late fall walleyes

[andy j]

Anybody been doing decent for walleyes on any of the lakes or rivers around Duluth? I have fished the St. Louis a few times but only managed a few walleyes, not much size to them. What about Island Lake?

[Granny]

Andy,

Didn't you mean "late fall BASS "? Don't go to the dark side!

Granny

[Northlander]

Granny its not the dark side its the only side!

You know those bucketmouths eat anything in front of them. At least you could move up the chain a bit and fish smallmouths. Just yankin your chain ya know.

Its Crappies and Loopers till ice up. We have to hook up and hit the shore soon.

[andy j]

Granny,

I am game for bass still, lets get out this weekend.

[andy j]

Come on walleye guys lets hear some reports.

[Animal]

I was at Vermillion on Saturday and we pounded the walleyes. No wall hangers but we brought home 3 limits of 15 to 18 inchers. They were scattered in 20 to 30 feet of water and caught on jigs and minnows. We fished mainly in Frazier Bay off of the main channel islands. Water temp was 44.

[Surface Tension]

Andy, my boats are sleeping for the winter under tarps.

Island Lake always has one or more patterns that work. Right now I'd be hitting the weeds in shallow, slowly working a jig with natural color plastics tipped with a chub or no plastics and use a Golden Shiner or slip bobs. The plastic gives the a bigger look and slows the drop. If you can't get them to go there then find an area that drops off into a little deeper water that still has weeds.

Another pattern that works well this time of year is gravel and sands points that have a flat to gradual slope. Again slowly work Lindy type rigs or jigs. Bites are going to be very subtle most times you'll only feel a tad extra weight with no tap what so ever. Water temps are dropping but we're still getting days where the surface water warms and blows into shore and piles up. Throw in some weeds and you can't miss.

[shogun]

I have been up to fish lake probably every weekend and sometimes one day during the week for the last 3 weekends. Haven't been able to hook a single walleye. This past Sunday my dad and I were able to catch a number of pike. Two biggest were about 4lbs. Plan on going again this Saturday to give it one more shot before we winterize the motor. We have been fishing the weeds close to deep water and some none-weedy points too. I don't know what else to try, unless we try some of the 20-30' holes. We'll see. We did have two good "walleye" bites off of one point in about 14' of water a week and a half ago, didn't hook them though - they were real light and sucking on it. Just like ST said, you feel a little extra weight there and some slight pulling.

[andy j]

I don't get why this area is so slow for walleyes this time of year? I thought this was walleye country. Walleyes are chomping all over the state, why not here?

[Surface Tension]

Andy, I'd still be out but have to pull the plug on eyes on account of Grouse, Deer and Pheasant seasons. I gave up Duck and Bow/deer seasons just because theres to much going on.

The eyes aren't neutral they're just sluggish.

You'd be surprised how shallow you can find eyes right now. I'm talking 2-3' of water, even on a bright day especially if you have weeds.

If I were to hit fish lake today I'd anchor in 6' of water with some weeds around and be able to cast into heavier weeds up shallower with jigs. I'd anchor because of the amount of finesse it takes to feel the difference between weeds and an eye that lightly latches on and swims with the jig. Think about it, the lakes are close to the same temp as they would be a 2 weeks from now with ice on them. I didn't need to go into detail how slow a slugish ice eye takes a bobber down or how light they hit a Pimple. Right now you need a slow presentation and you better be on the ball when you do get a pickup or else that jig will be drooped with you not knowing any better. Throw weeds in the mix and you've really got to pay attention. Another reason to anchor is your not spooking fish and if you jig all the way to the boat you will have eyes follow and hang out in the shade your boat casts in that shallow water. Fan out your casts and jig all the way to the boat. I guaranty you'll have sluggish eyes coming in. Every once and a while vertical jig over the side of the boat. This technique isn't for runnin and gunnin, its take time to develop.

I do this exact same thing in the spring and fall and it works for me over and over. Last time out on Fish we released a couple dozen eyes and took enough fish home to tide us over till the day we can hit the ice.

[andy j]

Thanks for the replys, I hit Island lake today, nice day to be out, no walleyes but marked a lot of fish, tried light jigs, lindy rigs nothing, I did pick up a 34 inch muskie trolling. AJ