I want to catch a walleye! (near Malone Isl.)

I’m brand new to ice fishing and to Mille Lacs. I’m very happy to have found IDO and the Mille Lacs forum in particular. It’s amazing how much I’ve picked up in only a few hours on IDO from forums and watching a couple of videos. Thanks to all. Hopefully I’ll be able to contribute in the future.

Okay, so my next chance to try to get a walleye on the ice will be Saturday, February 8. My son, his friend, and I will be on foot dragging a sled off the north west corner of Malone Island. Between us we have a grand total of three ice fishing days experience. My son caught a few Northerns on another lake but none of us has ever caught a walleye.

We’ll only have a hand auger and only one flasher (that we’ve never used before). So far we’ve gotten together two tip-ups and three ice rods. We more or less know how to rig the tip ups with minnows and we more or less know how to work a jig with a minnow head aided by a flasher.

YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ACCEPT IT: TELL ME HOW TO CATCH A WALLEYE!

Where should we go? It has to be within reasonable walking distance of Malone Island.

Keeping in mind that the number of holes I’m going to be able to get my son and his friend to drill by hand is finite and keeping in mind that we only have one flasher among us (and two tip ups and three ice rods), what strategies and lures/minnows do you recommend?

What time of day or night will give us the best odds? We don’t have a pop up or anything so depending on the weather we may not make it all day.

What we lack in equipment and experience I’m hoping we can make up for with persistence and luck.

I would appreciate any tips. I will post the results of our trip.

Not familiar with Malone Island at all, but my only time i have ever been there, last year, I fished on a mud flat at about 34 fow. Our best fishing was deadsticking a plain hook and a fathead (check reports, maybe give shiners a shot). Wish i could help you out more, but thats all i have got.

best of luck!

Lots of structure around there. You should be able to find
a few fish on the breaks.

Make sure the blades are sharp and put those boys to work.

Good Luck!

Buy the cheap nAvionics app for the smart phone, instead of drilling blind you will have an idea of where the structure is. Walleyes love dawn and dusk, concentrate on those two times before and after for the best odds. Personally I will take shiner minnows for eyes over anything else for lakes, get a good mix of bait in general to see what they prefer. Flourocarbon leaders are a good idea too, clearer water might want at least a 5-10′ lead of that stuff to the bait. Good luck and hope you get one.

Don’t be afraid to try euro larve on smaller jigging spoons
(forage minnow) for some jumbo perch.

Load it up and walleyes will eat it too!

There is a lot of ice right now and a hand auger can get tiring. I would suggest searching for old holes and try to reuse them after you get tired of drilling. Bring a spud chip away ice at old holes and look around for people moving or leaving and use the holes they drilled.

Steer clear of the area near the bridge. There is current through there that makes for thin ice.

-J.

Great tips. Thanks. I especially appreciate the safety tip. I understand that being at the novice stage means we’re at increased risk. Thanks for reminding me to leave large margins for error.

Hi,

2nd the motion on the smart phone app. It has 1 ft contours and works great for ML. For droid it is Marine&Lakes USA, I think $9.99.
My advice on location to fish, look West and see where the houses are. Pick something within walking distance, my guess will be the rocks to the Northwest.
If you do not already have, pick up a couple of jigging spoons and tip with minnow.

I would suggest keeping a very close eye on the weather. The big lake can turn ugly very quickly and if you are walking out especially just remember about the weather. Once again GPS helps a guy out big time! I am on a rock/gravel transition on the east side and have been doing good on rattle reels(for you basically a bobber and fat head minnow). Gem-N-Eye in color green has worked best for me. Good Luck!!