Fall Fishing

Fall is Wisconsin is beautiful. Once the temperature drops and the water cools off its prime time for catching walleyes. The great thing about fishing this time of year is the opportunity to catch walleye, and big ones, right from shore. Where ever you live take a look at the map of the lake near you. Most public access spots are marked. Boat landings, parks, beaches, and fishing piers are great places to access the water. If you look at the map to access your choices, look what area is closest to deep holes, sunken islands, or structure changes. When ever you are picking a place to fish think of looking at it this way. If you go out to a club, you would never think of standing in the middle of the dance floor by your self. Its just feels to open. Most of the time, people will be sitting against a wall, up against a railing, in a corner, or at the bar. Fish are the same way. They want to be next to something. A hole, an edge, weeds, a wall etc. This rule holds true most times of the year. When looking at the water, see how the waves are blowing in. Often times there are distinct changes that occur where the breakwall changes the current, or the waves go from rough to calm. Fish the edges of these wave changes. If you can pick either side of the lake, pick the side that the waves are blowing into.

Once you pick your spot come prepared to fish with more than one rod. This increases your chances and allows you to spend less time figuring out what the fish want. One word of advice, less is more. The fine tuned details come into play with this type of fishing. So on one rod have a slip bobber, with a medium fathead. I recommend a size 8 hook tied right to the line with a split shot sinker 8 inches above the hook. Set your slip bobber so the bait is right off the bottom. If you don’t get any bites at that depth, continue to adjust it in 4-6 inch increments until to find at what depth in the water column the fish are holding.

On the second rod I would cast and reel crank baits. I fish perch pattern lures, that are suspending, meaning when you retrieve them they fall 4-6 feet below the water surface. The size and shape of the lip of the lure determines how deep they run. Some float and are close to the surface, some are deep divers and there are the others in the middle. I use the ones that are about 4 inches long. I tie a swivel to the line and then changing the lures out is easy, especially when its cold out. Try several lure patterns as the hot color will change. Another option is to use plastic swim baits. A jig head with a colored twister tail is always a good option. Retrieve these baits SLOWLY. Go as slow as you think you should, then slow down some more. A little twitch with the rod tip during the retrieve will give the bait an extra zip and often times trigger a bite.

Fish tend to consume a lot of food in the fall to prepare for the long winter. They want to get the most food using the least amount of energy. Fishing in urban area can actually be quite productive. The lights from the piers in parks tend to draw in bait fish which tend to draw in the bigger fish. Evenings are often the best bet and many die hards are out well past midnight. Including me. Remember that the possibly of catching a trophy size fish is there so have the net near by. Proper fish handling is very important. Don’t over handle, the fish, use care when removing the hook and be sure to catch and release. Keeping big fish is a real detriment to the fishing ecology as they are the big egg producers that produce our fish of the future. CPR Catch, Photo, and Release. A replica mount can be reproduced from photos of the fish. Good luck if you go out and don’t hesitate to email me with any questions. I am more that happy to share what information I have. The only way you will catch fish is if you go fishing. Trying different locations and presentations is part of the learning process and makes the reward of landing a good fish extra special.