During this time, they roam to feed and when they are full, they will head to that deep river channel. These fish are now transitioning into a morning and night bite pattern on vast mud flats. This seems to be where the fish are in ambush mode which will produce some aggressive bites, but not for long.įeeding patterns change as pike and walleye do what I call “selective eating” as we reach mid to late winter. Early to mid winter I head for points and breaks, typically near wood or rock structure that I’ve marked on my GPS during open water in the fall. As the season rolls on and the ice thickens, fish will be headed for structure and this is where things can get confusing. If you can find a weed edge near a drop off you hit the jackpot as these fish will feed along the weed edge adjacent to an escape route near the depths. These edges will be key areas at first ice, for feeding pike and walleye, as these areas are habitat for our target species and their forage.Īt this stage you’re going to want to focus on shallow waters of about 6-12ft. When scouting late in the fall I’m looking for weed edges that will be decaying as the ice shows up. So in my opinion, the more information you can collect throughout the year will make all fishing seasons more productive. I spend countless hours before ice up scouting spots, mapping the lake both on my electronics and in my head. We all know that fish move around, but knowing when and where they will end up, is always a challenge. Typically, when you find yourself in this situation, you have hit the old river channel and this can be a productive spot at certain times of day and year. Drilling a hole in one spot at 18 feet of water, then taking two steps and drilling another hole and being in 35ft can be a challenge, but also rewarding when these close proximities of depths are available. Locating fish with extreme differences in structure and depth can be challenging especially on a reservoir lake. More often than not, the middle range of these depths is the sweet spot for the longest period of time through the winter, which is about 12-24ft. The southern Saskatchewan lakes I frequent range in depth from 0-60ft with my typical target depths from 6-30ft. This flooded river channel provides exceptional habitat for these fish as well as their forage. It now holds an abundance of walleye, pike and perch. My “home” lake is a man made reservoir that was once a river system. Boasting 68 different species of fish, inhabiting more than 100,000 lakes in Saskatchewan, the differences are as vast as the province itself. Not all lakes are created equal and this couldn’t be more true than in Saskatchewan. What works on your usual fishing holes, more times than not, won’t be as productive on unknown lakes. Locating fish on new and different types of lakes can be challenging. The Search Continues: Walleye & Pike in Saskatchewanīy Exist To Fish | | Attractants, crankbaits, Featured, Ice Fishing, News, Perch, Pike, Tips, Walleye
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