By Tom Welch
month of the year for me to
enjoy fishing. Kids are back in
school, the guys are out
chasing after geese, turkeys
and ducks, some bow hunting
for deer and that means more
room on the lakes for this old
dude.
probably will be, fall is a great time just
to be outside!
The lake trout season has closed and
the target has changed to Salmon. A
lot of Salmon are still in the shallow
waters trying to reach the spawning
grounds of the rivers. This is not usually
the best time of year for keeping these
fish for eaters but it sure is fun catching
them.
Bluegills are in my opinion can be left
for another month until the waters
have cooled and the gills have firmed
up. I save them for the first ice situation.
Bluegills are much better eating then.
cooler waters are already firm and
ready for the frying pan. They are also
really good pickled. I’ve been
catching lots of crappies in the 25 to 30
feet water and right on the bottom.
Crappies from some of the other
shallower lakes can be left for first ice
too. Just not firm enough for me. It’s a
great time of the year to get big
crappies and they are often mixed
with or feeding in the same areas as
the Walleyes
People are still catching Muskies but this time of year means, maybe you
have to put on gloves for those early morning trips or chip a little ice off
of your rod guides. Big sucker minnows and huge baits trolled seem to be
working good now.
It is quiet, peaceful and the colors of fall are just gorgeous, if one takes
the time to view them. The fall colors mean one thing to me and that’s
Walleyes and more Walleyes.
The Walleyes are in nice sized schools now and easy to find. Days when
the wind is blowing kinda hard, use the wind in your favor. If the wind is
coming from the southeast, head for a northwest shoreline or bay that
faces the southeast or southeast side of a rock bar and look for the Eyes
feeding in the rough water even as shallow as 2 feet. Start by anchoring
in the deeper water and then slowly work your way to the shallower
water. Walleyes really have fierce feeding habits this time of year and
are easily caught.
It’s not hard to come up with a cooler full of nice Eyes this time of year,
so please don’t take more than your limit will allow or more than you
need. These Walleyes are going to be mostly big females, trying to put
on the reserve they need to carry them thru the cold water period until
their spring spawning time.
If you are catching a lot of Eyes and have what you need and are
fishing with live bait, switch to lures, plugs or jigs so any further catches
are not harmed because they swallowed a crawler or a minnow to
deep.
To me, one of the best things there is, is a nice stringer of Walleyes to
take home to your table. Excellent eating and puts a smile on my face
just thinking about it.
A friend thru fishing, Tom
