I was wondering if anyone has any luck icing walleye? Is starvation worth trying? If so is the inlet the place to be?
Welcome to the board.
To most of us, fishing for walleyes through the ice is like snipe hunting. Your quarry seems not to exist. By far the largest number of walleye caught…either in open water or through the ice…are caught by anglers fishing for something (anything) else.
There are several things that can contribute to catching walleyes under ice. First, fish where they are. They cruise around looking for food in most lakes. However, in deep lakes they often descend to some of the deepest spots and sometimes just lay like logs for long periods…not eating or anything.
Secondly, stealth is critical. In shallow lakes like Utah Lake and Willard you will not do well if you make a lot of noise. Drill your holes well in advance, if possible, and then either remain seated quietly or tippy toe when you move around. Don’t drop anything on the ice and don’t bang on your sled or bucket. Drilling additional holes or making unnatural noises can send shallow water walleyes scooting for quieter areas. A bunch of friendly folks joining you on the ice is almost a sure killer for any walleye action.
Walleyes love whole minnows and whole crawlers. They are the best baits. However, they will smack almost anything you send down for other species too…from tiny teardrop jigs to big tubes. A bit of bait helps.
I don’t know anybody who is consistently successful on Starvation walleyes in the winter. Last year there were quite a few serious Starvation experts who “swiss cheesed” the whole lake and could not find many walleye…or perch either. The only verifiable walleye success I heard about was near the dam…catching small walleyes from over 80 feet of water. Can’t provide much more info than that.
Bottom line? You have a much better shot at walleye from Yuba, Utah Lake or Willard. But, again, you have to find them and keep the other species off your line.