Fall Walleye Fishing: Unlocking the Secrets to Success
As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, fall marks one of the best seasons for walleye fishing. However, it’s also a time when finding these fish can become tricky due to their shifting behaviors. Being able to locate and adapt to these changes is crucial for a successful outing. Here’s how to stay one step ahead of these elusive predators and make the most of your time on the water.
Finding Fall Walleye: Where to Look
In the fall, walleyes start to transition from their summer homes to deeper waters or specific structures as they prepare for winter. Understanding these movements is key to locating them. Some of the top structures to target during this time include:
- Rocky Points and Humps: These areas provide ideal cover and food sources, drawing in hungry walleyes looking to ambush baitfish.
- Deep Weed Edges: Weed edges are often under estimated by walleyes anglers. A good numbers of Walleyes will hold near the remaining green weeds, as they offer the last stand of healthy cover. It also tends to attract a great varieties of bait fish.
- Channel Edges and Drop-Offs: As temperatures drop, walleyes are likely to move along these contours, making them a prime spot for vertical presentations or bottom bouncers.
- Submerged Islands and Sandbars: These structures often act as staging areas where walleyes congregate during their transition to deeper waters.
The key is to stay flexible and willing to move. If you’re not finding fish in one spot, switch it up. Often, the walleyes are there—you just need to find the right part of the structure to target.
Choosing the Right Lures: Match the Mood
Fall walleye can go from being aggressive to highly finicky depending on the day. The trick is to have a range of lures and techniques to suit their mood:
Aggressive Approaches: Jigging Raps and Crankbaits
When the fish are active, opt for lures that provoke reaction strikes. Jigging raps can be snapped aggressively through the water, while crankbaits are perfect for covering a lot of ground quickly and enticing fish to chase.
Balanced Techniques: Swimbaits
Swimbaits serve as an excellent middle-ground option. They can be worked slowly along the bottom or through the water column to attract both active and neutral fish with their realistic swimming action. Sometimes, a more agressive jigging motion can also provoke reaction bites.
Finesse Presentations: Finesse jigs, Ned Rigs and Drop-Shots
If the bite is tough, scaling down to smaller jig heads or rigs like the ned rig or drop-shot can tempt even the most finicky walleyes. Stick to natural colors and realistic profiles to get those subtle bites in clear water. For stain waters, my favorite colors are orange, chartreuse and violet.
Stay Adaptable and Open to Change
Fall walleye fishing requires a willingness to adapt, focus and trying different things. The fish are constantly on the move, and what works one day might not work the next. Be prepared to switch locations, adjust your presentation, and change your lure selection as needed.
So, as you hit the water this fall, remember that the best anglers are the ones who keep grinding, always adjusting to the conditions. Find the fish, fine-tune your approach, and you’ll be in for some of the best walleye fishing of the year.
Cast & Grind.
