by Captain Chad Loreth
It’s late October and the winds of fall have arrived and ushered in cool temperatures. We have seen a few snowflakes already in NW Iowa, and some parts of the Dakotas and NW Minnesota have seen their first snowfall arrive and also melt. To sum it up-the weather has been a bit of a roller coaster and has been cool and wet. Water temperatures have quickly trended downward and people are already thinking about ice fishing, but don’t put the boat and your long rods away just yet! Hunting down big fall Walleyes can be a very rewarding experience on any lake that is home to these tanks in the upper Midwest!
October through early November is a great time to hunt for that trophy Walleye you’ve been looking for all season. The fish go on the chew to put on weight for the upcoming winter and are not shy about hitting big baits, specifically large minnows. There’s nothing subtle about big minnows and large Creek Chubs are one of my favorite baits to use for rigging or jigging in the fall in search of larger Walleyes with a big appetite. When an angler can feel the panic of a big minnow at the end of their line trying to flee from the teeth below the boat, it can be difficult to contain the anticipation of setting the hook into a potential trophy fish! Patience is a must if you are going to use big minnows to target fall Walleyes.
When water temps hit 60 degrees in the fall I start looking on lakes I’m fishing for pods of bigger fish that appear to be willing participants in areas where baitfish are concentrated. I’ve found some of the best fishing happens when water temps are between 55-60 degrees so I pay close attention to daily water temperature changes and try and get as much fishing in as I can during this time period in the fall. Areas that I look for on any lake include deeper points or break lines especially if there’s adjacent shallow rock. If the wind is blowing in on areas like mentioned there will usually be a concentration of baitfish and the Walleyes won’t be far behind. I do not rule out deeper basins and will look there as well for pods of larger fish, and if the bait fish are there, the walleyes will be to. The rule of thumb I use is “Hunt for em, Mark em and Catch em!”
There are 2 presentations I like to use to target fall Walleyes using big minnows like Creek Chubs. My first preference is a live bait rig or sliding sinker rig. I use a simple set up with a #2 Octopus hook tied to a 3-4 foot leader, a swivel, mainline braid, a bead and an egg sinker. I like to rig when I’m searching for fish, trolling slowly at speeds of .2 – 1.0 mph depending on the wind on key areas where I’ve marked baitfish and see larger marks on my graph. I will also just drop the rig right down in front of the fish when I mark them. Remember I mentioned there’s nothing subtle about a big minnow? Dropping right in on these fish with a creek chub is like dangling a steak in front of them where the minnow does the work to trigger the bite. I like to use 4-6” chubs, but some days the fish will bite better on a particular size so I like to have a variety of sizes if I can get them and will adjust accordingly.
I like rigging about anywhere on most lakes where I can contact fish but if I can catch fish more efficiently and faster with a different presentation I will. Rigging is a great way to cover water in small key areas thoroughly, examples include pulling along contour lines, up or down break lines or across the top of shallow rocky areas adjacent to a break. Rigging is a great option to get your bait down in front of the fish.
The second presentation I like in the fall is casting a ¼ or 3/8oz jig laced up with the appropriate size creek chub. I like using this presentation when I find a pod or school of larger fish that are concentrated on a piece of structure like a rock pile or sharp break where I can put the bait in front of them multiple times for a longer period when fished slowly. I can spot lock the boat near the fish and cast to them multiple times while not getting right on top of them and spooking them off the structure, especially if the water is clear. If I hook up with a fish, often times there is more than one lying on the bottom in the same area and I will cast back to that location. As with the live bait rig, you’re using a big minnow and you still need to have patience when you feel the bite and let the fish do the work. I will wait until I feel the rod start loading up before I set the hook. I use a 7’0 light or medium light rod for both rigging and jigging in the fall and will usually have 1 rod set up for rigging and the other rod set up with a jig. I like the light action rod for rigging and the medium light for running the jig.
I should mention that taking care of your bait in the fall is of the utmost importance and is a critical key to your success. Lively Creek Chubs are a must and keeping them on an aerator in large bait cooler or bucket is a good tactic for success. I like the Frabil Bait Station 18 with aerator. It is very rugged and I can stand or sit on the cooler and it holds up to a lot of abuse. I’ve kept creek chubs alive for several days in it but the key is not to put too many in it, as with any bait storage system, regardless of the make. Bottom line is lively bait catches fish.
The best part about fishing walleyes in the fall is minimal angling pressure. Most people are focused on hunting and have set off for the woods or are out chasing waterfowl or pheasants, and I like to do all of those things, just add targeting big fall walleyes to that list! Most days in the fall you will find that you might be the only boat on the lake. Making time each day to get out and chase these fish can sometimes get challenging as fall fishing conditions change quickly with the weather. Some days the fish are there and the next they are gone. Food is driving their decision process every day and the fish adjust accordingly. It can be easier said than done some days but if you put in the time and adjust accordingly as well and continue to hunt them down you will be rewarded!
