fall walleyes

[Dano2]

I understand the wallys start to school up in the fall.
Is it usually later fall when it gets cooler, or do they start doing it when the water temp gets to a certain temp, like maybe they could earlier this year because of the cool weather?

also, why do they do this? to keep warm? heh, heh!

HEY ! THANKS ALOT!!

[Jaypo]

I'd like to hear from more experienced people on fall patterns as well. I parked the boat early last year and will be trying for fall eye's for the first time this year and would like to learn more about their patterns.

Thanks for all the expertise you all choose to share!

Jay

[Chris Haley]

If you're not fishing walleyes in the fall, you're missing out on some of the BEST walleye fishing of the year. The dropping water temps signal the onset of winter for fish. They enter into a feeding mode where there will eat just about anything to get readu for the big freeze. Walleyes will drop down off breaks and humps and gorge themselves on schools of baitfish. Live bait rigs with minnows and jigs and minnows being the best rpoducers. Fall is also the time of year for an angler to catch their largest fish of the year.

[Borch]

I'd agree with Chris. Generally deep during the day chasing baitfish and then move up shallow at night on a feeding bing. I love trolling cranks after dark in the fall.

Thing is that later in the fall the lakes turn over and the termocline breaks up. Fish are free to move about the entire water colunm as there actively feed. You might find the eyes schools in 50 ft of water during the day and then find them chasing bait in 2 ft of water at night.

Here Piggy Piggy....

[Dano2]

thanks.
Any ideas on the water temp to look for when they start doing this?

[Big G]

Each lake is different with the turnover. Some lakes like Mille Lacs doesn't have a turn over, because of the "style" of the lake. There is no thermocline in Mille Lacs. September on through to first ice is hot walleye action. Rivers is jigging and cranks. Lakes is cranks and live bait rigs. Just remember this........It is the feed bag bingeing time.........so 5" redtail chubs are what is going to score for you with big fish. Also, #13 floating rapalas and #14 husky jerks will put fish in the boat all night on a troll.

The key to fall is almost like spring. Look for breaklines on the lake, not sloping shorelines.

On the river, look for rip/rap rock and wingdams.......

[Borch]

Fall bigger is usually better. The lures Big G mention are for eater fish.

When target the big guys we bring out the 7"+ stuff. The #18 rapalas, saltwater Bombers and off brand stuff too. Funny thing is we also catch eaters on this stuff. I've had 18" walleyes puking up 8-10" tullibees in my livewell. Come fall it's all about the meal(big portions).

Turnover has a lot of varibles as to when it happens(usually between 40 - 50 degrees surface temp). Wind, current and water temp seem to be the main varibles. Do a search of the site regarding turnover. It's been discussed a lot on the Brainerd, Cass Lake and Bemidji forums here the past year. As with everything else there are differing opinions.

Borch

[This message has been edited by Borch (edited 08-24-2004).]

[Big G]

Borch..........What is wrong with eating 10lb fish????

just kidding!

[Dano2]

hmmm, maybe that will be the time to break out those big Millenium lures I bought a couple years ago that everyone was bragging about.
I tryed them out a couple times but couldn't catch a thing. The raps seem to work better, but then again I never tryed the milleniums in the fall.

[Borch]

Borch..........What is wrong with eating 10lb fish????

just kidding!

Nothing as long as we're talking about carp! Really they're pretty good. The other white meat.

The trick is to find those big lures that will run the depth you need. Often the big girls are up in less than 8 ft of water at night. Many of the big lures want to run too deep. But there are options out there if you look.

I'll never forget the look on a fishing buddies face when I told him to make sure to big some #18 raps along on our October Mille Lacs trip. It was like, "You mean #13 raps right?" Well I showed him

Borch

[Jim W]

Ok let's try Rainy River and the Minnesota river then! BOth excellent Fall fisheries as well!!!

I agree, Pool 4 is typically slower than other pools in the Fall!LOL

Jim W

[Borch]

Rivers????

I didn't know there were any gamefish in rivers.

I think the last 15 lb fish I got out of the river in the fall was a carp that inhaled a #13 chartruese jointed rapala. I thought I had the world by the tail that evening.

Borch

[Jim W]

Let's not forget rivers in the Fall too!!!
Fall and winter fishing for eyes and saug-dogs can be outstanding.

On the Mississippi pool 4 for example, things really begin to heat up when temps get to and drop below 50.

PLastics plastics plastics!!!!

No need for cold hands!!

Jim W

[Big G]

JIM!!!!!!!!

QUIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't need any more people on the pool 4........there are no fish there in the fall!!!!!!!! Don't go there!!!!!!!!!

Who ya teasin'?????

Wing dams on p2, p3, p4 can be unreal with big tunas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big G]

Jim;

How often do you go to P4 in the fall? Maybe I will see you down there???

[Jim W]

Depends on the wind!lol
Seriously, A get down quite bit, but Northern travels and streams and small rivers might limit the pool 4 runs this Fall some.

I use to get down in the winter for dam fishing, but have lost a little interest in that scenario.

I've only been hitting pool 4 hard for a few years now. A lot of water to learn!

Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W

[Jaypo]

So I'm hearing "bigger is better" again...

If your pulling large cranks, what color combos do you prefer when looking at various levels of water clarity and staining?

[Borch]

Like anything else it depends on what the fish want. But usually if the water is clear I'll opt for blue, silver, chrome, perch and Chartruese. If you're fishing at night and it's full moon and clear I'll usually opt for lures that will give of flash like chrome, clown, silver, rainbow or lures with a flective tape insert. Dark nights I'll use perch, firetiger, gold, crawfish or flor. orange.

In stained water I seem to do better with darker color or very bright colors. Kinda of the extremes.

Borch