem to be favoring the ones that glow

[piilo]

Nice! I will have to try the "local" lake in 20 fow and see if i can't catch myself some walleye.

[DriftlessFisher]

Yea i hear that "local" lake is really good for them walleyes.