In the later weeks of winter, ice fishing is hot, but ice conditions can be iffy. Walleyes are staging at river mouths and can be easily caught with jigs and minnows. This is the time when ice anglers have some of their best fishing. I‰’ll often fish the channel edges coming into a lake being ever mindful of the thinning ice. If open water exists, I‰’ll put the boat in and jig close to the ice and work the first couple of holes upstream from the lake. The winter fish will also begin to move into prespawn areas in late March. Look for them to be near rock and gravel bars or shorelines.