Fishing the Midwest Online with Bob Jensen

WINTER WALLEYES by Bob Jensen

At a time when many anglers are either getting ready to go ice-fishing or are already out on the ice, a few knowledgeable anglers are still working many of the Midwest’s rivers for walleyes. On some rivers fishing pressure is light, while on other rivers there are quite a few boats. Action can be very good right now on some sections of the Missouri, Mississippi, and Wisconsin rivers, as well as many of the smaller rivers that flow throughout the Midwest. Here’s how you can get in on the action.

First off, dress warm. No matter how fast the fish are biting, you won’t enjoy the action if you’re cold. The new Extreme clothing from Carhartt is warm and repels water. It’s perfect for fishing from a boat when the weather is cold.
Ice Cold Walleye
Warm boots are a must as well. When your feet get cold, everything seems to be cold. Some folks use electric socks to keep their feet warm, others prefer the heavy Arctic-type boots. Whatever you choose, do what it takes to keep your feet warm.

Jigs will be the presentation of choice. If the water is fairly clear, a Fire-ball jig will be a good choice. In stained water, go with a Buck-Shot Rattle Jig. The noisy jig seems to appeal to the fish when their vision is limited.

Orange or chartreuse jigs are good almost everywhere, but especially so in stained water. Don’t forget to try glow-in-the-dark also.

I like to add a three inch Power Grub to my jigs, but this time of the year I frequently break the tail off the grub. If the fish are aggressive, leave the grub intact. If they seem to be a little sluggish, however, removing the tail seems to help. The color and bulk of the tail is what we’re after.

Winter walleyes can be soft-takers. FireLine can be a big advantage in the winter. It’s super-sensitivity along with the thin diameter allow the jigs to be worked effectively in deep water without sacrificing feel.

A rod with a soft tip is also a big advantage when the fish are taking softly. A soft-tipped rod will bend to the fish without alerting the walleye to the angler’s presence. A fast-tipped rod doesn’t bend as easily, which often results in the fish rejecting the jig. Fenwick makes a number of great jigging rods.

In the winter a gentle jigging action generally works best. In fact, dragging the jig on the bottom with no or very few hops does the trick when nothing else does. The real key is getting out there and doing it. At times these winter fish will be easy to catch however you decide to work your jig. Although it might seem like ice-fishing season, there are some walleyes to be caught in open-water also.

Our Team | Message Board | Magazine | TV Show | Buy the Book | Contact Us | Walleye Central | Articles