Ice Fishing Tips for Walleye in Northern Minnesota

Walleye is a freshwater fish native to the northern United States and Canada. The fish is olive and gold and can be up to 42 inches in length with an approximate weight of 25 pounds. Walleye are a fairly aggressive fish and put up a good fight, making them a challenge to catch. Mid-winter slows them down and makes them easier to catch, as long as you use the right approach.

  1. Light Sensitivity

    • Walleyes are sensitive to light conditions and tend to bite around dawn and dusk. They are triggered into activity by the changes in light, and feed in the 90 minute window around sunrise and sundown. This is the best time to fish for walleye.

    First Ice

    • Walleyes bite best at first ice. The ideal time to find them is just after the ice becomes thick enough to safely ice fish. They can be found in the shallow areas of lakes where ice forms first, then tracked as the ice moves over deeper waters.

    Jigging Technique

    • Walleyes are usually caught by jigging--raising the fishing rod up a foot and then dropping it back down into its starting position. The motion this creates in the lure attracts the walleye. The important thing to remember when jigging is to make a complete stop of 3 to 10 seconds before raising the rod to drop it again. Varying the time it stays still is effective in luring walleye.

    Lures

    • There are two types of lures that have high success in catching walleye. Flash spoons are vertical spoon lures with a treble hook on the bottom. Effective flash lures include Swedish Pimple and Acme Kastmaster. Swimming lures, such as Jigging Rapala or Nils Master Jigging Shad, can be effective for catching more aggressive walleye. They have treble hook barbs. Live bait to be used with the lures include minnows, leeches and nightcrawlers.

    Location

    • Walleyes generally can be found in the same places of the lake they inhabited before the ice formed. They are usually found within a couple of feet of the lake bottom. They stay near points, breaks, humps and rock piles--the places where they find shelter and food. As winter deepens, walleye tend to move out toward mid-lake, where the water is slightly warmer. As spring approaches, they move into shallower areas, such as shoreline points and breaks.

    Lakes

    • Some lakes are better than other for ice fishing walleye in Minnesota. A USA Today report suggests that Upper Red Lake--the largest lake in Minnesota--offers the best walleye fishing in the state. It is located in Beltrami County. Mills Lacs Lake, just north of St. Paul, also promises an abundance of walleye. Gull lake--which hosts the annual "Ice Fishing Extravaganza"-- features a large walleye population as well. Lake of the Woods, located near the Canadian border, is considered to be one of Minnesota's top ice fishing destinations and bills itself the "Walleye Capital of the World."