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New User
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Location: de pere, wisconsin | I Retired three years ago and moved back to the area. I fished Winnebago on the ice for the first time two weeks ago. Since, I've been out four times off Calumet County Park. I moved until I marked fish on my LCG. Each day was the same, but Wednesday was the most frustrating because we marked so many fish. We marked constant fish on the bottom for a couple hours and at about 5:00PM the fish started to leave the bottom, and check out our rapala's and pimples. My buddy and I were fishing different dephts and as many as three or four fish at a time would move between our lures constantly for two hours. We changed colors, sizes, tipped with one to three small shinners, just a head and without anything. We caught one 12 inch walleye at 5:00 and left at 7:00PM. On other lakes when fish become active you normally get some action. What's with these Winebago walleyes? |
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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | jackperch,
I've had the same experience. Lots of marks, some interest, few bites. My excuse is that the forage base is so good they can afford to be choosy about their meals. I certainly don't want to think that it's my (lack of) fishing abilties  |
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Member
Posts: 215
| I agree..I have had the same problem. You just have to keep working them until you find what they like. It is and has been frustrating this year. Keep in mind a lot of the marks you may be seeing are very small walleye of the year. Looks like this years hatch was a good one based on what I'm seeing. |
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Member
Posts: 2567
Location: Manitowoc, WI | Jackperch,
I, too, have experienced this same pattern in the past. It is more prevalent in the mid-winter than any other time. My advice is to downscale your presentations.
I ran into this same thing on Little Bay de Noc years ago and was taught a valuable lesson by someone who fishes there daily. He went down to small swedish pimples with small shiners and fatheads. They were literally perch-sized offerings, but it did the trick. Seems like these fish get a case of lockjaw as the season wears on. Maybe they're like me: they're tired of ice and want to see some open water!!! |
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New User
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Location: de pere, wisconsin | Thanks for the responses. Another question? I know that most walleye move out of Winnabago to spawn. Would the Oshkosh area be the best place to fish during the next couple weeks? If I'm only marking small fish could the larger fish already have moved toward the spawning staging area? Calumet is easy access for me but I'm willing to travel if past patterns indicate that the larger walleye move at this time of year. As I said I'm new to Winnebago ice fishing and any help would be appriciated. |
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Member
Posts: 284
| Jack:
The jury is still out in my opinion as to how many fish stay in the lake to spawn. I think the percentage would raise many of our eyebrows (more than you think). I also believe that a lot of the female migration up the river system is under the ice. Another part of the equation is the increasing number of fish that live in the wolf year round. There seems to be enough forage to hold them there all year.
To answer your question, Oshkosh has been off and on and pretty good all year and usually before the ice goes out it starts to get better out in front of the mouth as the fish stage and get ready to make the trek. Is it a good place to concentrate your fishing? Heck yes. Is there spots on the east side not to far from where you are fishing now that are just as good? You bet, and less pressure too. I personally don't like to fish in a huge pack of people so it is very rewarding when you find a good pod of them on an east shore rock pile or two. Days like today get me excited because I know the best ice fishing of the year and sometimes the least crowded start now. I'd stay right where your at and figure them out.
Good Fishing. |
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Member
Posts: 377
Location: Neenah Wi | This is the same thing I'm seeing and hearing from others as well.So its not just you.The fishing will get better as the ice gets worse.Just out from the pioneer inn can be very good if you hit it just right and the ice holds up.Be safe. |
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Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | My first advice,is to put the tip-ups away,for the year,and get out the slip bobbers.The eyes I'm getting won't even hold a small thill float down more than 3 inches in the hole.Tip-ups won't show this light of a bite.Also they don't want to move around and look for food,any more than they have too.So little minnows won't temp them,as much as a fiest of a 3 1/2 inch shiner.They are also dependent on water temps,and do most of their searching higher up in the water columb.Six feet off bottom has been the norm lately.Keep a couple lines a foot to three off bottom,with a small tear drop jig,and jig 6-feet up with smaller baits,like rapalas,sweedish pimples,or side winders,tipped with a minnow head.....hafe |
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Member
Posts: 5
Location: neenah wi | Try using small baits with just a small minnow head. Its been working for me the last few days. |
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What's with these Winnebago walleyes?