Genz on Spoons
By Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson
Fish slow down in cold water and a slow approach is often needed to catch them in the dead of winter.
But, it’s a different story at first ice or just before ice out, according to Dave Genz, who has long been considered the father of modern ice fishing. Walleyes are still hungry early on when water is relatively warm and filled with oxygen, and they get excited as spawning time nears. Fast tactics like ice spoons are the ticket.
“At early ice, they’re still feeding up. They slow down in January and February. But they become more aggressive again as the water warms near spring,” said Genz, a member of the Lindy Fishing Tackle pro team and organizer of the Ice Team. “Spoons seem to be much more effective then.”
Active walleyes are drawn to a spoon’s flash in clear water. Some spoons like Lindy’s new Rattl’n Flyer Spoon add sound to their attraction, a big factor in the “golden hours” before sunrise and just after sunset when walleyes are on the move, he said. Sound also helps predators locate a bait in dark or dirty water or at night. ... read more »
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