Fall/night fishing crank and stick baits?

[slick2526]

I want to make my first ever full moon fishing trip this October and I was wondering what are your guy's go to cranks and stick baits for fall fishing/night fishing? I run mostly SR5's in my neck of the woods and some HJ10's and that's what I have in my box now. I have quite a few firetiger, blue/silver/orange in those cranks.

What other sizes/types/colors should I be looking at just for this lake?

[dfv87]

Those ones are where I start too... but there always seems to be 1 specific that does better... run some and see. I have not been up there yet this year so I cannot help you.

[slick2526]

Thanks DFV. I appreciate it.

I have been reading some but most of the articles I have looked at are old and it seems like newer baits should be on the market now that are not getting mentioned. Seems being early in the fall that a shad style bait is still prefered but I ordered some smithwick RR's also.

I am pretty clueless as to where areas are I should be fishing in the fall and what lodging is reasonably priced close to the area. Do you have any suggestions on that? Planning on making this a week day trip also if that matters

[Stick in Mud]

I like Smithwick Rogues, Bomber Long-A, Minnow Raps, Flat Raps, Shad Raps, Hornets, Husky Jerks, Original Floating Raps, etc. etc. They all work at times, but sometimes one will be far, far superior to the others.

Color is all across the board. Tennessee Shad is a popular one. So is firetiger. Clown can be good. Purpledescent, too. Keep switching until the fish tell you what they want.

[gizmoguy]

Rule of thumb is the colder the water the slower your speed and more subtle the lure action. Color, action, speed and sizes can be all over the place early but as you get closer to 40 deg the walleyes are there for the tullibees coming into spawn. So a little more match the hatch.

[slick2526]

thanks for all the help guys!

[fishdale]

Looks like I will be making my first trip to Mille Lacs Oct17-19th. Any idea on what depths the Walleyes will be during the day and at night for the trolling bite?

Also going to dust off the musky gear and try that with the kid. Has been over 20 years since I wend musky fishing so trying to get a idea on the depth structure that musky's will be at also.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Stick in Mud]

That late in the year, I've caught walleyes in 3 ft of water all the way down to 15 ft or so. A lot depends on wind, too.

But I usually *start* fishing about 8-10 ft and then adjust accordingly.