Best Ice Fishing Baits For Walleye of 2025
Fishing for walleye through the ice is a true test of an angler’s skill, but with the right bait, you can tip the odds in your favor. Walleye are predators that rely on their senses of sight and smell to hunt, even in the cold, dark water. The best baits for walleye are those that offer a powerful combination of enticing scent, a lifelike profile, and an action that triggers a strike from a cautious fish. Whether you prefer the subtle allure of live bait or the aggressive flash of a lure, this guide will help you choose the perfect bait to hook into more walleye this winter.
1. Northland Tackle Ice Fishing Thumper Spoon
- Material: Stamped brass with a thin, bent profile
- Features: Micro flicker blade for added flash and vibration
- Hooks: Ultra-sharp treble hooks
- Sizes: 1/16 oz, 1/8 oz, 3/16 oz, and 1/4 oz
The Northland Thumper Spoon is a go-to lure for anglers who need more flash and finesse to trigger a bite. Its unique design, made from premium stamped brass, creates a fluttering action on the fall that perfectly imitates a wounded baitfish. This irresistible motion is highly effective at attracting walleye from a distance, even in tough winter conditions. The lure is equipped with a micro flicker blade that delivers extra flash and vibration, a powerful combination that appeals to a walleye’s predatory instincts. The Thumper Spoon’s ability to imitate a struggling baitfish makes it a reliable choice when other lures fail.
Available in a variety of vibrant colors, including natural baitfish patterns and long-lasting glow-in-the-dark designs, this spoon allows you to adapt to any fishing scenario. The glow options are particularly useful for targeting walleye in low-light conditions or in murky water, where they are more active. The ultra-sharp treble hooks ensure a solid hookset, and the range of sizes makes this lure perfect for fishing at different depths and for targeting different sizes of walleye. For a jigging spoon that combines a realistic action with powerful flash and vibration, the Northland Thumper Spoon is a top-tier choice that is trusted by professional anglers.
- Pros: Realistic fluttering action, added flash and vibration from the flicker blade, and a variety of sizes and colors to match conditions.
- Cons: Treble hooks can be difficult to remove, and may not be ideal for very finicky walleye without tipping with bait.
2. Northland Fishing Jigging Spoon
- Design: Coffin-shaped lure with a flat-sided profile
- Rattle: Features loud, internal brass rattles
- Hooks: Premium, super sharp treble hooks on a split ring
- Features: Kicker-Tail fin for added noise and water displacement
The Northland Buck-Shot Coffin Ice Fishing Spoon is an essential lure for anglers who want to call in walleye from afar. Its most significant feature is the super loud internal brass rattles, which create a sound that travels far in the water and attracts aggressive predators. This is a huge advantage when you are looking to locate and call in a school of walleye. The lure’s unique coffin shape and flat-sided profile give it a tumbling and fluttering action on the drop, perfectly mimicking a wounded baitfish that walleye find irresistible. A small Kicker-Tail fin adds extra noise and water displacement, making this spoon a standout among others. It’s a great tool for anglers who want to be more proactive in their fishing.
This spoon is built with a premium construction, featuring a realistic baitfish eye and a sturdy design that can handle the rigors of fishing on hard bottoms. The super sharp treble hooks, attached with a small split ring, ensure that you get a solid hookset and won’t lose a fish. The lure is incredibly versatile and can be used to catch a wide range of species, from perch to walleye. It’s available in a variety of colors, including UV and glow options, allowing you to choose the perfect bait for any water condition. For a loud, flashy, and effective spoon that is trusted by professional anglers, the Buck-Shot Coffin is a great choice.
- Pros: Very loud rattle to attract fish, excellent fluttering action on the drop, durable construction, and high-quality hooks.
- Cons: The treble hook may be difficult to remove from a fish, and can be more difficult to remove than a single hook.
3. THKFISH Ice Fishing Jigs
- Design: Balanced minnow profile with a drop-water shape
- Hooks: Single reversed hook with a center treble and eyelet
- Material: Lead with high-quality carbon steel hooks
- Weight: 10g (0.36oz) and 18g (0.65oz)
The THKFISH Ice Fishing Jigs are a versatile and effective option for targeting walleye and other predatory fish. Their balanced minnow profile and drop-water shape create an excellent swimming action that is highly realistic. This design allows the jig to swim in tantalizing circles, stirring up deep or suspended fish and attracting them from a distance. The life-like swimming action is a key feature that makes this jig effective in both freshwater and saltwater. The jigs are available in a variety of vivid colors that are very attractive to walleye and other species, and the color choices can be crucial for different water clarities.
The jigs are made of high-quality lead and have a sharp, durable single reversed hook with a center treble and eyelet. The mechanically-sharpened barbed hook point ensures a better penetration and increases the hook-ups, which is crucial for landing a walleye. For anglers who prefer a jig with a more erratic swimming action than a traditional spoon, this is a great choice. It’s an excellent lure for vertical jigging for deep bass and walleye, and its weight allows it to get down to the desired depth quickly and effectively. For a durable, effective, and well-balanced jig, the THKFISH set is a solid choice.
- Pros: Excellent swimming action, balanced minnow profile, sharp and durable hooks, and a variety of vivid colors.
- Cons: Lacks a rattling feature for sound attraction, and the lead material is not as dense or sensitive as tungsten.
4. QualyQualy Soft Plastick Fishing Lures
- Material: Soft and durable plastic
- Size: 1.3 inches (3.5cm) in length, 0.2g (0.01oz) in weight
- Design: Micro-tail for flexible swimming action
- Packaging: Comes with 50 lures in a compact, clear box
The QualyQualy Soft Plastic Fishing Lures are a versatile and effective bait for a wide range of fishing situations, including ice fishing for walleye. Their soft and durable plastic material gives them a lifelike look and a great swimming action. The micro-tail design is a key feature, as it moves more flexibly in the water, creating an enticing motion that can be a great trigger for a walleye bite. The softness of the lure makes it easy for fish to inhale, which can lead to more solid hooksets. The lures come in a wide variety of colors, giving you the flexibility to match your bait to the water clarity and light conditions.
While the lures are described as being sized for panfish, they can be a great option for walleye, especially when the fish are finicky and looking for a small, easy meal. They can be rigged in multiple ways, including with a jig head or a Texas rig. This versatility makes them a great bait to have on hand. The generous count of 50 pieces per box ensures you’ll have plenty of lures to last you through several fishing trips. For anglers who want a soft bait that is reliable, versatile, and effective, the QualyQualy Micro-Tail Fishing Lures are an excellent and affordable option.
- Pros: Very soft and durable, lifelike swimming action, wide variety of colors, and a generous quantity for the price.
- Cons: May be too small for targeting large trophy walleye, and requires a jig head or other rig to be effective.
5. QualyQualy Fishing Soft Lures Artificial Bait
- Material: Soft plastic with a luminous glow feature
- Size: 1.7 inches (45mm) in length, 0.7g (0.02oz) in weight
- Design: Realistic shrimp grub with double eyes
- Glow Feature: Needs to be energized by a light source to glow brightly
The QualyQualy Luminous Glow Shrimp Grub Worms are a unique and versatile bait designed for a variety of species, including walleye. Their highly detailed, soft plastic design and realistic double eyes make them one of the most lifelike soft plastics on the market, which can be a huge advantage in fooling wary fish. The small size is perfect for tipping a jig, and its profile is appealing to walleye. A key feature of these lures is their luminous glow, which makes them incredibly effective in low-light conditions, such as early morning, evening, or deep water under the ice. Simply expose the lure to a light source, and it will glow brightly, attracting curious fish from a wide area.
These soft baits are designed to be durable and avoid disintegrating after catching several fish, which is a big plus for anglers. They can be rigged in multiple ways, including with a jig head or a weightless rig, giving you the flexibility to adapt to different fishing situations. The subtle wiggling action of the grub in the water, combined with its glowing feature, makes it an irresistible target for a variety of fish. Whether you’re fishing for bass, crappie, or walleye, these luminous glow shrimp grubs are a versatile and effective bait that can help you land more fish, especially when other lures fail.
- Pros: Very realistic design, glows in the dark for low-light fishing, durable construction, and a versatile size for multiple species.
- Cons: Requires a light source to charge the glow, and the small size may not be ideal for trophy-sized fish.
6. Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait Attractant
- Material: Water-soluble liquid attractant
- Scent: Features Berkley’s exclusive PowerBait flavor
- Quantity: 8 oz bottle
- Primary Use: Enhances the scent and flavor of lures or live bait
The Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait Attractant is a powerful tool for any walleye angler. While not a lure itself, it’s a game-changing addition to your tackle box. This liquid attractant is infused with Berkley’s exclusive PowerBait formula, which has been scientifically proven to make fish hold on to a lure up to 18 times longer. This is crucial for a finicky walleye that may mouth a bait before committing. You can apply the attractant to any lure or live bait, giving you a powerful combination of a visual attractant and an enticing scent trail.
The attractant is water-soluble, which means it disperses effectively in the water, creating a scent cloud that draws in fish from a wide area. This is a huge advantage when fishing in deep or murky water where visibility is low. The natural, live bait taste of the attractant ensures that a walleye that strikes will hold on longer, giving you the time and confidence to set the hook. For anglers who want to give themselves a competitive edge, this bait attractant is an excellent and convenient way to increase your hookup ratio and land more walleye.
- Pros: Enhances any lure or bait with scent, water-soluble for effective dispersion, and gives you more time to set the hook.
- Cons: It is not a standalone bait, and its effectiveness depends on the lure or bait it is paired with.
7. Northland Tackle Puppets
- Material: Over-molded resin body and tail
- Design: Realistic minnow imitation with a darting action
- Hooks: Wide gap rear hook for better hooking percentages
- Primary Use: Vertical jigging to create a darting action
The Northland Tackle Puppets are a high-performance jigging lure designed to imitate a dying minnow. Its over-molded resin body and tail give it an extremely durable and lifelike appearance. When you vertically jig this lure, it creates a darting action that perfectly mimics a panicking baitfish, which is a powerful trigger for a walleye strike. This is a great lure for anglers who want a more aggressive presentation than a typical jig. The lure’s realistic profile and erratic action make it a great choice for attracting a walleye from a distance, and its durability ensures it will hold up to a hard-fighting fish.
The Puppets are equipped with a wide gap rear hook, which is designed to increase hooking percentages. This is a huge advantage for walleye fishing, as it can be difficult to get a solid hookset on a finicky fish. The lure’s ability to be vertically jigged or cast and retrieved makes it incredibly versatile. It’s a great choice for both open water and ice fishing. For anglers who want a lure with a powerful darting action and a high hooking percentage, the Northland Tackle Puppets are a fantastic and effective option for targeting walleye.
- Pros: Realistic minnow design, powerful darting action, durable construction, and a wide gap hook for a better hookup ratio.
- Cons: Lacks a rattling feature for sound attraction, and may not be as effective without a live bait tipping.
How to Choose Ice Fishing Baits For Walleye
Fishing for walleye through the ice is a time-honored tradition that requires patience, skill, and, most importantly, the right bait. Walleye are highly sought-after predators that rely on their senses of sight and smell to hunt, even in the cold, dark water found under the ice. Unlike panfish, a walleye is a formidable opponent that can easily drop a lure if it doesn’t feel or taste right. To consistently put walleye on the ice, you need a bait that offers a powerful combination of enticing scent, a lifelike profile, and an action that triggers a strike from a cautious fish. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the most effective bait types, crucial factors to consider, and specific techniques to help you choose the best baits to land more walleye this winter.
Understanding Bait Types
When selecting bait for walleye, you’ll be choosing from a variety of options, including live bait, artificial lures, and a combination of the two. The most effective approach often involves using a lure tipped with a natural bait to create a powerful scent and a visual attractor.
Live Bait
Live bait is arguably the most effective option for walleye. The natural movement and scent of a lively bait can attract a walleye from a distance and convince it to bite when other offerings fail. The key to success with live bait is to keep it fresh and lively. The most common live baits for walleye are:
Minnows
Minnows are a top choice for targeting walleye. Their natural swimming action and scent are a perfect imitation of a walleye’s natural food source. A small, lively minnow, such as a fathead minnow or a shiner, can be fished under a tip-up or on a jig head. A popular technique is to use a jig and tip the hook with a whole minnow or just its head, as the scent and a little bit of movement are often all that is needed to get a bite. The key is to choose a minnow size that matches the local forage. Too large a minnow, and you may spook the fish. Too small, and a large walleye may ignore it.
Leeches and Worms
Leeches are a fantastic bait choice, but they are often difficult to find and keep lively in freezing temperatures. However, if you can get your hands on some, a leech’s undulating movement can be a powerful trigger. They are tough and can withstand being nibbled on, making them a great choice for finicky fish. A dead leech can also be effective, as its scent is still a powerful attractor. Still, live leeches are the preferred choice, and their unique action can entice a bite when other baits fail. Worms, such as nightcrawlers, can also be effective, especially when fished on a jig head to provide a more enticing presentation.
Artificial Lures
Artificial lures for walleye fishing are typically larger than those used for panfish and are designed to attract with flash, vibration, and a lifelike profile. The most effective approach often involves tipping the lure with a piece of live bait to add scent. The most common types of lures for walleye are:
Jigging Spoons
Jigging spoons are a classic walleye lure, known for their ability to attract fish with flash and sound. Small, compact spoons with a curved or hammered design will flutter and flash as they fall through the water, mimicking a wounded baitfish. Many spoons also have a rattling chamber or a treble hook with a flashy skirt to add to their appeal. Spoons are particularly effective for attracting walleye from a distance, as their flash can be seen in the murky water. They are a great choice when you’re looking to call in a large predator from a wide area.
Blade Baits and Rattle Baits
Blade baits and rattle baits are a fantastic choice for aggressive walleye. These lures have a powerful vibration and a loud rattle that can be a major trigger for a strike. The vibration of a blade bait can be felt by a walleye’s lateral line, which helps the fish to locate the lure. They are best fished with a powerful vertical jigging motion that makes them vibrate and rattle in the water. These lures are a great choice when you’re looking to trigger a reaction strike from a fish that may not be actively feeding.
Jig Heads with Soft Plastics
Jig heads with soft plastics, such as paddle tail swimbaits or grub-style lures, are a versatile and effective choice. The soft plastic provides a lifelike profile and a realistic action in the water. You can tip the jig with a minnow or a worm to add scent, which can be a game-changer when walleye are being finicky. The best soft plastics for walleye have a subtle, lifelike action and come in a variety of colors to match the local forage.
Key Factors to Consider
Choosing the right bait goes beyond just the type of offering. Several other factors are crucial for a successful day on the ice.
Bait Size
The size of your bait should be determined by the size of the walleye you are targeting and their mood. For average-sized walleye, a mid-sized jig (1/8 to 1/4 ounce) is a good starting point. For larger trophy walleye, you can step up to a larger minnow or a spoon. Using a bait that is too big will often result in walleye nibbling on the bait without taking the hook, so it’s best to start with a moderately sized bait and adjust as needed.
Color
Color plays a huge role in attracting walleye under the ice. As a general rule, use bright, flashy colors like chartreuse, firetiger, or orange on overcast days or in stained/murky water. These colors stand out and are easier for walleye to see. For clear water or on sunny days, it’s often better to use more natural colors that mimic the local forage. Lures with silver, gold, or perch-like patterns can be incredibly effective. Many lures also come in glow-in-the-dark options, which are fantastic for fishing in low-light conditions or at night.
Scent
Scent is a crucial factor when fishing for walleye, which are both visual and scent-based predators. Live bait has a natural scent that can draw in fish from a distance. If you’re using a jig, adding a small amount of live bait, such as a minnow head or a worm, can make a huge difference. There are also a variety of scented soft plastics on the market that can be a great alternative. For this reason, it’s a good idea to always carry some scented or live bait, even if you prefer to use lures.
Jigging Action
The action of your lure is what ultimately triggers the bite. A good ice angler knows how to impart a unique action on their lure to make it irresistible. A powerful shimmy, a slow flutter, or an erratic dance can all be the key to a successful day. The best way to learn the action of a lure is to practice in a bucket of water or next to your hole. Watch how the lure moves as you lift and drop your rod. Experiment with different jigging motions until you find what the walleye are responding to. Remember, a lure that is too heavy might not have a great action, while a lure that is too light might not get down to the desired depth quickly enough.
Recommendations for Different Scenarios
The best bait for you depends entirely on what you’re fishing for and your personal preferences.
For Active Walleye
A small spoon jig or a blade bait is a great choice. The flash, vibration, and sound of these lures will attract active walleye from a wide area. Jig it with a few sharp lifts and then let it flutter back down on a slack line. Tipping the jig with a minnow head can be a great way to add scent and a lifelike profile to a lure that is already designed to attract fish.
For Finicky Walleye
When the bite slows down and the walleye get finicky, a small minnow on a simple jig head is often the best choice. This subtle, natural presentation is all it takes to convince a lethargic fish to bite. You can also try a jig tipped with a worm or a scented soft plastic. The key is to downsize your bait and use a very light line to ensure a natural presentation.
For All-Around Versatility
A jig head with a soft plastic swimbait is a great choice. The soft plastic provides a lifelike profile and a realistic action, and you can tip it with a piece of live bait to add scent. This setup is incredibly versatile and can be used to catch walleye in a variety of conditions. A jig with a flashy color and a soft plastic in a natural color is a great combination to have on hand.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best ice fishing baits for walleye is a crucial skill that can greatly increase your success on the ice. By understanding the different bait types and their advantages, and by considering factors like size, color, and scent, you can put together a successful fishing plan. Remember to be flexible and willing to experiment. What worked on one lake might not work on another, so don’t be afraid to change baits and tactics. With the right baits in hand, you’ll be well on your way to a thrilling and productive day of walleye fishing. Tight lines!
