During the early 2010 -2011 Ice Fishing Season on Lake of the Woods we’ve found many suspended Walleyes deeper than we’ve ever experienced this early in the season before. Is there any rhyme or reason to it? I honestly don’t know, but as my father always used to say, “It is what it is, and we’ll have to deal with it”. So, if you’re not rocking a Lowrance, Vexilar, MarCum, or a Humming Bird sonar system, you might just be experiencing some very tough Walleye fishing, but if you’ve one of these remarkable devices, you are in for a real treat this winter on Lake of the Woods. This is one reason why we have been given this technology to use, so those elusive suspended Walleyes wouldn’t travel around without being noticed out there in our massive body of water.
There are many different sonar systems available these days, but I have personally only used Lowrance, Vexilar and MarCum. I’ve spent extensive time on all three and I cannot give you one specific favorite, which means they all served there purpose and they all did the job of finding me some beautiful Walleyes.
I started finding the suspended Walleyes on December 23, 2010 while fishing with a few of the Wigwam Resort Ice Guides, Doug “The Surgeon” Hagen and Shane “Wiggles” Burk. We were out more than 12 miles from Lighthouse Gap into the heart of Lake of the Woods in 36 – 38 feet of water, “The Bowl”. The week prior, everyone was mystified with the lack of Walleyes being found in the “spots” they are usually at this time of year. So, we had to go on a Walleye finding re-con mission that spread far and wide throughout all the little nooks and crannies of our tremendous fishery. Not only were they suspended in deep water, but also around some fantastic rock structures just off the U.S./Canadian line. But once again, if you don’t have the right equipment, i.e. sonar, you wouldn’t even know they’re there.
Throughout the day on the 23rd we continually marked fish 3 to 15 feet directly below the ice. Not all of them were Walleyes, we found a few Tulipee in the mix also, but if you didn’t reel up and check them out, you weren’t catching the Walleyes. All of the fish on the bottom were Saugers and we weren’t discriminating against any fish that day, the more the merrier. On a few occasions we set the hook and pulled the Walleyes right through the hole with maybe 3 cranks of the reel, it was an awesome experience to say the least, and one that each of you can experience first hand with us on Lake of the Woods.
On December 30, 2010 I went out with another friend to see if the rocks were holding any suspended Walleyes, just as the deep water was, and they were in deed. Once again the Saugers were on the bottom and the Walleyes were cruising through at the same levels, 3 – 15 feet underneath the ice. We typically don’t see the suspended Walleyes till at least Mid January most years, but every year is different and you have to adapt. As I was speaking with a few of the local legends around Lake of the Woods, they all said that without today’s technology we wouldn’t be able to find the suspended Walleyes and we’d all be fishing in the dark, just like the song.
In conclusion, if you don’t have the right equipment to find the fish, chances are you’ll be bumming, while you’re friends with the right equipment will be smiling. By simply embracing the technology that has been provided to each one of us, it allows each of you to make the most of every ice fishing opportunity while fishing Lake of the Woods, “The Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery”…God Bless and Good Luck!
Wigwam Fisherman
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