Fall Fishing Season Has Begun In Grand Rapids, MN
This week Tom Neustrom shares fall fishing for walleyes and crappies in Grand Rapids, MN in this week’s fishing report. Tom Neustrom is an inductee of both the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the MN Fishing Hall of Fame. He owns professional fishing guide service, MN Fishing Connections.
Ah yes! The Fall wonderland has slowly arrived and there are signs that our season most wait for is finally arrived. On Lake Winnibigoshish recently there were as many as 30 loons in a group that have come together for a last meeting before heading south. It is a ritual that is repeated on several lakes, but Big Winnie has been an airport that is always full. It’s a staging area for loons that have purchased their ticket south. It’s a wonder of nature that hasn’t changed hundreds of years.
With the fall season starting, and cooler water temperatures, fish species are starting to set up in their fall patterns. On the deep clear lakes walleyes are slipping out to deeper locations on off shore humps and bars. One thing to remember is location is key. Most often they will set up in areas where shallow points and access areas are not to far away. Early morning and twilight will find them roaming shallow to deep and deep to shallow. Using your electronics can help immensely in locating these migrating walleyes in their movements. Live bait rigs and chubs or small sucker minnows can be especially deadly when fished vertically. One quarter to three eighth ounce jigs and a minnow can also be effective. Good lakes in the area for the deep water walleyes are Trout Lake in Coleraine, Deer Lake, Pokegama, and Wabana lakes.
Fall Fishing For Walleye
Walleyes on shallower lakes set up in depths of 4-12 feet consistently and are fairly easy to predict. Shoreline locations with gravel, rock, and isolated weed beds are most often the target areas. Pulling spinners with a minnow, crank baits, and especially a jig and minnow will contact active fish. Walleyes are on the feed bag as fall arrives and the shallow area lakes are excellent choices to find hungry walleyes. Many times once located, spot loc with your bow mount Minnkota and fan cast the area. Surprisingly it’s a great method for contacting additional fish quickly. Some of the best shallow lakes in then in the Grand Rapids area are Big Winnie, Big Cutfoot, Splithand, Bowstring, and Jessie. All have good populations of shallow walleyes that will provide good action.
Fall Fishing For Crappies
Crappies too are starting to set up in their fall patterns and with the cooler weather upon us, they will start to be on the edges of basin areas and dominate holes in bays and main lake areas. Once located with your electronics the action can be fast. I like to move around in areas with my Humminbird Helix 12 with Side Imaging and locate schools of crappies. Place an icon on the school then go over the school with my color graph. Hover over the school and vertically fish a sixteenth ounce jig with a minnow or plastic and it’s game on. The Northland Tackle Mimic Minnow is an excellent choice. Some of the good fall crappie lakes in the area are Big and Little Splithand, Pokegama, Loon, Big Rice, Bowstring, Sand, and Big Cutfoot.
Whatever your choice of species, fall has arrived and there isn’t a more beautiful time of the year to be on the water. Good luck. Make sure you check with MN DNR Fishing Seasons so you are aware of the ending fishing seasons on Minnesota lakes. Remember that fall is a very short season in northern Minnesota. So, if you want to come catch fish this fall, make sure that you book your Fishing Guide early (Learn more HERE), and book your overnight lodging early as well (Book Overnight Lodging in Grand Rapids HERE). Bring the entire family with you while you fish this fall. Check out the Top 10 Fall Things To Do In Grand Rapids, MN blog that explains all of the things to do for every family member.