Top Tactics for First Ice Walleyes
By Ron Anlauf

Either you’re in or you’re out.  If you’re in, you’ve already gone through the preparation period of re-rigging and rearranging all of your gear and making sure that everything is up to the task.  If you’re in, the fun is just beginning.  If you’re in, you’ll be on the first safe ice that develops doing you’re best to put a few walleyes on the ice.  If you’re out, well you’re just plain out of luck.

Getting the most out of being “in” requires a little knowledge of the where’s, when’s  and how’s of first ice walleyes.  The following should help answer some of those all important questions, and maybe make your first early season venture a trip to remember. 

The first question to be answered is the where, as without it nothing else really matters.  At first ice, walleyes can be found holding on shallow structure like rocky reefs and bars, hard bottom breaks, and even weedlines.   Much of the activity takes place during the low light periods of dusk and dawn, and you had better be prepared to get up or early, or stay late, if you want to get your share.    The daytime walleye fishing  may be a little slow, but can be offset by the intense action at sunup, and just before dark.

The author Ron Anlauf reveals the secrets to finding big first ice walleyes like the one he’s holding

The shallows are the first place to look for early ice ‘eyes,  because it’s the first area you can safely get to, and there’s usually some fish around.   Shortly thereafter, fishing pressure and seasonal movements will send walleyes packing, and the good action that anglers have previously enjoyed  can quickly come to a screeching halt.   A big drop in the action signals the need for anglers to a make a move, especially if they want to keep getting their poles bent.

The key to locating post-first-ice walleyes  is finding the deeper hard bottom areas that can hold and concentrate fish.   If you’re on an unfamiliar lake, a good map is a must.  Look for offshore humps and extended shoreline points that drop into deep water.   The nest step is to try to find contour lines that pull tightly together, indicating a sheer drop off.  Those aren’t the only areas that can hold fish, but they do offer a good starting point.

After settling on a starting point,  finding it is another matter.   A map with G.P.S. coordinates can make your job a whole lot easier, and shorten your time spent looking, allowing you to spend more time fishing.

Absent  a map with G.P.S. coordinates, you’ll have to do a little more leg work to get the job done.  When looking  at the map, try to find reference points, like major shoreline points, lake accesses, and anything that would serve to help narrow your search.

A good depth finder is another must for finding deeper, points and humps.   The handheld units that read depth only, are the slickest tool available for locating structure.   They are the size of  flashlight, and are less cumbersome than the types that can read fish.   To get a depth reading,  simply pour a little water on the ice and press the face of the unit to the ice surface.  Another time saving method is to use a small torch with a built in igniter, to quickly melt the ice into enough water to get a reading. 

After you’ve found what you’re looking for, it’s time to slow down and start looking for fish.   A fish finding depth finder can show depth, and fish, by shooting directly through the ice.  When you’re scanning deeper structure, look for fish  that are holding just off the bottom, and make note of their location.  Depth finders won’t mark what isn’t there, and fish that show themselves should definitely be checked out. 

Once you’ve got all of the preliminary stuff out of the way, it’s time to drop them a line.  One of the top all time hard water producers, is the jigging spoon.  Jigging spoons get noticed, and can draw fish in.  When conditions are right, the spoon can put ‘eyes on ice quicker than any other method.   To maximize on the fish attracting capabilities of a spoon, you can double up by dropping a minnow suspended below a bobber, down another hole close by.  Fish that are attracted to the spoon (but aren’t totally sold on it ), might fall for the minnow.

Another option is to work high percentage areas, (like the top or bottom edge of a drop off), with the spoon, and set a tip up in areas where you may be more inclined to find loners, like the very middle of the structure you are fishing.

One of the most important keys  to consistent mid winter success, is staying ahead of the crowd.   Getting to a spot first, will put your offering in front of fish that probably haven’t been bothered yet.    Intense fishing  pressure can quickly burn an area out, and may force you to get back into the search mode. 

Portable houses and gas powered augers are important keys to mobility, as they can greatly increase the mount of water you’re able to cover when operating in the search mode.  A portable house should set up fast and easy, as anything less will slow you down and keep you from moving when you should.  The Eskimo Grand Caravan does all of that and includes an incredible level of comfort.  The Caravan has a super comfortable bench seat which helps to eliminate fatigue and will keep you on the ice a lot longer, and is exactly where you need to be.

A gas powered auger like the Eskimo Shark can make the chore of drilling a bunch of holes a breeze, and will save you valuable fishing time.  The Shark cuts incredibly fast, and includes several unique features like a one way valve in the gas cap that allows it to vent without leaking gas (neat). 

Regardless of what you may find, there are only so many fish to go around.   A honey hole that has been kicking out five or six keepers a day,  may suddenly drop to one or two, when you have to share them with too many anglers.  Another detrimental aspect that hordes of anglers can bring is too much commotion.

You better believe that a lot of activity  (like holes being drilled and cars being driven ), can spook fish. 

Once you’ve found one of the aforementioned areas, it would be a good idea to keep it to yourself.  Good news travels extremely fast, and your good news can turn to bad, overnight.    See you on the ice.

Ron Anlauf

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