walleye and perch

[AKBowman]

Hope everyone is having a great season so far. I am looking for a lake or two to try my hand at ice fishing for perch and walleye. Probably will mix it in with a day of predator calling as well.

If anyone would be willing to give general starting directions that would be great. Also what tackle...i'm assuming small colorful 1/16 or 1/8 oz jigs?

If anyone has pics that would be cool to see to.

[Skillet]

Where are you heading out from?  

Central Washington is where it's at for walleye.  Banks freezes thick enough some years (got my fingers crossed!), Potholes (Lind Coulee), Moses, etc. There are walleye all through the irrigation project, but fishable numbers are in those "Big Three".

I like metal spoons, jigs tipped with perch belly strips, etc.  Standard walleye fare.  No live minnows allowed in Washington, though.

Here's one from last Christmas -

[Dustin07]

how do you know if its safe? is there a rule of thumb you follow?

[BLKBEARKLR]

I have been on a lot thinner but never in water over my head.

Joe

[Skillet]

how do you know if its safe? is there a rule of thumb you follow?

Yep - Never be the first one on the ice.  

Past that, I drill holes as I go out.  I usually won't fish on less than 3 inches of solid clear ice, a little more if it's got some color in it.  Most people say 4 inches, and until you get the feel for ice, that's a pretty safe play.

Incontrast, last winter on Lake Winnipeg, we drilled 4 FEET of ice.  Some places there were pressure ridges - it was thicker and we just couldn't get through (gas powered 36" long auger and a 12" extension).  And fished in 10 feet of water below that.  No worries about falling in there!

[Dustin07]

nice. good fishing?

[NRA4LIFE]

I've never been on it in the einter, but Fish lake north of Wenatchee has decent numbers of perch.  We used little jigs tipped with maggots back in WI.  Perch meat would work well too I imagine. 

I have drilled through 4+ feet of ice on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin too.  And yes, some places you just could not get through.

[C-Money]

We did good on perch and small walleye on Lind Coulee a few years ago. I have not been back since the 12'' size on walleye.

[C-Money]

We did real well on perch and small walleye on Lind Coulee years ago, before th ewalleye size limit went to 12''. I would like to get back there and try again! I used maggots!

[Skillet]

nice. good fishing?

Nah....

[Skillet]

I've never been on it in the einter, but Fish lake north of Wenatchee has decent numbers of perch.  We used little jigs tipped with maggots back in WI.  Perch meat would work well too I imagine. 

Fish lake has a pretty strong ice fishing contingent later in the year.  I never have, but I'll give it a shot this year.

[AKBowman]

Sweet information, thanks fella's. Where abouts is Fish Lake? I'm familiar with the potholes and coulee areas.

[Ripper]

It's by Lake Wennatchee, near Levenworth. On hwy 2.