Outdoors Angle: January Walleyes

The Flag Outdoors Expert Steve Carney has your weekly Outdoors Angle right here!

     As we slide into the new year, January is still a very good month for walleyes through the ice. Remember, these game fish still are feeding but also slowing down in their activity. This is the time of the winter when all game fish make a transition to deeper water and the success along the shorelines has now waned.

     Now is the time to explore the deeper basins in your favorite lake and start looking at depths of 22 to 32 feet. These deep basins in January will start hatching insects and larvae which emerge from the deep, muddy basins. It is evident on your electronics when you first scan the area. The little green lines that emerge and rise to the top of the water column are the keys to a food source. I always scan the deeper water and don't start fishing until I see activity on the electronics. Sometimes you may have to hop around and drill lots of holes before you find them. Don't just sit there and wait for the fish to come to you. Scan those deep basins for about 15 minutes. If no activity, move to the next spot.

     The walleyes and crappies are still on the hunt, you just have to be proactive and drill lots of holes. When you find them you're golden!

Steve Carney is The Flag WZFG Outdoors expert. He can be heard every Thursday morning at 8:05 on AM 1100 and 92.3 FM WZFG. Check out his weekly podcast on am1100theflag.com and hear his Outdoors Angle reports every Friday on AM 1100 and 92.3 FM WZFG. You can also visit stevecarneyoutdoors.com for more information.