Ice anglers are a passionate bunch and the one fish we tend to target more than any other is walleye. Having the right size hook for walleye ice fishing is important. If the hook is too small you won’t be able to set it easily, which can lead to the fish getting away.
If the hook is too large it can spook the fish or simply turn them away from wanting to take your bait. Hook size might seem like an unimportant topic, but it’s a crucial choice you need to think about for ice fishing.
My general rule is that I always size down my hooks and lures during the winter because fish are cold-blooded and they feed less aggressively during ice fishing season. The best hook for walleye ice fishing is between a 6 and 2 size.
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What Size Hook is Best for Walleye Ice Fishing?
Now let’s get a little more in-depth and specific with the explanation. Here are some of the criteria for choosing the right size hook for walleye ice fishing.
Time of Year
The time of year will play a major role in the hook size you choose. As previously mentioned, when it’s extremely cold outside, walleye feed less aggressively. This is because their metabolism slows down during the winter.
When the walleye’s metabolism is slow, it means they aren’t feeding as much, won’t chase large lures, and won’t follow your lure very far through the water. You need to appeal to them during this time by sizing down, slowing down, and dangling the bait right in their face.
If you’re not doing these three things, you’re decreasing your chances of having any success.
On the flip side, if you’re experiencing a mild ice fishing day with temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to mid 50s, you might be able to increase the size of your hook to a 1 or 1/0.
Current Biting Conditions
Nothing is more obvious than going out on the ice and fishing based on what’s currently happening. Sometimes you just don’t know what you’ll run into until you get out there and test it out.
If you’re having a lot of success, your tip-ups are going off, and you’re finding that the walleye are biting like crazy, it might be time to increase the size of your hook and lure because they’re actively feeding for whatever reason.
Lure Size
Remember that you need to pair the right hook with your lure. If you’re using a 3-inch split tail jig, the last thing you’d want is a 4-inch hook because it wouldn’t look realistic, right?
Walleye can range in size from about 15-40 inches. This factor means that you can use a wide variety of lure sizes to target the fish you want to catch. If you’re going after a lunker, you’ll want to size up a bit with your hook to fit the size of your lure.
Doing so might scare away a lot of the smaller fish so don’t expect to catch a lot. But, the good news is you’ll have the right size tackle to target the big fish you really want to catch. I recommend using a fish finder like the Garmin Striker 4 ICE if that’s your goal.
How Do You Hook a Minnow for Walleye Ice Fishing?
There are a variety of ways to hook minnows for ice fishing. Minnows are one of the more popular live options for ice fishing because they take care of the presentation and the clear water conditions improve your chances of catching something with live bait.
Here are some of the ways you can hook your minnows:
Dorsal Hooked
This is the most popular method and it involves hooking the minnow directly through their back. It allows them to swim naturally because you’re not obstructing their tail or fins. This method is a great option for tip-ups as well.
Lip Hooked
If you’re trying to create a more aggressive presentation, lip hooking is the way to go.
This will throw the minnow into a bit of a panic which will cause them to move more erratically. Doing so will generate a lot of attention and make the walleye think they have an easy meal on their hands.
Tail Hooked
This is my least favorite method because I find that it forces the minnow to sort of “dangle” instead of swim.
You’ll want to use tungsten weights if using this method because you want the minnow to sit near the bottom. Another issue I have with this method is that the hook is so far back on the fish that a lot of it can get chewed up without the walleye ever getting near the hook.
Tips and Tricks to Fish for Walleye
I’ve spent many years ice fishing for walleye. Here are three of the most important tips I could offer you:
- Go For The Bass – Walleye and bass have similar patterns and hold to the same structure. I recommend targeting areas where you’ve found bass during the warm weather fishing season.
- Spooning – Spoons are a great ice fishing lure for walleye but you need to make sure you don’t overwhelm the presentation with too much gear. Adding a bunch of weights and using braided or monofilament lines might spook them.
I recommend going with a dedicated ice fishing fluorocarbon line. - Stay Shallow – A lot of anglers tend to run deep when fishing for walleye but I still think there are great fishing opportunities in the shallow water. Toss your spoons near dense cover and in places you would normally fish during Spring or Summer.
What Other Size Hooks Work for Ice Fishing?
As long as you’re not overdoing it with the size, you could use any size ranging from a 10 to a 2/0. Just keep in mind all the factors discussed in this guide when you’re choosing. If it’s warming up and the fish are biting, increase a size or two. If it’s blustery, cold, dark, and windy, move down a size or two.
Let the weather and conditions decide what hook you use and you’ll never have a problem catching fish.
Conclusion
Choosing the right hook for walleye ice fishing is simple when you understand the thought process behind making the choice. Take a look at the weather, consider your lures, and let the fish decide what hook is the right size for them.
When all else fails, going too small is better than going too big in ice fishing. The fish are slow this time of year so choosing a smaller hook is always the best policy. Good luck and tight lines!