01-09-2011, 02:44 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I have not fished SFCR in the winter but have done well on the wallies there in the warmer months. They seem to act much like the same species in some of Utah's waters so I suspect they act the same in the winter. But you can never assume anything about that species. I think they were put on earth to keep anglers humble.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have often made the comparison between SFCR and Starvation Reservoir in Utah. Deep channels with rocky shorelines and shallow bays. And the fish in SFCR probably feed and hang out in the same types of areas.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That being said, the walleyes in Starvation are not completely predictable either and are often almost impossible to find under the ice. Sometimes you can find them hanging out with perch in water shallower than 30 feet. Other times they are caught on the bottom in over 60 feet of water. And guys with cameras report seeing a lot more than they catch. Hmmm.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have caught a bunch of walleyes through the ice from several different Utah reservoirs. Some on purpose. Most were caught on stuff I was fishing for perch. They both feed on baby perch and other small species during the winter...when they are active. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Some guys fish them on a second rod, using either a whole crawler or a minnow hanging just off the bottom...with a split shot a foot or so above the baited hook. Others prefer to put the bait on some kind of colorful jig head...or even on a small jigging spoon. Both work...sometimes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]How you fish a jig or spoon depends on the mood of the fish. If they are actively cruising and looking for food, it is good to hold the rod and keep the bait and jig moving. Sometimes a lot of action is best. Other times just a "shivver jig" now and then. And there are lots of times when the fish hit "dead stick" baits and lures better than if you are giving it a lot of movement. You have to experiment and see what the fish want. And you have to keep changing up during the day because the moods change. They can go from negative to positive in an instant. Or, they can go from a wide open bite to lockjaw just as fast. Moody suckers.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If I were to make it up to SFCR for an ice fishing fest I would look for a point going out into the water and drill a series of holes on both sides in water from about 25 feet out to 45 feet. I would use a good flasher to check the underwater life in each hole...but being aware that the sonar will not work as well on steeply sloping bottom. Sometimes a flatter area on either side of the points are better. At other times the fish will spread out on the flats to feed...especially if the bottom has mud, rocks or weeds that hold invertebrates. Walleyes (especially smaller ones) do feed on worms, leeches and insect larvae during the winter. Bigger fish feed on the smaller fish that inhabit these areas to feed on the bitty bites.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you find an area that holds a lot of small perch...from 2" young of the year to 5" two year olds...there will usually be some walleyes nearby. Those small perch are walleye cheeseburgers. So dropping your jigs and working your lures around perchlets will sometimes bring in the predators. Sometimes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are two truths in fishing for walleyes. 1. You cain't ketch 'em where they ain't. 2. Finding them is no guarantee you can get 'em to bite.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have often made the comparison between SFCR and Starvation Reservoir in Utah. Deep channels with rocky shorelines and shallow bays. And the fish in SFCR probably feed and hang out in the same types of areas.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That being said, the walleyes in Starvation are not completely predictable either and are often almost impossible to find under the ice. Sometimes you can find them hanging out with perch in water shallower than 30 feet. Other times they are caught on the bottom in over 60 feet of water. And guys with cameras report seeing a lot more than they catch. Hmmm.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have caught a bunch of walleyes through the ice from several different Utah reservoirs. Some on purpose. Most were caught on stuff I was fishing for perch. They both feed on baby perch and other small species during the winter...when they are active. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Some guys fish them on a second rod, using either a whole crawler or a minnow hanging just off the bottom...with a split shot a foot or so above the baited hook. Others prefer to put the bait on some kind of colorful jig head...or even on a small jigging spoon. Both work...sometimes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]How you fish a jig or spoon depends on the mood of the fish. If they are actively cruising and looking for food, it is good to hold the rod and keep the bait and jig moving. Sometimes a lot of action is best. Other times just a "shivver jig" now and then. And there are lots of times when the fish hit "dead stick" baits and lures better than if you are giving it a lot of movement. You have to experiment and see what the fish want. And you have to keep changing up during the day because the moods change. They can go from negative to positive in an instant. Or, they can go from a wide open bite to lockjaw just as fast. Moody suckers.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If I were to make it up to SFCR for an ice fishing fest I would look for a point going out into the water and drill a series of holes on both sides in water from about 25 feet out to 45 feet. I would use a good flasher to check the underwater life in each hole...but being aware that the sonar will not work as well on steeply sloping bottom. Sometimes a flatter area on either side of the points are better. At other times the fish will spread out on the flats to feed...especially if the bottom has mud, rocks or weeds that hold invertebrates. Walleyes (especially smaller ones) do feed on worms, leeches and insect larvae during the winter. Bigger fish feed on the smaller fish that inhabit these areas to feed on the bitty bites.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you find an area that holds a lot of small perch...from 2" young of the year to 5" two year olds...there will usually be some walleyes nearby. Those small perch are walleye cheeseburgers. So dropping your jigs and working your lures around perchlets will sometimes bring in the predators. Sometimes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are two truths in fishing for walleyes. 1. You cain't ketch 'em where they ain't. 2. Finding them is no guarantee you can get 'em to bite.[/#0000ff]
[signature]