If you're fishing for walleyes, don't get discouraged, stick it out through sunset.  More often than not the last 90min of light is better than the whole rest of the day.

Ask around, see if anyone has been catching anything in the area you are fishing. Also be observant, I have had people tell me they arent catching anything when they have a bucket next to them with fish in it, haha. Dont go wandering around, some lakes have springs in them and if you dont know where they are, you could end up taking a cold bath... Drive where other people have driven if you are driving on.

Horsager Said:
 If you're fishing for walleyes, don't get discouraged, stick it out through sunset.  More often than not the last 90min of light is better than the whole rest of the day.

As far as picking a area to fish, its really not a terrible lot different that summer fishing.  Find some good structure where the depth changes, or a flat adjacent to deeper water and try your luck.  In general for eyes, stay deeper during daylight hours (20+ feet) and go to shallow flats or ledges an hour and half before dark.   You can catch fish in deeper water in the night hours as well, but rule of thumb is generally you catch bigger fish in shallow water. 

I can't help much with Darling yet this year since I haven't been up there.  Audobon has been very hit and miss with the weather patterns.  I have caught small walleye every time out, but I don't keep 11-13" eyes.  We have also caught some real nice eyes at all times of the day this year.  Just depends on the day.  Today might be good, or early tomorrow morning.  Once that wind front comes in tomorrow, good luck keeping the ice house from becoming a kite.  I was hoping to get out all weekend....now it looks like Monday might  be the only non hurricane type day. 

 Where you do go, make damn sure you are humpin' the gear on foot and not by a truckload! 

Lycanthrope Said:

Ask around, see if anyone has been catching anything in the area you are fishing. Also be observant, I have had people tell me they arent catching anything when they have a bucket next to them with fish in it, haha. Dont go wandering around, some lakes have springs in them and if you dont know where they are, you could end up taking a cold bath... Drive where other people have driven if you are driving on.

Ya so basically tell him to become and Ice PIRATE.....guys like you make me sick....trust me if u want to be a good ice fisherman you get to spots first not follow ppl around and try to steal their spots...it will give u a bad name on the body of water to plan to fish and really piss ppl off....rule number one buy a GPS and find some structure

Wow!

guywhofishes Said:
Wow!

Double Wow!! So what do you call people that follow boats around during th summer? This happens to me nearly everyday on the soft water, guess I suppose to be PO'ed at most of the population! It's just fish for goodness sake!!!!

Forgot to mention MURDOCK is the worst offender but I still like him!!!! LMAO

walynut Said:

guywhofishes Said:
Wow!

Double Wow!! So what do you call people that follow boats around during th summer? This happens to me nearly everyday on the soft water, guess I suppose to be PO'ed at most of the population! It's just fish for goodness sake!!!!

They are just as bad....just the other day I was fishing in a spot for 2 mornings and nights come out the next afternoon and two clowns are fishing out of my holes that they redrilled...anyone who thinks that that is good practice is a total DBAG....basically told them to get bent and moved on to the next spot...good fishermen find fish they don't follow the crowd

We got ourselves a real crapstorm of periods going on.

good fishermen find fish they don't follow the crowd

This I do agree with becuase it will force you to become a more adaptive fisherman thus making you better. Why do you think i always get that pork chop look in the summer fishing in 7 FOW with 80degree water temp!!!! It works for me, I catch the fish to prove it but people still dont belive walleye will be that shallow in the summer. More room for me!! However, I did buy one of the flouresent green T-shirts from Scheels this year that says "If you can read this your fishing to close!" we'll see if that works!! LOL

Horsager Said:
 If you're fishing for walleyes, don't get discouraged, stick it out through sunset.  More often than not the last 90min of light is better than the whole rest of the day.

This would be the number one thing to remember when going after walleyes through the ice!  I just sit and shake my head at the people that show up at 9 am and fish till 4 pm.  Even if you are just fishing perch get to the lake and be setup before the sun comes up in the morning or if you are finishing the afternoon stay till at least sunset.  Most of the nice perch we have caught this year have come after 4 pm. 

Also if you are fishing in a community area or by anyone for that matter, it ticks people off when you show up right at sun up and start cutting holes!

Hes brand new, never done it before and you are telling him to strike out on his own and find fish, thats not going to help him much AND its dangerous. If someone doesnt know what they are doing, the best thing to do is set up near some other guys and ask for help. I help people all the time when Im out on the ice, if Im catching fish I will walk over to people near me if they arent having any luck and ask them what they are using and give them advice to help them get some on the ice. There are plenty of fish for everyone, get a life....

Little Elvis Said:

walynut Said:

guywhofishes Said:
Wow!

Double Wow!! So what do you call people that follow boats around during th summer? This happens to me nearly everyday on the soft water, guess I suppose to be PO'ed at most of the population! It's just fish for goodness sake!!!!

They are just as bad....just the other day I was fishing in a spot for 2 mornings and nights come out the next afternoon and two clowns are fishing out of my holes that they redrilled...anyone who thinks that that is good practice is a total DBAG....basically told them to get bent and moved on to the next spot...good fishermen find fish they don't follow the crowd

Maybe try the freezer section at wallmart, but if someone is standing by it dont go near it as they have marked that spot.

THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT ADVICE! Lycanthorp, youre a good man! I drilled 15 different holes between 12-17 fow and about 300 yards from 8-10 houses on the east side of Audubon. We didnt want to just pull right up close to everyone like "some people above posted not to do" and we got SKUNKED for 6 hours. not even a bite or a fish on the camera.............THEN, the G&F drove over and checked our licences and said "You boys shoulda just set up over there by everyone else, THEY WERE NAILIN EM"!!!!!   By then there were now 15-20 houses set up in the same area. we were the only ones that didnt move in on the other guys.  oh well, we gotta find a better spot i guess.

sounds like the way i start every winter out. best advice is to drill ALOT of holes. if you are there to relax and bs then drill 4 holes and set up the house. if you are looking to move around and try to find the fish, i usually move about every 30-45 min if i dont mark fish. if i do happen to mark some on the vex i will sit for about an hour trying different presenations if that does not work move 10 yard and try again. i make sure if i am not catching fish to ask around, there are some people that will give you advice and go from there! if you ever fish se nodak i am always looking for people to fish with as i usually go alone! good luck! 

Skager Said:
Hey guys. ive been on here before with hunting and fishing advise and questions but one thing ive never done alot of is ice fishing. Im heading out today from Minot. probly going to Auduban but i hear Darling and up past Grano has been good also. My buddy bought a new icehouse, auger, vexlar, camera, poles.......ect. lots of stuff so we can go out and have some fun. If anyon wants to share any spots or any advise at all id be very happy! Like i said i have no idea what im doing. Im goin to pick up some minnows and walk out and drill a couple holes. thats my plan so far! LOL
PLEASE HELP A GUY OUT!

Absolutely hilarious reading this thread . . . thanks for the laughs guys!  My son and I are actaually going to try ice fishing for the first time this weekend so the advice on what's constitutes good fishing ethics was very helpful.  I definitely won't be drilling any new holes close to sunset. 

walynut Said:
Forgot to mention MURDOCK is the worst offender but I still like him!!!! LMAO

My name is murdock and i approve this message

I have found, on occasion, drilling holes may not scare fish away as much as attract them to an area. There are times when its been very slow and just a few minutes, or even when Im drilling a new hole, I will get some action. It probably just depends on what kind of mood the fish are in.