Another fantastic summer and fall fishing season has winter approaching. With that being said anglers are making transitions towards this upcoming ice fishing season. Cold, consistent weather will make for early ice fishing opportunities. Early ice can be very productive for walleyes: not only are anglers making transitions with winter on its way, but walleyes are as well. Early ice walleye fishing is so productive because walleyes are at their peek feeding craze. On top of that, oxygen levels are still high and weed vegetation is still present to hold walleyes in the bays of Green Bay. Door County is well known for its ability to produce big walleyes, and taking the extra steps to be persistent to find these fish, whether it be on rock bars, humps, breaks or reefs, will determine which areas these big fish are frequenting.
Another key concept with early ice walleyes is that they are responsive and very agressive. By jigging aggressively and finding the strike zones of these fish, this will factor greatly towards one's success. Remember that walleyes are creatures of habit constantly looking for food. with that being said a walleyes strike zone is dictated around water temperature."Do not limit your self and your jigging". Understand that being able to compensate for water temperature in a way that you either slow your jigging down, or entice the fish with a more aggressive jigging action, will make the difference at the end of the day.
BELOW IS A VIDEO OF AN EARLY ICE WALLEYE CUSTOMER AND HIS CATCH LAST JANUARY 2011:
Whitefish numbers are very strong and continue to be on the rise. As walleyes may present a challenge to ice anglers, whitefish continue to be a draw for many! As time goes, whitefish are continuously on the move and looking for food. Not only are whitefish ahead in numbers, but they taste great and are an absolute blast to catch, especially in deep water where whitefish are commonly found.
Going back to the same spots every season-for whatever species you are in search of-is not always the answer. Although these spots may produce, it's always good to have other options if all else fails. Understanding a body of water and keying in on specific areas where giant walleyes or the fighting whitefish dwell will always be an advantage. Ice is always unpredictable and has a mind of its own, taking extra steps to ensure they safety of your life and the other members of your party is always important while fishing through the ice.
Wacky Walleye Guide service has recently returned from the 19th annual St. Paul ice show, and it is looking like another great year with a lot of new awesome products. We can't wait to put our Frabill ice gear and Jiffy ice drills to work. We are also proud to say that we have more new additions to our fleet of permanent heated ice shacks and Polaris crew cab rangers!! It's getting cold and ice is just starting to form in areas, so grab your gear and get ready to head out to the ice its coming fast! BUT, most importantly, have fun and always be safe while taking to the ice. Good Luck Fishing!! Tight Lines!!!
-Contributed by Ice Guide, Aaron Pribyl-Wacky Walleye Crew
