Spoon Feeding Winter Walleyes 
by Jerry Carlson

Every now and then I like to spend some time watching fish with an underwater camera. Not only is this pastime entertaining, it is also educational.  

It was during an ice fishing trip to Red Lake in Northern Minnesota that I had an interesting experience I will not soon forget. I was playing with my camera when I spotted a walleye coming in. This fish worked the outer edges of the house before taking a closer look at our offerings. 

I watched as this nice sized fish came over to a dead stick bobber pole and sucked in the minnow. The bobber on the surface never even twitched to indicate a bite had taken place. 

A second later, the walleye spit out the minnow and began cruising off. About this time, I picked up my Buckshot Rattle Spoon and gave it a couple of shakes. I couldn’t see the bite because the spoon was on the opposite side of the lens, but I felt the “thunk” and set the hook.  

Over the years, I have learned that walleye have a real weakness for jigging spoons. There is something about the vertical, dancing presentation that walleye find irresistible.  

Even though jigging spoons are a deadly lure for winter fish, I do not choose my lure without considerable thought. I have some preferences that seem to make a difference. 

First of all, I tend to use a smaller sized jig than others. I have found that winter fish are not all that aggressive when it comes to eating. Many times smaller minnows and downsized spoons will produce more fish than their bigger counterparts.  

I like a little noise when jigging. I believe rattle spoons will out produce others most of the time. The subtle noise created by a small rattle does not go unnoticed by walleye. Sound travels very efficiently in water so even a small sound is easily picked up by fish. 

The color and finish is something else I am fussy about. Many of today’s lures feature holographic finishes that are eye catching even in low light. I especially like chartreuse as this color shows up in low light better than any other. Couple this with the fact that walleye see green very well and you have even more reason to try chartreuse. 

I have never quite figured out what walleye like about a minnow head, I just know it is important. I guess it is all about the scent. At any rate, a minnow head seems to be key in getting a lethargic fish to eat.  

The actual jigging action I use is quite varied. I will range all the way from aggressive to very subtle. Generally, however, I stick with rod sweeps of two to four inches with lots of light jiggles thrown in after the pauses. Most strikes come when the lure is dropping or stationary.  

As for other equipment, I find a medium action rod with four-pound-test Micro Ice to be ideal. A well working drag is also a must. 

Jigging spoons and walleye seem to go hand in hand. It is certainly not the only way to take winter walleyes, but it is a method that needs to be utilized with other winter presentations.