Fall fishing has been great for walleyes, northern pike and crappies! Walleyes have made a split to two main locations; scattered weeds and flats (under 12ft) or deep around mid-lake humps (25-30ft). Catch them using a jig/minnow combo, rigging 4-7″ minnows, such as “redtails” or creek chubs (sucker minnows can work too), or using a reaction style bait such as snap-jigging a jig/soft plastic or glide bait (jigging rap, shiver minnow, crystal reaper). After dark, longline troll shallow-running crankbaits (such as a Smithwick Rattlin’ Floating Rogue) in 5-12ft, slow down the troll 1.2-1.8mph; if targeting fish in 10-13ft, slow-troll a Smithwick Perfect 10 Rogue.
Find panfish on remaining green weed flats/weedlines in 6-15ft or over basin areas near bays in large schools, often over basins 25-45ft, suspended 10-15ft under the surface. Catch multiple species trolling (.8-1.2mph) weedlines and big weed flats with spinner rigs tipped with a nightcrawler, minnow or soft-plastic imitation. Casting and jigging a 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum or minnow will catch Crappies and Rainbow Trout in inland lakes. Catch Northern Pike trolling crankbaits along weedlines and over basin areas with a large forage base of tullibees if you want to specifically target big fish!
On Mille Lacs, target walleyes around hard bottom areas, such as gravel, sand and rocks (many schools of fish are showing up under 15ft on rock bars/reefs); target them rigging minnows, jigging minnows or trolling crankbaits such as the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10. Smallmouth bass are hanging around the tops of rock reefs in 5-16ft; cast rocks and pockets of sand in rocky locations; use Ned Rigs, jig/minnows and drop-shot minnows, nightcrawlers, or imitations. Fall fishing has arrived, let’s go!
Have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!
Dustin Monson
Hawg Hunterz Guide Service LLC
Ph: 320-293-2442
Email: mrhawghunter@hotmail.com
Website: Www.hawghunterzguideservice.weebly.com