Matt Wilky Fishing

My first walleye thru the ice We had fished all day at Island lake in Orangeville and had an ok day. Caught a bunch of perch but couldn't get a pike on. I was with My girlfriend, Nicole, in my tent and they, Colin and Drew, were in their tent. They had had some pike bite but couldn't manage them they the hole. Towards the end of the day they mention about going for walleye after dark. I wasn't sure but eventually couldn't resist. We headed home to warm up and change, me to dr...op off Nicole as well (not a fan of night ice fishing). We got there at about 7 and got some lines in the water by 730. I tossed in a tournament scented bait ball and let it bring them to me. We had a couple bites and taken minnows, so we knew we were in the right spot. At about 745 I was looking at my phone and saw my noticed my rod was bent in half. I grabbed it and set the hook but missed it. I reeled it up my northland tackle buckshot and threw a new minnow on and dropped it back down. It hit bottom. I reeled up 6-8 inches and bam. She smoked it. Was a good fight and got her to the hole. Colin had his phone light on and so when we saw it it looked like a largemouth bass. So i reached to lip it... As I did that it shook and hit its mouth off the ice. Knocking the lure free. It bobbed in the hole, I threw my rod, and reached halfway to my elbows and pulled her out of the water!!! I couldn't believe I did it. She was 26-27" (I need a release ruler) and 5 pounds 1 ounce. We got a few pictures and released her back under the ice. Both Colin and Drew hooked into a few but got one on the ice. Overall we had a wicked time and will be back again. Just one fish makes the trip worth it. BGS BaitCloud Inc. Northland Fishing Tackle See more

He was back to back... Literally killing me. Especially after the first one. Again on that Northland Fishing Tackle buckshot.

This pike chose my buddy'sNorthland Fishing Tackle buckshot over my spoon. Needless to say I switched to one.

What a night with the boys from BGS. Can't wait to get back out there. Managed 2 walleye on the ice while 4 were lost beneath between the 3 of us. This one surprised me. I was looking at my phone and didn't see my rod bent over. I quickly grabbed it to set the hook but missed. I brought my Northland Fishing Tackle buckshot up and put a new minnow on. I dropped it back down. Hit bottom, brought it up about half a foot and my rod was bent over again. This time i did set the hoo...k. Fought for a minute or two and came up to the hole. I couldn't quite see what it was. And both my buddy and I thought it was a bass because it mouth was open wide. I reached down to lip it and as I did it shook it's head and bumped off the ice. Somehow opening the clasp on my leader and let the hook come off. Now the hooks in its mouth, my rod is in the air and the walleye is sitting I my hole just looking at me. Every bring slowed down and I dove forward plunging my hands into the hole around the walleye and scooped it out and into the ice. So lucky I got it. I still don't know how I knew what to do. My heart was racing like crazy. We weighed/ measured her and got a few pics. Then released her back to the depths. What a night. We'll be back. See more