River through the ice help..

[riverrat669]

Where do walleyes go in the winter on the main river. Not in the pools. Has anyone ever fished the main river through the ice?

the green hornet strikes again

[watisituya]

I do all the time, In my section the bite is usually good during the day, mornings best. After dark it has been really slow this year. I use small spoons, Tungsten jigs with a minnow, I also do well shallow 6′ and under with tip ups (I set them up then wait on shore so i do not spook the fish)

[riverrat669]

And that’s on the main part of the river where there is current? Not in one of the pools?

the green hornet strikes again

[watisituya]

Rod and reel for me would be usually below a dam ice permitting, tip ups along the bank of the main channel. Where i am located you really cant get that far out in the main channel, it is wide open. I know where a few shallow rock piles are surrounded by sand from low water periods and that is where i place my tip ups.

I dont know where you are fishing but if you have any dams by you with slack water and you are certain the ice below is safe, id try there, that is usually the deepest hole in a given area….

Alot of people dont realize that river ice below a dam can freeze and become safe for walking before most of the lakes in the same area… Water that is shallow and moving changes temps faster. With that being said river ice can change in a day so ALWAYS check with a spud and stay AWAY from the spillway.

[riverrat669]

We live north of aitkin on the river and have drilled piles of holes in our summer spots, but never mark anything… River freezes completely up here so you can fish just about anywhere.

the green hornet strikes again

[Author]

Posts