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Location: Wind lake, Wi | Here is what I got, I fish this lake often through the ice. I know where and how these walleyes feed at first ice and up untill the end of Jan.. Then it seems like I will only catch one or two when I go out. It's mainly a night bite and sometimes an early morning spot. The lake is fairly clear, up to 12 feet on the norm. I'm fishing a inside turn, on the top of the drop, which comes up from a 100yd x 100yd 20' hole to about 4' with sand muck and some nice weeds. I've caught many nice eyes from here (16"-28") and some decent pike also. The problem I'm having is finding walleyes around this time of the month. There is very little fishing preesure throughout the ice period. Usually I will catch 1 but not more than 2 on a night trip. Alot less than the past couple weeks, as usual. Can somebody please help, what am I doing wrong? Any IDEAS??? THANKS!! |
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Member
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| You say you are on an inside turn. Does one end or the other of that turn go out to a point above deeper water? If so, that is where I would start my search. Another option/possibility is if there is a piece of deep water structure out a little from the inside turn you are already fishing. A hump, reef, deep cabbage bed, maybe a hard pan area in an other wise soft mud bottom, ect. Also, you say you have some nice weeds. When they start to turn brown and die off, fish will move a little further from them beacause the decaying action of the dead weeds will use up valuable oxygen in an already low oxygen enviroment. In weed lakes, sometimes the key is to stay in touch with green weeds, which generate oxygen.
Good Luck |
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Member
Posts: 299
Location: Wind lake, Wi | Does one end or the other of that turn go out to a point above deeper water??
JLDII
-no, the area which I'm referring is actually a bowl shaped 20'-25' area that comes up to an avg. 4'-6' shelfs all the way around the "hole". On the other sides of the flats are adjacent deep areas (2 -one on each side)that drop to about the same depth. One area comes to 6' and ends at the shoreline about 50-70 yds. from the top of the flat. The last area (the one I'm fishing) comes upto 4' and ends in a bay like area with a feeder creek. That is about 200 yds from the top of the flat. The weeds seem to stay green troughout the winter. This area is known for spawning grounds and is the primary spot (in my opinon) with in 1/2 mile. In the deep spot I've had the camera down there and the bottom seems to be somewhat solid with no structure that I seen of. Thanks!!
Edited by eyefever 1/31/2004 12:30 AM
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Posts: 714
| I guess the only thing would be for you experiment a little. Try deeper water just out from where you have had some success, or, look for some transition areas along the edge of the flat you are already fishing. Something different. If the bottom is primarily sand, look for rock or gravel runs that come up to the weeds, or areas where sand and mud come together, things like that. Maybe there is a deep weed edge where the weeds are taller than other places. Another idea to keep in mind is the forage base. What is the primary food for these walleyes in this water and where is that food source now? It might be that the forage base was relating to that area you had your success in and has moved, and to get back on the fish, you need to find that food. One last idea which may or may not be a possibility. You said there is a feeder creek nearby. Look for any submerged creek channals that might be in the flat it runs onto. It might only be as little as a foot difference, but that might be a holding area for fish sitting in any current that might possibly be coming thru from the creek. I have caught walleyes out of less than 6' of water in the late season before.
Good luck, and let us know how you do. |
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Member
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Location: Rockford MN | Jack
Thats good advice, I would also try the middle of the day! Sometimes these fish start to change their patterns this time of year. Anglers start the season going out at peek times, early morning and late evening. I have caught fish in the middle of the day when no else is out. Might give it a try just to see what happens! Run shallow as well as deep. Remember these fish are starting to stage again, much like fall when they come into the shallows. Now they are staging for the spawn starting in feb. The fish will use the deep waters next to the struture as a resting grounds and sometimes will go up in the middle of the day to feed. |
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Location: Wind lake, Wi | Thanks Jack ans Gordy for the info. I will try out some of those ideas. I'll let you know how I do. I'm going out right now!! Thanks again!! |
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Member
Posts: 299
Location: Wind lake, Wi | Well just like I suspected we came away with one walleye @ 18" and lost one just under the hole that was btw 18"-20". My conclusion of this area is, the baitfish are not present in the area. I had the camera through the whole area and did not see one single baitfish, fish or weeds/structure in the deep area. The only place where there was weeds was the top of the drop where we had set up 12 tip-ups along that line. The weeds are still green and standing tall. We caught 4 small northerns and had those other two fish I mentioned above. All in all it's great to be out with a couple of friends fishing and sucking a couple down. We fished from 2:30 untill 1:00 am. both the eyes that we had were caught btw 9:00 and 10:30. Here is the one my buddy caught. I will figure out what is going on sooner or later. Thanks for any input!!
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Member
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| If you can locate some pockets in the weed line, or openings in the weeds, those would be prime spots for your tip ups. |
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Member
Posts: 299
Location: Wind lake, Wi | Jack- that is just what we decided to do, the weed line is pretty thick, but does have some small pockets or openings. It seemed like if we were on the edge of the weed line (6-8'deep) we would not get bit. Both eyes came from 3-4fow in the pockets of the weeds. Thanks again!! |
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| Where do you expect these fish to spawn??? North Shore? It is certainly not to early for them to move towards or to these areas. |
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Posts: 299
Location: Wind lake, Wi | MOUNTAIN MAN- I'm fishing the north shore where a feeder creek is at the mouth of a bay. I've been fishing this spot for 8 years. I know the walleyes are in the general area all year, except they seem to dissapear from around the start of Feb. through the middle of March. I don't have any idea where they go to but it always seems that the baitfish dissapear at this time too. I caught many walleyes here during the spring near the creek when fishing for panfish (before season) right after ice out. Does anyone think that the northerns could be running them out? We do catch more pike at this time of year than eyes. It is spawning ground for them too. Thanks for your input!! |
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Member
Posts: 540
Location: Milw, WI | More than likely they aren hanging out in the main basin.
Many of our lakes, have walleye movements after dark, large
movements, but it doesn't mean they feed out there.
A Local lake (neer us) the walleyes hanging in the main basin, will at dark begin roaming around the lake, following them is not the way to do it.
You got to plan ahead and hit them in feeding spots.
Maybe making back up plans, have holes drilled in other spots to move to once they pass your spot.
Drill early and stay lake at this time of year. |
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Member
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Location: Rockford MN | I think your learning your lake! I see you got fish shallow, this is a good sign. I would keep running your camera all the way down the weed line! Look for changes in weeds, find a area where the weeds extend out in the lake more and look for inside turns. These spots will be your best bet. You should consider baits your using also, I would try some very large shinners say in the 8" range. Your going to catch more pike than walleye, remember the walleye are not very aggressive! Narrow down your spots to the most productive ones and you should be in good shape. Keep us posted! |
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Member
Posts: 299
Location: Wind lake, Wi | I just wanted to thank you all for any advice, tips or suggestions you have gave. It helps to get other ideas Imay have been missing or not thinking of. I will keep you posted on what happens out there (if my wife could just sop working for a day). Thanks guys!! |
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