Avid angler Caleb Wistad of HookedUpWi gives a few tips on utilizing tip ups for walleyes in shallow weed beds.
Tip Ups for Walleye
Tip Ups are a great way to target walleyes throughout the winter months. They allow you to cover a greater area and fish a variety of different livebait options.
Location
When most anglers think of winter walleyes they tend to focus on spots like rock piles, points, and reefs. One of the best and most overlooked spot to target big walleyes, especially after dark, is shallow weed lines and weed beds.
A number of big fish can be found after dark cruising the shallow weed beds looking for perch, bluegills, and other baitfish.
Set lines are a great way to target walleyes, because they allow you to spread out and fish a larger area without having to make a lot of noise and commotion.
Look for scattered standing weeds anywhere from five to ten feet of water. Utilize underwater cameras to locate the bait and then set your tip-ups near the schools of baitfish.
Setting Up Tip Ups for Walleye
There are two key things you need to do when setting tip ups for walleye in shallow weed beds.
The first is to set your tip-ups about a foot or two above the weed beds.
This will allow the walleyes to see the minnow from a distance away. If you lower the minnow too far into the weeds the walleyes will have a tough time finding it.
The second thing you need to do when setting tip ups for walleyes is to have a weight no more than twelve inches away from your minnow.
This will help prevent your minnow from ranging out and getting hung up in the weeds.
Tip Ups Options For Walleye
There are a variety of different tip ups for walleyes available, but two of the best are the Clam Predator Tip Up and original Beaver Dam tip up.
Clam Predator Tip Up
The Clam Predator Tip Up allows the angler to use their favorite rod as a set line.
The Predator Tip Up has an adjustable sensitivity and power setting so ice anglers can set how much force they would like.
This is extremely convenient when tip up fishing for walleyes because you can adjust force depending on the size of minnow you are using.
This tip up is also adjustable and it fits a variety of ice fishing rod lengths and actions allowing you to use your favorite walleye ice fishing rod as a tip up.
Beaver Dam Tip Up
The original Beaver Dam Tip Up has been a staple for anglers all across the ice belt.
The Beaver Dam Tip Up has smooth-spool technology and freeze proof grease that ensures even the most finicky fish won’t drop the bait, helping you put more fish on the ice.
Best Live Bait for Walleyes
Shiners, fatheads, sucker minnows, and rainbow minnows are all great options for walleyes. If possible it’s nice to use a variety of different sizes and species of minnows at the same time.
On one tip up use a medium sized shiner and on the next use a large fathead. Some days the walleyes have a preference on which bait they are willing to eat.
There are a variety of different factors like the mood of the fish and forage in the lake just that can affect which minnow is preferred.
Conclusion
If you haven’t tired tip ups for shallow water walleye I highly recommend you give it a try. It’s incredible effective and can produce some of the biggest walleyes you will catch all year.
