Sight Fishing Walleyes through the ice

Anyone ever have any luck sight fishing for walleyes through the ice right before dark. My dad was telling me about 15 years ago how they would cut a spear hole and sight fish walleyes on an inside sand weed line. They caught some giants as well. I had some success on a small lake in east central Minnesota that was short lived about 8 years ago. The lake was extremely shallow but never got a lot of ice due to aeration system. It was interesting to watch them cruise by in schools then right before the sun went down it was game on. This was all in about 6ft of water.

I’ve been thinking of fishing really shallow at night too but wonder if it is worth it on a fairly clear lake or if it only would work in stained water….

What was the water clarity like in your dad’s story?

I think it would work well if the water clarity is there. There are a few videos out there I’ve seen guys doing it for other species and it looks sweet. Here’s one from Uncut Angling. He’s got a couple of them. (might want to check out his other videos too, they are all pretty good.

Once when visiting my neighbor up at Mille Lacs…Steve Fellegy, he told me a story from many years ago sight fishing for walleyes on Mille Lacs with his older brother Joe. For those of you unaware, the Fellegy’s became amongst the most accomplished walleye anglers and launch operators on the lake, pioneering many walleye tactics and techniques back in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70″s.
So, many years ago…Joe by then had become one of the more successful innovators of catching walleye, he and Steve went out together in the evening. Sitting side by side, using the exact same setup, spoon, etc.
Sure enough the walleyes began to show up at their feet and they could watch them. Almost right away, Joe is hooking and pulling in walleyes one after the other. Steve meanwhile is not catching anything and watches as they come in and look at his offering and then swim over and grab Joe’s. Steve tries to look over and see what Joe is doing different. He just couldn’t tell and Joe wasn’t saying either…just laughing!

Finally he discovered that Joe had refined his jigging technique to cause the jigging spoon to flutter horizontally, not up and down vertically. Holding it steady didn’t do the trick either, it had to be fluttering horizontal. Once the secret was out, Steve caught his limit and they both went home with walleyes for dinner!

Always such a privilege to hear stories from the “old timers”…

Yea I guess I was thinking that in a clear lake they might spook easy and a stained lake might be better but I guess in stained water there probably isn’t much of a night bite. I get walleyes at night in normal depths but its been slow this winter. I might move real shallow this weekend since I’ll be on my own and can be ultra quiet. I’ll report back on how it goes…….

Any Luck shallow Dan?

I have not cut a spear hole to sight fish Walleye, but I did catch a few Walleyes in 5FOW on early ice and I could watch them check out my baits through my 8″ hole.

I almost always bring a panfish rod and waxies when I go spearing, however. It is a blast to sight fish pannies while spearing, also drawing in Pike with “natural” bait. Yes, it is legal to do, a spear counts as 1 line.

Not yet. I got the Norovirus last weekend…BAD. Never felt so sick. This weekend I have buddies coming up to fish eyes so I probably won’t try experimenting shallow since there will be more noise then usual.

I really want to though. Have some shallow spots picked out for night fishing. Next weekend hopefully. I’ll report back when I get shallow for sure…..

About 15 years ago I spent a lot of time sight fishing walleyes. Mostly on smaller central mn lakes. I really only sight fished from first ice thru late December or early January at the latest and it was the earlier in the year the better for me. I only fished from 5 to 8 feet. I would only really fish an hour and a half in the morning and evening. I used a flip over house with three holes drilled connecting to each other in a line or use a portable spear house. It was not a numbers bite for me but maybe just 1 or 2 larger fish per outing. It was a great way to learn even with old equipment.

I am heading up to my Castle out of Red Door with my wife tonight, we are way out on pantry now. the plan is to fish tonight out there and I am going to run in to the first break at about 6 am in my portable, I am probably going to set up on the top side of the break in 10′ for the morning bite. I am hoping there are signs of life as I would like to move the castle tomorrow afternoon if I can catch any nice ones. I will keep you posted. Hopefully you get better soon.

Never done it myself. In-fisherman had an article a few years back about it. Guys cutting like a spearing size hole out and sight fishing for eyes…sounds cool.