Fall Night Fishing Techniques

[eyepatrol]

Over the course of the next two weekends I'm going to be trying my hand at some fall night fishing. Wondering how I should approach it...i.e. - rapalas, rogues, rattletraps, plastics, live bait? Also, should I be trolling or will fan casting work as well?

Tonight I'm going to give it my first shot. Last time I was out (Oct. 14), the water temps were in the mid to upper 40's during the daytime, but not sure what they'll be at now. Won't get out until after the kids go to bed, so it'll be 10:00pm or so before I even get started.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Team Otter]

Fan casting will be fine but trolling can also allow you to cover some water. If you troll, look to stay under 1.5 mph from here until ice-up. If you can locate some moving water, this will only increase your chances. As for presentations, I would focus on larger stick baits and shallow shad raps. Rat-L-Traps will work but be careful how fast you retrieve them. In fact, I would almost consider jigging or dragging them in.

[Woodland]

Full Moon tonight and 38.7 water temp.... are you trolling cranks on the flats and shoreline? What other techniques are you using now?

[Team Otter]

Trolling or fan casting is the name of the game this time of year at night. The two things you will want to key on is speed and location. If you can work an area that is still holding vegetation and is adjacent to or transitioning to gravel or rock, that would be best. If you're trolling, 0.4 - 0.8 mph will put most of the fish in your boat. If you're casting, just enough speed to touch bottom now and again will be fine. In fact, a few short pauses every now and again will never hurt.

[ivegottabite]

Quote:

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If you're trolling, 0.4 - 0.8 mph will put most of the fish in your boat

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Looks like I need to get the drift sock out next time to help slow down my speed. I could only get down to around 1.5-1.7

[Team Otter]

A drift sock will work as will bumping your motor in and out of gear. I was using the second option this past week on Mille Lacs only because it's easier for me to control the boat with my tiller.

[Chris Roemhildt]

What would you guys recomand too use on madison this week trolling or casting the narrows. Maybe evan jigging in the deeper water.

[Team Otter]

Night fishing is very difficult on Madison. Water clarity is an issue. The only time that lake has produced for me after sundown has been slip bobber fishing.

[zepman]

T.O. is right about Madison at night. Not great for #'s but when you do hook one it's generally worth your time.

[Chris Roemhildt]

Hey zepman have you been out there lately or what. If so how has the fishing been slow or what.

[Muddog]

I went out saturday. Only one Bass! I think I'll wade the shallows some night but the boat is going to drydock. This will be my last post for a while.

[zepman]

No I have not been out in a while. Have a friend that keeps me updated on things going on out there the last few weeks and he says it has been slow at night. I will make it out a few more times this fall (night). My last post was from past experiences on this lake at night. It can get frustrating out there at night. I have always had my best fishing on this lake at mid-day regardless of the time of year. Go figure.

[eyepatrol]

I tried it from 10:30pm to 2:30am on the lake you're referring to Zep. Nada for the most part (okay, one small 8" crappie on a crank!). The get-together was a nice daytime bite though.

[PerchJerker]

At this time of year the fish will often be going before dark and might shut down a little earlier in the night. Try 6 to midnight next time you get a chance.

[zepman]

Basscatcher,

If you are going to get out anymore this year I would try and hit Tetonka. It has some very good spots for BIG nighttime eyes that like to cruise shallow rocks. This will probably be my last venture out this season-most likely this weekend sometime.

[eyepatrol]

Unfortunately (to some degree) I've got the boat winterized. Full schedule almost right up to Christmas. Gonna have to wait for fishable ice now!

[Team Otter]

Winterized? You have some learning to do.

[Wiskers]

Winterizing????? What is that???? I think that is a swear word this early in the fall...LOL....These are a couple shots I took today on the Red Lake River. I got 3 27" and one 24" and several Saugers... I had to break up some ice to get there but well worth the effort in my book.

[Team Otter]

Right on my man!

[Wiskers]

How crazy is this, Monday it was sunny, water was clear as a bell, Baromiter was low and dropping. fish were in the eat and graphing fish like crazy... Tuesday went out again same place same techniques.... Not a bit... not sunny out, baromiter was high and rising, water was cloudy from all the wind the night before..??? Did not even graph fish... ???? Ok I understand when fish will not bite due to weather but not to even graph fish???? Where did they go.. The fish were in there all weekend and eating good. All of a sudden they vanished. I am a bit confused... There is always a chance to get a fish in a group of non actively feeding fish if you be persistant and change up your presentations but to not even graph fish.. I wonder where they go.. I searched all over the area and nothing.

Maybe some one out there can shed some light on this subject for us? Unless the fish just go to the bottom and lay there and the graph will not pick them up but I got a pretty good graph and awesome seperation from bottom with color????

[Team Otter]

If these fish you were on were in a river system, they can move on a dime. If you were on a lake, I would suspect they were belly to the bottom and not interested in having lunch with you.

[Wiskers]

Ya that is a good statement. I was just suprized that they were there all weekend and feeding good and all of a sudden they vanished. Must have been a blue light special up river somewhere.. LOL...

[P.DONA]

I'm taking ALL this in!! I'll be trying it out this weekend.. Temps are still near 50 degrees in Ct..

I may also hit up some areas with slip bobber and chubs, as well as what you guys suggest.. Fan cast with one rod and the other with a bobber out there, too

I'll be searching out locations with the fish finders and AQUA VIEW that hopefully will hold Walleye for the ice season, too

Thanks for your help, everyone!!!

[Wiskers]

I tell ya what, I am soooooooo tempted to take the small boat out and break up the ice so I can sit and jig in my spot. With sun both days now, that ice can not be that thick any more. Just all that ice breaking might send them running I bet.