Fall Fishing is here

Labor Day has passed and the Minnesota State Fair is wrapped up!  Wow, is summer really over? Instead of seeing visitors around the lakes, I’m seeing school buses. We’re beginning to see the onset of fall around the countryside too—trees are beginning to turn color as well as sumac and soybean crops. The lakes continue to cool. Our shorter days and cooler nights have taken a toll on the lake temps. 10 days ago the over-night temps were nearly 75 degrees and the daytime temps were 80, but now they are steady at 70. By the end of the week I’m sure some lakes will be in the 60’s. The fishing keeps progressing—positively.

Small mouth and Large mouth bass are active and will bite Big baits. Find them ganged up on deep break lines near vegetation, or on the upper edge of the drop off over weeds, or in and around sparse weeds on flats—and rocks help too. Walleye are feeding around lakes country—find them on flats near weeds, island tops, and deep or shallow weed lines and use minnows or night crawlers for bait. Try using live bait rigs, jigs, or bottom bouncers. Big northern are starting to show up around the lakes, troll or cast spinner baits or large stick baits on weeds near drops.  And don’t forget about the ole northern pike stand-bye—sucker minnows and spinners. Panfish are easier to find and fish on the deep weed line this week—and keep looking deeper for crappie as fall progresses.

Good Luck fishing Otter Tail Lakes Country this week.

By Ross Hagemeister, meisterguideservice.com