Page 11 - ODUNovAndDec2018

Of course, in order to hook into one of these fish, you first have to find them. So, when it comes to

location, we like to look for basin areas that are from 15 to 30-feet deep. The best place to target
walleyes is close to drop-offs and within a few hundred feet of the base of them. As winter rolls on, they
will become harder to catch since they will begin to roam the basin, making it a little more difficult to
pinpoint where they are. However, during early ice they will still be found closer to the drop offs.

It is important to note that this isn’t the only early season pattern, as shallow weeds and weed edges
can produce in some lakes, but the shallow basin areas can usually hold good populations of fish. The
best spots to locate them is off points, inside cups and areas between drop-offs that are close together,

such as in between two sunken islands that are close together.

Now that you know where to find the fish, it is time to catch them. This means it is Hot Box time. When
we say Hot Box, we are referring to the JT Outdoors Hot Box, which is a heated aluminum box keeps
holes open up to 20 degrees below zero!

We like to use it with a dead stick (snare rod), although at this time of year some prefer the more
conventional tip up flag option. The 36” Snare Rod, also from JT Outdoors, has an integral Nitinol (an
alloy blend of nickel and titanium) spring bobber that is virtually indestructible and kink resistant. It also
contains a highly visible
indicator bead at the
end to let you know
when you have a strike.
The rod itself is a high-

grade fiberglass with a
super slow action. This
provides a parabolic
action, which allows the
rod to load ultra-subtly.

Once the fish grabs the

bait, the spring bobber
and rod loads the fish.
When the fish begin to
feel this tension, they
react by trying to swim
away, which in turn
puts further load on the
rod and the fish end up

setting the hook
themselves.

The length and long
bend of the rod give
plenty of time for
anglers to get to the