Walleyes will follow lures several feet off bottom and strike or inhale the hooks by venting water through their gills at lightning speed. Fresh bait can make the difference between solid strikes and no fish on the ice. When walleyes are very close to the lure, it is the seductive swimming/finning action of a live minnow that excites 'eyes into taking the bait. Change minnows frequently, and carefully thread the minnow onto the hooks by passing the barb through the lips. This will help keep minnows alive longer.
If you have a walleye on the flasher and looking at your offering but not biting, reel up, grab a new lively minnow and hook it through the tail, and drop it down to the waiting fish. Halt the descent by closing your reel's bail to stop the offering slightly above the target. The tail-hooked minnow will swim frantically on the lure, quivering like it is injured, sending sound vibrations through the water and a visual cue that commands an instinctual bite from walleyes.
Keep minnows alive by transporting in a water cooler with screw-on lid to prevent spills. Once you reach the fishing grounds, drill a hole and immediately give the minnows fresh water. Water in coolers should be fresh at all times, so plan on changing it several times each outing.
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Catching a wallhanger walleye is a quest of many Michigan anglers. Your dream can come true if you make the move to waters that hold big fish this winter!
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