Fishing & Hunting

Fall is here, although it can be hard to believe when the forecast has mid-70’s in it. But the nights are cool, mornings are crisp, and we’re seeing more color each day in the maples and birches along the lakeshores. Water temperatures continue to rollercoaster along with our temps, and weeds are steadily thinning out. A cooling trend will improve fishing as the season pushes deeper into fall.

Walleye action is slowly improving on the Eagle River Chain. Fish are now settled into deeper water, with 15–25 feet producing the best results. Minnows are the clear bait of choice, whether fished on jigs or under slip bobbers. As the water cools further, expect even stronger feeding windows, especially during low light periods.

Bass fishing has slowed, but we’re still seeing largemouth in deeper structure and smallmouth in deeper gravel flats. For largemouth try plastics on weedless hooks and for smallies, ned rigs over those flats.

Musky anglers are starting to see better consistency. With the weed edges opening up, trolling larger cranks and jerkbaits along breaks has been effective. Casting rubber baits over remaining green weeds is also producing. This is the time of year when fish start to fatten up for winter, so persistence is rewarded.

Northern pike remain active, hanging tight to remaining weed cover. Spinnerbaits and larger spoons are drawing strikes, especially on darker-water lakes. Bass action is slowing somewhat, but both largemouth and smallmouth are still catchable on warmer afternoons. Smallmouth are favoring rocky points and deeper breaks, while largemouth linger in shallower cover.

Panfish have moved deeper as well. Crappie are staging in 12–20 feet, often suspended near structure, and are taking small minnows. Bluegill and perch remain active but require a little more searching as weed beds thin.

With the leaves turning, many hunters are splitting time between the woods and the water. It’s not uncommon this time of year to see a truck at the landing with both a fishing boat on the trailer and blaze orange in the back seat—only in the Northwoods do the seasons overlap so seamlessly.

Good luck and good fishin’!