Ice fishing Grand River Walleye / jigging rap tips

I thought I'd share a video from a recent trip onto the Grand River in Dunnville Ontario. I always like getting onto the Grand if there is safe ice, though have found it to be inconsistent even at the best of times (always use extreme caution)

Anyone else get on the river this winter with much success? I went a handful of times and managed to catch my best day on camera (very lucky) - most other outings were one or skunk days. With the season ending on March 1st for walleye there, I figured it would be a good chance to spark some discussion about that fishery!

Also, I love my jigging raps through the ice for walleye, and have heard buckshots are good there too but have never personally had success, what am I missing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4VrUFKCvN0&t=368s

Thanks for posting awesome work.

I can see how you would loose some on the raps with the eyes only a small hook to get past all them teeth lol. I think I was loosing a few extra Whitefish too when using the raps consistently . Now it's just the meegs loose less after its hooked and it works well for the whitties the areas I fish . Always stuffed with gobies.



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Originally Posted by Wild Lyle

I thought I'd share a video from a recent trip onto the Grand River in Dunnville Ontario. I always like getting onto the Grand if there is safe ice, though have found it to be inconsistent even at the best of times (always use extreme caution)

Anyone else get on the river this winter with much success? I went a handful of times and managed to catch my best day on camera (very lucky) - most other outings were one or skunk days. With the season ending on March 1st for walleye there, I figured it would be a good chance to spark some discussion about that fishery!

Also, I love my jigging raps through the ice for walleye, and have heard buckshots are good there too but have never personally had success, what am I missing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4VrUFKCvN0&t=368s

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A good tip for using jigging raps.....hang a small treble stinger hook about 2 inches below the centre hook. Put your minnows on the stinger hook. To eliminate the rap getting hooked on the ice when you bring it through the hole, cut the front hook off the rap. That’s usually the hook that catches the ice on the way out of the hole.

Great video. Thanks for that. Over the years I have had really great success with buckshot's on both walleye and trout. I have seen where some days they are the only thing that produces and other times not. I usually put a pie of minnow tail on the hook.

Looks like a great fishery down there. How much ice was there?

Thanks for posting, like the video work and the info on fishing the baits is helpful.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that has mixed results on the buckshot! That day I was on 4'' of good ice, but there were some spots less than that which I steered clear from!

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

A good tip for using jigging raps.....hang a small treble stinger hook about 2 inches below the centre hook. Put your minnows on the stinger hook. To eliminate the rap getting hooked on the ice when you bring it through the hole, cut the front hook off the rap. That’s usually the hook that catches the ice on the way out of the hole.

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I'm going to have to try that thanks Rick! I've heard and had too many horror stories with getting stuck on the hole and losing large 'eye.

"With the season ending on March 1st for walleye there, I figured it would be a good chance to spark some discussion about that fishery!"
I thought that up to the dam in Dunnville was considered part of Lake Erie and therefore open all year for walleye? Not trying to start a peeing match, just want to get my facts straight. I just checked the regs and could not find a definitive answer. Tks.

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Originally Posted by KennyT

"With the season ending on March 1st for walleye there, I figured it would be a good chance to spark some discussion about that fishery!"
I thought that up to the dam in Dunnville was considered part of Lake Erie and therefore open all year for walleye? Not trying to start a peeing match, just want to get my facts straight. I just checked the regs and could not find a definitive answer. Tks.

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He is correct
Season closes

Grand River and its tributaries - downstream of the Onondaga and Tuscarora Townships line to Lake Erie

Walleye and northern pike - open from January 1 to last day in February and second Saturday in May to December 31

I was always told not to put your minnow on the stinger hook. The reason for the stinger was to hook a short bit (in other words walleye swiping at the lure and missing it low) but hey I am always looking for new technics
Thanks Rick

Thanks for clarifying the seasons there. I did not doubt the OP per se, just wanted to find out where it said it.