The Fish May Be In Their Late-Season Patterns, But They’re Still Around!
Happy November, anglers and outdoors lovers!
It’s just a few days before the opening of another Minnesota sportsmen’s holiday. 
The 2017 MN deer season begins Saturday so many of you are probably going to be taking a week or two off from fishing, but I thought I’d still send out a quick report!
While migrations and rut and harvests are full speed ahead in Otter Tail Lakes Country there are still fish to catch. Panfish continue to establish late-fall patterns and seem to be suspending in deeper water now. Finding late season panfish is the trick, but once you locate them, just use 1/32 and 1/16 oz jigs tipped with minnows or Gulp fry and Gulp minnows and hold on—I like pinks, chartreuse, or whites this time of year.
Walleye are still on track with last week’s patterns. Keep your eyes on prominent weed line spots and keep working through them. If and when you find some, they might not be in large groups, so be prepared to move after boating 1,2 or 3. There are larger schools around, but it takes time to find them. Use sucker minnows and Lindy Rigs or Jigs and fatheads. The particular preferences will change from lake to lake so try not to get too confident in one option.
Northern continue to be active and will continue to do so all around Lakes Country until after the ice comes on in 5 or 6 weeks. Large minnows and mid-sized crank baits work well along weed edges and steep drops next to deep water.
Good luck fishing Otter Tail Lake’s Country this week! If you’re not fishing—shoot straight and have fun.
Ross Hagemeister
