Every year my brother, dad and I go ice fishing on lake St. Clair for perch and walleyes.  Every year (except last year because there was no ice) we can nail the perch, but we can never catch any walleyes.  The only lure I had one Walleye on was the Jigging Rapala and it broke my line.  Anybody have any tips on depth and presentation for winter walleyes?

I have caught walleyes jigging small spoons in the 1/4-1/8oz. size myself, but not on St. Clair.  I know what you mean about the walleyes in Lake St. Clair during ice season.  I have fished many hours on that lake during the winter and have yet to even see a walleye.  They have to be there though.  I always hear good things about the Gino's surf spot.  If you plan to go "all out" walleye ice fishing, I would spool up a small spinning reel with a strong backing line like fireline or spiderwire.  This takes away and possibility of the line weakening on the side of your hole.  Go with a four lb. test leader of about a three foot length.  It's the best of both worlds, as you will still catch line shy fish.  Try large shiners, small little cleos, or jigging rapalas.  I would target the 10-12 foot depths out at a spot such as Gino's.(near 14-15mile road)

Hey thanks GreatLakesJ.  Gino's is the spot that we go ice fishing at but we only go about a half mile ( it is about 8 ft deep there) would you suggest further?  Also I have a spinning reel spooled with 6lb Fireline Micro ice.  The line has the diameter of 2lb mono andthe line is white so do think I would still need a leader.  And do you tip jigging Rapalas or spoons with small minnows to attract the fish, because I have tried with and without minnows, but when there are minnows on the Rapala perch are the only ones that will hit.

Calvin21:

Hey thanks GreatLakesJ.  Gino's is the spot that we go ice fishing at but we only go about a half mile ( it is about 8 ft deep there) would you suggest further?  Also I have a spinning reel spooled with 6lb Fireline Micro ice.  The line has the diameter of 2lb mono andthe line is white so do think I would still need a leader.  And do you tip jigging Rapalas or spoons with small minnows to attract the fish, because I have tried with and without minnows, but when there are minnows on the Rapala perch are the only ones that will hit.

 

I would only go farther out at Gino's when there is a ton of ice.  You won't catch my *** on the news getting air lifted in!  I have never used the Micro Ice. If the diameter is what you say it is, I would go ahead and use it all the way up and down the line.  Make sure you have a reel with multiple bearings, it will make for a smooth drag.  That's the most important thing to have when messing with larger fish on the frozen pond.

Tipping with minnows is the way most of the avid walleye guys do it.  If you are still getting only perch, maybe try larger jigging raps and larger minnows.  If you are still getting perch.......don't bother with the eye's cause you are probably reeling in some dandy perch.