Walleyes are often the quarry of early-season ice anglers. Walleyes will respond to a number of different lure types under the ice, but they especially like to eat spoons. From new ice to late ice, walleyes like flashy baits. There are a bunch of different types of spoons available to walleye anglers. Although they may look similar, there are some differences, and there are a few things you should consider when you’re deciding what spoon to tie onto the end of your line. Here are some of those considerations.
Is the water clear or cloudy? In cloudy water, a noisy spoon like a Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is the way to go. The rattling noise coming from the spoon will help walleyes find the bait easier when their sight is limited.
In clear water the rattling noise isn’t as necessary. If you’re fishing clear water and see fish on your sonar that come in and look at your lure but don’t eat it, and if you’re using a rattling lure, switch to a spoon that doesn’t rattle. A quiet lure, at times, will be more productive, especially in clear water. A Forage Minnow Spoon is a good example of a quiet spoon that walleyes like to eat. Often though, even in clear water, Mr.‘Eye will prefer that noisy spoon.
Consider the color of the spoon. Again, clear or cloudy water will have a bearing on what color to start with. Clear water: Something natural in appearance. Cloudy water: Go with something brighter, something that will be more visible in limited visibility conditions.
If you have a “glow” lure, give it a flash of light and put it down there. I’ve seen lots of times when a “glow” lure out-produced anything else. The new “UV” colors shine brighter and longer.
And, again, if the fish are looking but not eating, try something else. Sometimes bright lures perform very well in clear water.
If you’re fishing walleyes that have been getting a lot of fishing pressure, try something way different. Fish become conditioned to a particular presentation. If everyone is doing the same thing and it’s not working, try something else.
Think about the physical size of your lure. In stained water a larger spoon will be easier to see, so a large lure will often be more productive.
When the fish are finicky, a spoon that’s smaller in appearance will often be better.
Last, consider the lure’s action. Some spoons are made from lead, some are made of metal. The metal spoons usually have a bend, which means the spoon will have more wobble as it falls. Metal spoons that wobble as they fall usually fall slower, which is appealing to walleyes in some situations. The new Buck-Shot Flutter Spoon has been outstanding when the walleyes want a little more flash and wobble.
A small snap-swivel will prevent line twist and is a good idea.
Spoons catch walleyes as well was perch and crappies and pike. Give them a try this winter. If you’re fishing near fish, and if those fish are just a little bit hungry, they’re going to eat your spoon.
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PHOTO CAPTION-John Peterson caught this mid-winter walleye out of stained water on a bright colored spoon. By Bob Jensen