Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: AKBowman on November 30, 2010, 12:33:08 PM

Title: walleye and perch
Post by: AKBowman on November 30, 2010, 12:33:08 PM: 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.
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: Skillet on November 30, 2010, 01:01:04 PM: 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 -

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg9.imageshack.us%2Fimg9%2F5518%2F18inchdec202009.jpg&hash=696967fd5e3dc20d0c6ef219752ca02fb67f72b4) (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/18inchdec202009.jpg/)
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: Dustin07 on November 30, 2010, 01:23:00 PM: how do you know if its safe? is there a rule of thumb you follow?
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on November 30, 2010, 01:28:43 PM: I have been on a lot thinner but never in water over my head.

Joe
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: Skillet on November 30, 2010, 01:30:43 PM: Quote from: Dustin07 on November 30, 2010, 01:23:00 PM
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!
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: Dustin07 on November 30, 2010, 02:39:06 PM: nice. good fishing?
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: NRA4LIFE on November 30, 2010, 02:48:35 PM: 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.
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: C-Money on November 30, 2010, 03:03:28 PM: 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.
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: C-Money on November 30, 2010, 03:00:18 PM: 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!
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: Skillet on November 30, 2010, 03:13:38 PM: Quote from: Dustin07 on November 30, 2010, 02:39:06 PM
nice. good fishing?

Nah....

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg502.imageshack.us%2Fimg502%2F8518%2Fnowalleye.jpg&hash=7ed98ce1cca70189ed29d62b94cac3521c0021d6) (http://img502.imageshack.us/i/nowalleye.jpg/)
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: Skillet on November 30, 2010, 03:21:55 PM: Quote from: NRA4LIFE on November 30, 2010, 02:48:35 PM
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.
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: AKBowman on November 30, 2010, 08:45:56 PM: Sweet information, thanks fella's. Where abouts is Fish Lake? I'm familiar with the potholes and coulee areas.
Title: Re: walleye and perch
Post by: Ripper on November 30, 2010, 09:11:05 PM: It's by Lake Wennatchee, near Levenworth. On hwy 2.