East vs West for Smallmouth in Fall

[Bigguyone]

Headed up sept 21-28th for smallmouth fishing mainly. will fish for muskie and largemouth some as well.

Usually come up in June and stay on west end but end up fishing the east end mainly due to fish size.

Wondering if you would recommend EAST or WEST end for smallies in the fall.

Also what are traditional patterns this time of year?

Thank you in advance.

You can email me at [email protected] if you prefer instead of posting.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

East end! Mainly because I never fish the West end though!

The smallies will be on top of the rock reefs that top out at 10' to 16'.

jigs and big plastic or short, (20"), Lindys with large pike or light northern suckers as bait.

Big fish at that time of the year!

You will also get some very nice walleyes this way.

Cliff

[Steve Foss]

It really depends on how the season progresses (weather and water temps), but the last week of September and first couple of weeks in October generally bring the walleyes and smallies together on deep structure. Around 20-35 feet.

It's my favorite time to fish walleyes on V. Big bait, big bags, big smallies mixed in with the walleyes. They are both putting on the feed bag in a BIG way!

And deep structure = east end.

[Bigguyone]

We really prefer east end but seems the rental boats and cabins are on the west end... How is the west end for smallies in fall or is east end definitely better?

[delcecchi]

Lots of resorts on East End...

[Bigguyone]

Do you know any on east end (or MID lake) that rent 90hp+ boats? Really prefer 115hp+ Shamrock has 1 but need 3.

[Bigguyone]

Wondering if any other fisherman have input on this one as I appreciate the guides' info but do know they tend to fish one end of the other...so wondering what people that live or fish often on the west end have to say about which end is best for Smallmouth and Musky.

Thank you!

[Cherokee Ref]

Bigguy, Have vacationed on the west end for 30 years and have always done very well on the smallies and largemouth as well. It seems as though the lm population has gotten better over the years, and we tend to taget them while there. However, we take plenty of nice 2-3# smallies while fishing for the lm. Reefs, docks and weedlines all produce. Last few years we have been there the 2nd week of Sept, and the lm are usually putting on the feedbag then. The colder the better it seems. I hear about the better sm fishing on the east end, and that could be, as there are more rusty crayfish and more rock structure there than on the west. The rustys are on the move however, as we have definitely seen some diminished weedbeds just west of the narrows in just the last 2-3 years. I am ready for Sept!