River 'eyes during deer season

[mixxedbagg]

I'm thinking of doing some river fishing in Itasca County over deer season for some walleyes but I've just never fished them open water this late. I could use a little advice.

Are they decidedly minnow or crawler now?

Should I start looking shallow or deep or in between?

Pretty much all day must be good by now, right?

Is it better to keep moving or to find a potential concentration spot and sit on it for a while?

Other thoughts?

Thanks!

[pushbutton]

whatever bait you are using make sure it on the larger side, large minnow, big fat crawler on a spinner/harness, or larger sticks and cranks. as far as shallow or deep?.... both.....use your sonar to find deeper dips and pockets in the main flow or head up shallow to feeder creek areas and fish the seam areas where they meet. i sill prefer lowlight, especially up shallow during bright sunny days, but those deeper pockets in cloudier water should be kicking out during the day. at this time of year the fish are more concentrated, so would not spend a lot of time in unproductive areas waiting for them to come. if you have a dam on the river you are fishing, would certainly start and spend more time there. good luck!

[chickeywing]

Best fishing of the year! My best success on a smaller river has been with live bait jig heads tipped with fat heads (fire tiger, gold, or white/purple/pink). Try to establish a pattern. Keep moving. Be flexible. Some days they are hanging deep. Other days they have been stacked up in 2' of water. Feeder creeks or inlets with slack water at the mouth usually are best. You may find fish in the deep holes but those are usually the inactive fish. Saturday, i found fish at the mouth of an inlet over 8' of water. They were chasing the jig back to the boat like Muskie. 1/4 oz jig sank too fast. They were suspended. 1/8 oz jig was the ticket. Also found fish at the tail end of a 5' deep shelf right at the break where it dropped into 20'. Bright blue sky! When you find them, they will be stacked up. Be selective what you keep. Keeping too many egg layers can ruin a stretch of river in a hurry.

TC

Don't forget the blaze orange! "Check out the deer holding the fishing rod!!"

[tacklejunkie]

Planers and larger sized crankbaits or stickbaits.

And you would be surprised the number of small walleyes that will attack the large cranks or sticks.

Big minnows and jigs, also, are great this time of year.

[pureinsanity]

I'm thinking of doing some river fishing in Itasca County over deer season for some walleyes but I've just never fished them open water this late. I could use a little advice.

Are they decidedly minnow or crawler now?

Should I start looking shallow or deep or in between?

Pretty much all day must be good by now, right?

Is it better to keep moving or to find a potential concentration spot and sit on it for a while?

Other thoughts?

Thanks!

Minnow or crawler will work, but I typically use plastics.

Find a creek mouth or inlet where water is discharging into the river.

I would say the best times are dusk and dawn.

Concentrate on a spot but do not be afraid to move around. If you find them and the bit is hot stick it out.