Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 19

Targeting deeper holes and moving water can be effective for midday fishing outings.

sensitive to light and typically wait until dawn and dusk to
feed in shallow water. Targeting deeper holes and moving
water can be effective for midday fishing outings. I like to
fish for Walleyes midday, as I often find fish schooled up
tighter when staging in deeper holes.
When fishing a river in the winter for Walleyes, safety
is of the utmost importance. Always wear a life jacket in a
boat, notify family or friends of your fishing location, and
fish with a partner. Falling into cold water can prove fatal
and is not worth the risk. Fishing from shore is an effective
and safer option, but similar precautions should be taken.
Effective river lures include jigs, deep diving crankbaits,
flat sided crankbaits, and weighted swimbaits. Live bait
drifted in the current can also work tremendously well.
Live minnows, leeches, whole nightcrawlers, and crayfish
tails can produce bites.
Fishing lakes and reservoirs in the winter, when the
water is open and unfrozen, can be a prime opportunity to
catch Walleyes. A fish finder can come in handy to locate
schools of Walleyes chasing baitfish or holding locations.
If there are islands, check the shoals, as Walleyes can
occasionally be found moving along these shallow areas to
find food.
Jig heads tipped with leeches, minnows, or curly tail
grubs are an excellent presentation to try. A drop-shot rig
with a minnow or leech soft plastic can also work well too.
This is typically a bass presentation, but Walleyes feed in a
similar manner and prefer to rise to eat a bait rather than
swimming towards the bottom.
If the lakes and reservoirs in your area freeze solid,
ice fishing for Walleyes can be as fun as it gets. A tactic
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used by many ice anglers is to drill holes across a body
of water. Then, check the holes with an ice flasher or
fish finder. Finding deep holes, transition areas from
shoals to deep water, and rock piles are all prime
Walleye spots through the ice. Jigging spoons tipped
with minnow heads, leeches, or nightcrawlers can
draw bites after locating a school of fish.
Another tried and true tactic is to place tip-ups
across an area of a frozen lake. Live minnows or
suspending nightcrawlers above the bottom will catch
the attention of moving schools of Walleyes. Key areas
to place tip-ups are the same as previously mentioned,
and seeing a flag pop up is a great ordeal of excitement.
Winter fishing for Walleyes can be an overlooked
opportunity during the winter months. While the bite
is not always consistent or plentiful, the challenge of
finding Walleyes adds to the experience when you finally
have a productive outing. There is a learning curve to
locating schools of Walleyes consistently, but you are in
for fun times when you narrow down these areas.
Walleyes caught during the winter are excellent
table fare as well. Check the bag limit and size
regulations for the water you are fishing before
keeping Walleyes. The meat is white, flaky, and firm.
My personal favorite recipes include a traditional fish
fry, grilling, and cooking in a " shore lunch " fashion
with diced potatoes. If your interest has not peaked to
give winter Walleye fishing a try, I am not sure what
else to say. While it can be a challenge, the reward is
great, and it beats staying inside during the colder
months of the year.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2021

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021

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