FISHING WITH THE GUIDES with George Langley - WEEK OF 9/20 TO 9/27

The cooldown we've been talking about has settled in, and this week looks like a classic fall stretch. By the weekend we get a modest warm-up, with hopeful highs in the upper-60s and overnight lows creeping back up towards 50 (but maybe not quite hitting it.) We had to fight with the wind a bit last week but this week will hopefully be better. The color is coming on in the hardwoods, the ferns are brown, the flickers are coming through our area and the landings are quiet. Fall is here for real.

Water temps are sitting in the low to mid-60's on most lakes, with the Chain on the warmer end and the bigger lakes to the north a bit cooler. The cold nights early last week shaved off a few more degrees, but the milder afternoons ahead should keep the slide gradual. Some weeds are starting to die back, and fish are leaving those browning areas for the green weeds left, and the first deep structure next to it. Water is also running low across much of the Northwoods this fall, so keep an eye out for shallow bars and stumps. Expect patchy morning fog on the lakes, so take it slow.

Last week's walleye bite was good but scattered, and finding them mattered more than what you threw. Fish showed up both on deep weed edges in the 12 to 15' range, and on rock bars, sand and mud in the deep, up to 25’+.  Look for that shift to deeper structure to continue this week: main-lake points, sharper breaks, rock bars, and mud transitions in the 20-30’ range, with a weed-edge bite still available wherever the green weeds are holding. With sunny, calm skies in the forecast, the best windows will be first light and the last couple of hours of the day, and fish will slide deeper at midday. Work a jig-and-fathead or smaller sucker slowly along bottom and try half a crawler on the rock bars. When the sun is high, downsize and slow down.

Bass fishing remains good. Largemouth have been grinding it out in the thick weeds and wood, and slow and heavy has been the key. Drop shots, Texas rigs, and jig-and-craw combinations that get down into the green stuff are working. As shallow weeds keep fading, watch for them to slide toward the deeper, greener edges. Smallmouth are still on the rock and gravel bars in 8 to 15', with a few cruising the deeper weed edges in the 14 to 16' range. Drop shots, tubes, Ned rigs, and swimbaits are all good options. As things continue to cool, look for smallmouth to group tighter and move a little deeper on the rock. Find one and there are usually more.

Panfish are in their favorite time of year. Bluegill are being had over wood and around docks and green weeds, in 8 to 14' on small jigs or a slip bobber with a piece of crawler or a waxie. Plan on the best action in the warmer afternoon hours after these cool mornings. Crappie are moving to deeper water at 10 to 15', and on these bright days they may be suspended. Small jigs with plastic or a fathead will find them. If they're finicky, go with live bait over plastics. The perch are still hanging with the walleye on the cabbage edges and around wood, and a jig-and-fathead or half a crawler will get them.

Musky are heating up with this continued cool down. Paul's Pro-Am Musky Tournament had anglers out on the Chain over the weekend and we saw a total of 35 fish caught, the biggest being 44.5”.  Bucktails over shallow weeds in 4 to 8', topwater, and high-riding swimbaits have been scoring. With bluebird, calm days ahead, adjust. Fish the low-light windows with bucktails and topwater. Then push out to the deeper weed edges and emerging structure with glide baits, jerkbaits, and bigger, soft plastics as the sun climbs. Keep an eye on the sky late in the weekend. A falling barometer ahead of the next system is a great time to be out there. Sucker fishing will start in earnest as water temps keep sliding.

Dress in layers for a chilly, possibly foggy start in the morning - but bring sunscreen for those bright, sunny afternoons. Some of the best fishing of the fall is starting now, while the water is cooling and the fish are moving and feeding up for winter. The lakes are quiet, the air is crisp, the color is just starting to get its groove on, and there's a lot to look forward to.

Good luck and good fishin'!  

                                            Wisconsin Fishing Information

                                                                                                                           

• Back To Top Of Page •