A Little Patience Goes A Long Way

I love fall time. And not just the great fishing in Lakes Country, but the whole package! The air is cool (I love to wear sweatshirts/hoodies), the leaves turn from “average-green” to awesome oranges and reds and all other colors that are visually warm and wonderful, and there’s the great hunting opportunities in Otter Tail County that are truly the frosting on the cake.

While panfish are still sought after by some anglers, walleye seems to be the most pursued species in fall time. Walleye are accessible again.  Anglers that fare well as walleye people in the spring find revivals in the fall. Many spots and techniques in the fall are similar to those during spring time. Drop offs near weeds and lazy drops that fade away from points and turns are good spots to try both early and late in the year. While there seem to be walleye deep this time of the year, I put my money on shallower water—where the larger walleye hang out.

You can fish them with bottom bouncers, jigs, or Lindy Rig presentations—and you can catch them crank baiting too. For live bait, crawlers, sucker minnows, fatheads, or red tails are safe choices. If you like using minnows and jigs near weed lines, hang on to your rod because the northern are active right now as well.

Check out the photos I enclosed this week. Take a look at the beat up sucker minnow. I like to fish them Lindy Rig style and I like to use 4-6 inch suckers this time of the year. Be sure and feed the fish line when they strike large baits or they’ll come up looking like the minnow in photo—one of my fishing partners didn’t wait quite long enough. If you wait long enough, the result may be what you see in the second photo—a 27 inch fall beauty! 

Enjoy fishing Otter Tail Lakes Country this week!  Please check your boat and trailer and gear for weeds when you’re exiting lakes around the county, and don’t forget to drain your live wells and to pull your drain plug—help prevent the spread of AIS!

Ross Hagemeister | meisterguideservice.com