Fall Fishing Keeps Charging Away

Check out the graph image I submitted this week.  I know it’s not a perfect photo, but I want you to check out the subject matter—yes the squiggly shapes elevated from the bottom. Those are walleye, and we’re seeing a lot of that right now! It’s the time of year when we have a lot of choices in the upper Midwest. We can bow hunt for deer, we can hunt grouse and other small game, or we can ignore the outdoors all together and watch football from Thursday through Monday! There are so many options, but I choose fishing.

Consider fall fishing in Otter Tail Lakes Country. There are lakes-galore and hungry fall-time fish that just can’t wait for another meal. Walleye are all over the water columns—shallow, deep and mid-depths. It sounds east but it’s actually a bit problematic. I advise you pick your zone and stick with it. Once you find fish (like the image on my graph), you should be in good shape. Minnows or crawlers will do. Jigs or Lindy Rigs or bottom bouncers or slip bobbers—pick your favorite.

Panfish continue to head deeper and away from shallow weed stands. Use your electronics to locate them suspended on weed lines or at the base of drops adjacent to weedy flats. Don’t forget to also check out deep “holes” or deeper muddy basins where panfish will suspend off the bottom.

Large northern, like the one in the photo above are showing up everywhere!  Large northern are cold water critters and become active in fall time.  If you’re fishing minnows near weeds for walleye, beware, the pike are there and they’re hungry.

Have a great week in Otter Tail Lakes Country—enjoy the fantastic fall colors as much as the fishing!

Ross Hagemeister | meisterguideservice.com