Fall Night Fishing for Big Eyes...

[Fishfanatic]

After reading all the great reports from last fall I had to try the full moon bite in October... My results were (2) fat walleyes in the 3-5 lb class.

I started and finished out on the Garrison reef. Not too bad for my first time, however I am not satisfied. I would like to do better.

My son is turning 6 and has the fishing bug... Big time. I told him we will be going out in sept/october but he is already losing sleep and getting his tackle box ready to go.
(obviously he has no concept of time... Yet)

Can anyone point me in the right direction for location, depths. I am fairly good at trolling and have the right equipment but the long drive as stopped me from putting in more time on the water.

Can anyone please share some of there good places to try and stories to go along. I would like to share them with my little buddy.

Thanks in advance to all.

fishfanatic

[Willy]

I would fish the South end. Almost any reef will hold some fish. Some will be better than others. Just keep looking until you figure a pattern. Also don't neglect fishing weedlines this time of year if you can find them. It the weeds are green and healthy looking, chances are there will be some walleyes hanging out in of near them.

[Big G]

Fishfanatic........

I've been fishing in front of Garrison Creek marina since 97 for the moon bite. The past two years have taken more work to dial in the fish because of the excessive food, but they are there...........I don't need to go anywhere else on the lake.......

What is your presentation?
Lure type?
Lure color?
depth?
trolling speed?
trolling method (electric, outboard, kicker?)
How much line?
What type of line?

[Fishfanatic]

Big G-

My type of trolling has been mostly pulling cranks in 4-11 feet of water. Using mostly
minnow imitation types of cranks(shad raps, floating, and husky jerks, long A's, reef Runners...)

Color of choice has been red/orange crawdad, Perch, clown and fire-tiger

My speed, is just under 1 mph to 2.5 mph on my hand held GPS

Trolling motor is Pinpoint Bow Mounted with
my Evinrude as a backup on the windy days.

Line type is basically mono 6-10 lb test and the occasional fire line 10 and 14 lb test. (not Diameter).

My trolling on Mille Lacs has been confined to Day trips only, where I have scored big time on occasion but last fall during the night I only got out 2 times, once I was blown off the lake, the other resulted in the 2 eye's mentioned earlier.

Any additional help is appreciated.

Fishfanatic

[Big G]

Hey, I see you are an engineer........

You are not an engineer for a medical company are you???

Shoot me an email and we can discuss further........I'll give you a few bits of advice......

email me at gwellman @ midwestlendingcorp dot com

[Kab Dreamin]

Fall is my favorite time on Mille Lacs. Last year we had some of the best fall fishing I've had in about 10 years. When it wasn't too windy to troll, Lakeside Reef and the shoreline where the old Lakeside resort used to be kicked out a lot of fish as did Flamingo reef. When it was really howling out of the south or southwest, we fished Center Bar out in front of Isle and did really well (including a monster muskie that broke off at the side of the boat). Most nights we were only one of a handful of boats out there. Not like it was back in the mid to late 90's when you would be one of 200 boats in the area.

The most productive lures were shad raps and wally divers in perch, clown, fire tiger or chartruese. Every time it was different so we had to experiment a little to find what they wanted.

Trolling speed was all over the board and changed from hour to hour. On calm nights you had to use the electric because the big motor was too fast. On windy nights they would only hit it when you trolled against the wind and slowed down to a crawl. Other nights you had to move so fast that sometimes the lures turned out and came up to the surface.

The most consistent depth seemed to be 8-14' but on full moon nights, we were sometimes up in 3 or 4 feet of water and had the engine tilted up because I was afraid of dinging a rock. We caught some of the biggest walleyes up on top of the rocks in that shallow of water.

The itch has set in and I will be making my first trip on September 5th. My neighbor and I have been doing this for 10 or 12 years each fall and this time my son is going along. He is 13 and really wants to catch a pig and this is the best time of year I can think of to put him on one.

[This message has been edited by Kab Dreamin (edited 08-26-2004).]

[Crossin' Eyes]

Fishfanatic,
Drop me an e-mail for some info.

[email protected]

------------------
Good Fishin!
Crossin

[beeflover]

hey fish fanatic, don't make things to complicated, your plenty sientific. Pull big floating raps on the rocks on the fall nights an catch big walleyes, 5 lbs average probably. If I get over 7 ft I might put an once a lead 2-3 ft in front a the floater. then it'll go about 7 ft.

it's been goin on for years.

Mille Lacs isn't that far, if your in the cities, I go up nearly every weekend from Eagan. Dress warm, like ice fishin, especially the little trooper, at heater in the boat is deluxe

just map out rocky reef on your gps and go round, break is from 8 to 17 or so in the steep spots. #5 shad raps or tail dancer at the top of the break, #7 a little deeper
At the bottom of the drop I also pull floating raps bottom bouncers or three ways

after ya figure out rocky reef ya shouldn't really need to go anywhere else but as ya get adventurous go east an south an try to figure out Anderson Reef, endless trolling runs out there!

I've caught a 100lbs some nights and skunked some nights too

8-10 lb is as heavy as I ever go, gotta make those cranks wag

I wish I was out there tonite with the full moon. nice!

If ya do real good send me a check.

just kiddin, I famous guy named Paul Throne told me about this bite about 15-20 years ago. it's no secret

two or three years ago I was out there on the 16th of Dec. Everybody was whinin they couldn't go ice fishin an I'm out there in the boat coverin water with the lake to myself and walleyes aint seen a bait in a month, hee, hee

love the fall, most a the guys go huntin, the pleasure boats are gone, the fish are puttin on the feed bag and ya got the lake to yourself. life is good!!

Maybe see ya this fall. Take a break about 11 an have a beer at Rocky Reef Resort. The hard cores'll be there and ya can just follow there boats around

[bigeyes]

beef-let me assure you the "hard cores" are not in the bar having a drink at 11.

[Mykal]

Indeed bigeyes..........it is about that time of year again. Will I see you on the water one night this week? I'm thinking Wednesday night. Supposed to be a nice S SW wind so you'll know where I'll be. Are you ready! Alphid, MrPike1, Grabs, anyone else ready to go?

fishfanatic, shoot me an email at [email protected].

[This message has been edited by Mykal (edited 08-30-2004).]

[mudman]

Any one got room for one more addicted soul?

[bigeyes]

Nope, you won't see me. The bite won't be even getting started for about a month, three weeks best case and thats with a cool Sept. I have had my fill of night runs this year with getting nothing or a mix or rock bass and smallies.

[beeflover]

bigeyes, my whole post was to help the guy and you come back with some glib response

I've often fished from 5 or 6 to 11 for a break or last call then went back out

I often meet other fisherman

If a guy or gal is out fishin nights in October this is a hard core in my book

to bad you couldn't resist that shot, you could have offered something constructive.
that's what I'd expect from a "family member"

[Mykal]

beeflover, I truley apologize if I offended you at all. Not my intention. Hardcore is a good word for any of us who fish well into the November nights. Maybe we'll see you out there.

bigeyes, I know it's way early yet, but I have a feeling we may see an early cold snap and you just never know out there. I've seen some strange things.

mudman, how addicted are you and where do you reside?

[This message has been edited by Mykal (edited 08-30-2004).]

[Paul Waldowski]

Mudman,

I also live in Eagan and in hit MilleLacs alot for the fall night bite. Most of the time it's during the week though!!!! Due to this fact most of the time I have an open seat. If interested shoot me an e-mail

------------------
Paul
ProStaff Director
FishingMinnesota
Iceleaders

[email protected]
Drake Motel
Marcum
Otter Outdoors
JR's Tackle
Lakemaster Lake Maps

[bigeyes]

Soooo Mike, I better not let you get too big of a jump on me this fall or else I may never come back. The program changes sooooo much every fall that it takes weeks to get everything pinned down. How about you go get the hot bite and then give me a call and I will just kinda tag along! j/k

Gentlemen I believe Mike is the FM man to beat so far this year with a solid 29 1/2, but I don't believe that will hold up all fall.

Paul where do you go out of and how often? I can't believe I have never seen you on a week night. I will drop you an email,and we will make it out sometime this fall.

[mudman]

I live in Eagan.
been going up there for at least 10yrs
my younger cousin thought it would be fun to ride a jet ski into the side of my boat.
put a hole in it the size of a softball.

won't have it back until spring.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Mykal]

bigeyes, actually it was a solid 29.75 inches...I could have "lied" and called it a 30" but that's not me. She is still swimming and hopefuly putting on the pounds. My biggest last Fall was 28.5" and easily weighed the same as that 29.75" I got in July. It took many 25-27.5" inchers to finally hit that big fish mark. Like you said before the 30" mark on Mille is a tough nut to crack, but this could be the year.
You won't need to tag along, I may follow you out though as you have already exceeeded the 30" mark and know how to get it done. If I make it up I will certainly post a report.

[This message has been edited by Mykal (edited 08-31-2004).]

[bigeyes]

My mistake, it stands at 29 3/4" Yikes! It is going to take a true 30" to have the lead with a cushion. That 1/4 might just be enough to hold your FM title through the fall. Pretty sure it can tied by somebody, but a true 30 probably won't happen this fall(by an fmer that is). Remember there is only one shot this year for true sumo piggies and it's not really even during sumo piggy time.

[Kab Dreamin]

I will be heading up Sunday night for the first run of the fall season. I'll report in on Tuesday with what we find. Last year, the Labor Day weekend has been pretty good, even considering how early it is.

[Mykal]

Sounds good Kab, I have not made it up there since July. I've been interviewing for new jobs, but I hope to be up sometime in the next few days.

Good luck.

[Kab Dreamin]

We hit the lake Friday night about 7:30 and bobber fished until dark on Center Bar just outside of Isle. Only caught one dink. Once it got dark we started trolling. I was pulling a deep diving Fire Tiger Shad Rap and my partner was pulling a chartruese Wally Diver. We caught eight more between 8:30 and 12:30 ranging from 18-22". No real pigs this trip. The fish were in 10-12' of water and would only hit the lure when we were trolling into the wind (breeze) and the boat would slow down to 2 to 2.3 mph. Any faster and they were not interested. Both baits produced about the same.

[Kab Dreamin]

She was being unreasonable and you can tell her I said so.

[Labby]

Got out for about 45 minutes right at dusk Saturday night. We were basically on a boat ride with my inlaws but I couldnt resist tossing out a couple husky jerks. Landed 2 27" eyes and a 30" northren in 20 minutes trolling on the south end. I wanted to go back out for the rest of the night but the wife put the Kabosh to that, (I just got back from Colorado elk hunting for 10 days on Friday and she thoiught I should spend some time with her) She may have a point but I sure wish I could have made a few more passes through the area we caught the fish in.

Lab

[Labby]

Kab Dramin
I hear ya there! She is in for a long fall. This is the time every year when I think I may become single at the end of December. The dog house is nice and warm though!

[Kab Dreamin]

Labby,

My wife and I have come to an understanding after 18 years of marriage when it comes to my fishing addiction. I keep telling her that things could be worse and all she has to do to confirm that is look around at her friend's miserable marriages. I don't drink or hang out in bars (much), I don't smoke, I don't gamble (well, there is that occasional powerball ticket), I don't chase skirts (it cuts into your fishing time and could cost you your boat), I help out with the housework and the kid's homework and I do the vast majority of the cooking (self-defense). In exchange, I get to fall night fish on Mille Lacs all I want without getting the "look" and since I now take my 13 year old son with, she's pretty certain all activities are age appropriate. I even offered to take her along, safe in the knowledge that she will never go out on the water after dark. All she has to put up with is me crawling into bed at 3 or 4 in the morning on Saturdays and Sundays slightly smelling of fish and the occasional bill for some new lure or additional toy for the boat that I can't live without. Life is good.

[Chilly Willy]

Hey Kab.

Even though I don't know how you do it, but I have been able to enjoy fishing as much as you do. Just like you, I have to put in my share of time around the house and have had the chance to bring my wife along an several occasions. She says she enjoys it, but that way, she knows that everythings on the "up and up".

I'm planning on going up the big lake on Saturday evening. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks, Chilly Willy.

[CrawlerKing]

Suggestions: For early fall fishing I think you have to cover a lot of water. With the warm water temps I will almost always troll faster than 2 mphs...I know there are exceptions and you have to be willing to experiment, but faster is usually more productive for me. I usually concentrate more on rocky areas....ideally I will find an area that contains some bait fish...depending on depth I will use #5, #7, #8 and #9 shad raps, #5 jointed shads, also #11 or #13 floaters, and #10, #12 and #14 Husky jerks....depending on the night...I have had great luck using black/gold, blue/silver, firetiger, crawdad, and clown. Probably the most important tip would be that its very important to pay attention to details when trolling at night. Ask the following questions after catching a fish...was I trolling upwind or downwind? was it on an inside turn or an outside turn? what was my speed? how much line did I have out? was I working the lure or just dead sticking it? what was the depth? was I coming off the break or going on it? Paying attention to these details can turn a good night into a great night!

[Kab Dreamin]

I couldn't agree with CrawlerKing more. Night fishing success on Mille Lacs for me has been an exercise in coordination of the depth finder and the GPS. On the last trip last year, by following the 10-12' break line and marking every fish caught on the GPS, I was able to find that the fish were stacking up on the inside edge of an inside turn along the reef edge. We found two more spots just like it along the face of the reef and caught fish on both of those spots. Also paying attention to your trolling speed and wind direction is a must. One or two tenths of a mph can make a big difference.

[bigeyes]

Ok, guys dug this one up. Yup a little bored today. Anyway though maybe we could post our longest walleye of the fall to see how they all compared and get an idea of what was out there this year.

Very different and tough year thus far, all things considerd we faired ok one 30" a 29.75 for my group with a couple other low 29's. It should go without saying none of the big fish were mine. Somethings never change! Lol. How did the rest of you do?