Fall Walleye Fishing

Don't put that rod away yet...

Fall walleye fishing can be a tremendous amount of fun. Many people associate autumn with a number of things; turkey, pumpkin pie, football. But for those who know, the fall can be terrific for walleye!

Just because winter is around the corner doesn’t mean you should be putting that rod away. Fall walleye fishing can be VERY productive. Many trophies are taken while fishing for walleye in the fall. You just need to know the secrets!

The trick is to match your presentation to the mood of the fish. Many anglers swear that the poorer the fall weather, the better the fishing. Cold fronts, changing water temperature and other elements contribute to the walleye’s changing mood in the fall.

While fall walleye fishing, an extremely important thing to keep in mind is the speed of your presentation. It doesn’t matter if you are jigging, trolling crank baits or live bait rigging, things move slower underwater as it begins to cool. To make your presentation “more real” you must match it to the mood in the water.

The fall seems to be the time of year most trophy walleyes are caught. There is a reason for this. Most trophy walleye caught during the fall are typically females. The female is looking to eat a large quantity of food to nourish her developing eggs. If you can figure out what is turning them on, you could have the fishing experience of your life.

Granted, fishing for walleye in the fall can be slow. “The bite” usually does not last as long as it does in the spring or summer. You can be really hammering them, and then all of a sudden – it stops. You need to be flexible and have the ability to quickly try different locations and tactics. They will be biting somewhere; you just need to find them.

When people say they can’t catch walleye in the fall, the problem usually does not lie with the fish. A change in season usually means a change in tactics. This is something most anglers do not accommodate! Lakes and rivers are much different environments in September and October and require a change in strategy. Summer time success usually does not translate into good fishing in the fall if same methods are used. This is key for you to remember.

Fall walleye fishing is dependant on locating the small fish and other prey that they feed on (sound familiar?). Typically the baitfish are not in the same location they were during the summer. They are usually seeking cover of different varieties. This is where you need to begin your quest.

Not only do you need to find the fish, you need to find the active fish in order to have a good day. Many anglers work channels and “summer hot spots” while fall walleye fishing. You need to do something different.

While working a river in the fall, drifting is often a good strategy to locate the fish. Make sure you work any backwater areas and locate any obstacles that you drift by. In fact, don’t be afraid to work each backwater area a couple of times during a pass. Keep your eyes open for minnows breaking water. Many times there are predators feeding in these spots, and more often than not it is walleye.

Cast a jig into the still water and retrieve back it into the current. A small walleye jig (1/8 ounce) works very well in these situations. These locations also allow your bait or lure to present itself in a natural manner. The walleye will often race from behind the obstruction to strike your lure, and then move back into slack water area to digest the meal. The walleye are waiting for minnows and other baitfish attempting to move into the still water.

Your presentation in the fall is the key. You will find you might have to fine tune it throughout the day. Try bouncing between very slow retrievals with a single hook or split shot and faster ones with an artificial lure.

Don’t over analyze the bait you are going to use in the fall. Remember it’s a different time of year and this means a different strategy. Many times a leech or night crawler will fail miserably through autumn. Minnows and beef heart can be a good remedy if the leeches aren’t doing the trick.

From a color perspective remember the changing season. The colors you had success with in the spring and summer will probably not work well in the fall. Silver and black, silver and dark green and chartreuse and white produce success in the fall. Don’t limit your colors to these however. Fall walleye fishing can be finicky. You may need to discover the color based on your own trial and error. Remember, each body of water can have its own personality.

Many anglers swear that in the fall big fish like big baits. At ice up this could not be truer. They can feel the water cooling fast and they won’t expend a great deal of energy on a little snack. They want something substantial. Remember, as the water cools, the fish often slow down with it. This means you must slow your presentation down. You need to do this especially when the water gets back into the 50 degree range.

Fall walleye fishing is at its best often when the elements are at their worst. Big fish are often on the prowl during these times. Keep your eyes open for a cold front. Many times the precursor to a cold front can yield some fantastic fishing. The sky is darker, the water is often rough which makes it darker "down below" This entices the fish to move up. After the front passes and leaves you with clear, sunny conditions the fish often become passive in deeper water. Watch the weather and try to time your fishing adventure with a cold front.

Fall walleye fishing is a fantastic way to catch big trophy walleye that were suspended out of reach during the summer. You need to be patient and smart. You need to change your tactics with the season. You also need to think about your presentation to maximize the shorter bite.

While others are at home curled in front of the fire, don’t be afraid to take on a little cold, rain and wind. If you do this, and with a little luck on your side, you might catch walleye the size of which you only dreamed about!

Thanks for reading.

Good fishing.

What is fishing without eating fish? Discover over 300 delicious fish recipes in our new freshwater fish cookbook Freshwater Favorites. Browse the 305 recipes in the tasty fish cookbook here.

Check out more Fall Walleye Fishing Tips