I am looking for a walleye lake for a trip planned for the third week of Oct. We will be going up the Gunflint out of Grand Marais. I am thinking of going in at Homer and looking into Vern and Juno lakes. Well aware that we will be cold, but let's face it, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO CATCH WALLEYES? Our wedding anniversery will be during our time out, and my bride NEEDS WALLEYES!

The grocery store in Grand Marias has decent walleye filets.

Seriously the third week in October is getting pretty late into fall - you can certainly expect to see snow at times. I suspect that prime Waldo fishing will be past, but you certainly should be taking leeches in as bait if you want to have any luck at all.

However I'm not a great fisherman - what to the experts say?

Leeches can be hard time find in bait shops late in the year. You might have to stick with minnows. Walleye fishing late in the year can be hit or miss. I have had some of my best days in october. The walleye are starting to put on the feed bag big time during some days during the fall and early winter. Since they shut down almost completely later in the winter they are trying to plump up for the winter.

Not sure where you should be looking at the lakes you are hitting but I would definetly be giving it a try. If the are aggressive try trolling a rapala or crankbait along breaks, and mid lake humps. They are always two places to try no matter what time of year.

This dude said he has leeches into the late fall.
They will reserve them.
Nice people.

There is a bait shop in Two Harbors called Al’s Bait. (218) 834-5120 . Their website is http://www.alsbait.com

okie...as earlier mentioned by OPP, minnows are a great bet. minnows are the natural walleye prey in early spring as well as late in the season because in the spring, during the spawn, the females don't eat, and then post spawn....after they've regained some energy, they need to eat again. and minnows are their main prey in spring, and then again in the fall as they need to plump up for the long winter. leeches don't like cold water, so when that sets in, they curl up and dig in to wait out the winter. mid to late october, in the natural walleye habitat, leeches are no longer on the scene. so it's best to follow the natural progression. leeches and crawlers during the late spring and summer, but minnows in early spring and fall during colder water. minnows also stay alive much better during these times of year.

as for where to go? i'd stick to smaller lakes to avoid the elements, but beware of the ice that could form in areas of lakes that are tucked away in shallower bays. so avoid those campsites...otherwise it's tough to chop out of it.

granite river in the gneiss and maraboeuf lakes area would keep you in smaller water and provide you walleye fishing. this time of year, the water is all one temperature, so the walleyes can be scattered, but you can find them really shallow....sometimes 3 to 5 feet. good luck to you...and stay warm...and be safe.

i would suggest either a mister twister (colored milktreuse or pure white) with a 3/8 oz. jig head

or an X-Rap, blue or green would be your best bet.