We are absolutely seeing more transitional behavior taking place as we dig deeper into fall. We are finally seeing some splendid, colorful shorelines with lots of autumn patterns. This week, temperatures were very pleasant for staying outdoors, and we are starting to see a big changeover.
With that said, fishing has been mostly slow and a challenge, which is a normal tendency when the climate is making drastic changes. Usually, this time of year, we are into a slugfest with fish; oh well, we will still try our best.
Typically, in summer and late summer, we are tackling the early morning and later evening bite windows. On a typical late October bite, you shouldn’t really have to worry about such a thing, but this year has been different. Our best success has been the early mornings and later afternoons. Daylight hours continue to decrease substantially each day. This means we are getting the late-day bite before dinner. It also means (for me anyway) that bedtime creeps earlier and earlier. This is really no different for the fish, so keep that in mind.
Lake Superior angling reports are only hearing whispers from the Ashland and Washburn areas. Very few anglers have been fishing north of Washburn, and the success rates, accordingly, have not been great. Those staying closer to Ashland and in the heart of Chequamegon Bay have been into some great smallmouth, a few rogue trout or salmon, pike and the occasional walleye. Live bait has been the thing for most of the reported success.
If you are after smallmouth bass, you certainly can expect to run into many well-built fish as they have been bulking up for winter. Sucker minnows slowly dragged near the bottom in 15-30 feet of water have been best. I like to fish substrates that have any type of structure (rock or wood). Trusting your electronics and especially instincts will pay off.
Remember, when fishing big waters and not finding any bites or opportunities, you need to move! Sometimes a few hundred feet, and sometimes a quarter mile or more. Trout and salmon tributary anglers are still finding some success staking out river corners with pocket holes and fishing an assortment of both flies and hardware.
The St. Louis River has been home to a few hunters and anglers. Anglers have been winning the success battle, but not by all that much. As I alluded to, this year’s October weather pattern has hampered the late fall bite, but it has especially been tough for ducks flying the river waterway. We are finally starting to see a few more hover into popular wild rice pockets. On a typical day, you may hear a few shots, but not very often.
Fishermen continue to concentrate on crappies, walleyes, a few smallmouth bass, and, of course, the muskies. If you get out, you surely will see some muskie anglers trying their luck in skinny water and channel edges. When walleye fishing, I always tell our guests, if you get what you think is a small fish, reel it slowly, and sometimes you will see a big fish. One-eighth to ¼ brighter-colored jigs and minnows have been the ticket, but a few plastic bites are still holding some weight. I like the 5-inch paddle-tails, worked aggressively.
Most anglers have been up around Boy Scout Landing and beyond, but make no mistake, the mid and lower sections have some good migratory fish coming and going. Crappie fishing has been OK when continuing to look toward any type of structure such as lumber and scattered brush piles. Live bait has been best.
Inland waters have little to no traffic these days. Similar to river angling, live bait fishing is back to being a staple. Many anglers would agree that using the same tactics and locations of spring fishing can pay off.
Best depths targeted are in the ranges of 10-20 feet, but what is more important is working the edge of vegetation or rock. The breezy days will continue to be best until we see a good freeze. For me, the magic depth would be 10-14 feet. If you have a few anglers in the boat, some should fan cast hard-bodied lures while others jig vertically.
In any case, time on the water will be the best variable for success. With the diminishing daylight, an all-day fish excursion is not that hard.
Jarrid Houston of South Range is a fishing guide ( houstonsguideservice.com ) on Minnesota and Wisconsin inland waters, the St. Louis River and, in winter, on Lake Superior.