Our bw crew is a fishing crew and relies on fish for every dinner. We usually plan our trips near Memorial Day weekend as the fishing is always primo and the bugs are minimal that time of year. We have also all agreed to do a different loop each year.
We target all species but walleye is top priority and we prefer non motorized lakes.

We have been throwing around the idea of a fall trip this year, and I was hoping to get some feedback/suggestions from this group on general fishing conditions, bug conditions, water temp, northern lights, etc. at that time of year.

We’ve dealt with some bad bugs on past trips and would prefer timing the trip so We’re not wearing our bug net, gloves, shoes, etc. the whole time.

Looking forward to hearing from the fall fishers.

Happy New Years all

I drive up from Spring Tx. Twice a year. Opening for Trout and Mid-September. Opener has the excitement of a new season. Mid September offers the coming of winter feeling. There are fewer people, mostly us older one's. Little to no bugs. Better chances at really big pike. The color change along with the chatter of the leaves in the wind. And the occasional display of the Northern Lights. Mid-September for 8 to 10 days in is my favorite.

Whole different ball game that's for sure. I typically fish late August and can picture early and mid September being similiar. Lots different than hungry, shallow and spread out spring fish.

It's much easier to do poorly especially if you apply springtime methods and are under the misconception that the game will be largely the same. You can do well but more skill and knowledge is required IMO.

Think bigger lures in the Fall almost every forage fish in the system is of a longer profile than what your likely using in the spring.
Also dont overlook the fact that daylight is shorter so when your planning remember a big travel day will mean not so many hours fishing at your destination lake until the next day or you can fish at night. We keep a pole free on travel days and speed troll which has yielded many fish over the years. Dont reel in when you know its deep water under you big northerns, walleyes and lakers are out there suspended sometimes.
Cut plenty of firewood for the longer nights and even a lantern to play cards is nice. Finally and most important we also go through more of our adult beverages and more coffee in the Fall than summer trips ....plan ahead;)
Lastly use the search function within this site and search for fall fishing or whatever else and youll have alot of great information from more seasoned travelers than I. Fall is fantastic in the BW.

When you say fall do you mean after Sept. 21st? There's a big difference between the first week of Sept. vs. the first week of Oct. Fishing is more difficult in the fall vs. the spring. Less bugs is a plus. The shorter days mean a lot less fishing time. Sometimes it can be rather cold and the fishing doesn't heat up until the afternoon. Some big fish can still be caught in the fall, but don't plan on catching as many as the spring. Eating fish every night might be a difficult tasks on certain days. You can probably get a limit of pike to eat? I would say I've seen the northern lights on maybe 25% of trips in the late season. Plan on some cloudy evenings as well. My last trip solo trip for a week I only saw the stars for maybe 30 minutes due to the cloudy conditions. Water temps can be anywhere from the upper 40s to lower 70s depending on when you go and what the air temps have been leading up to your trip. Tree colors can make for some great views during the days late in the season. There are less people in the fall after Sept 21st. If you are going for lakers remember the season ends at the end of Sept.

Instead of fall I would focus more on late August to early Sept. time frame if it were me. Good luck on your trip!

Mickeal: "I drive up from Spring Tx. Twice a year. Opening for Trout and Mid-September. Opener has the excitement of a new season. Mid September offers the coming of winter feeling. There are fewer people, mostly us older one's. Little to no bugs. Better chances at really big pike. The color change along with the chatter of the leaves in the wind. And the occasional display of the Northern Lights. Mid-September for 8 to 10 days in is my favorite."

Mickeal you go about the same time I do every year. Do you ever do group solos?

AmarilloJim, One sometimes two others. Wanted to send you a e-mail but the new policy of this web site wanting full access to my e-mail account including access to my contacts. I can't do that. mickeal243@yahoo.com if you want more information.

QueticoMike: "When you say fall do you mean after Sept. 21st? There's a big difference between the first week of Sept. vs. the first week of Oct. Fishing is more difficult in the fall vs. the spring. Less bugs is a plus. The shorter days mean a lot less fishing time. Sometimes it can be rather cold and the fishing doesn't heat up until the afternoon. Some big fish can still be caught in the fall, but don't plan on catching as many as the spring. Eating fish every night might be a difficult tasks on certain days. You can probably get a limit of pike to eat? I would say I've seen the northern lights on maybe 25% of trips in the late season. Plan on some cloudy evenings as well. My last trip solo trip for a week I only saw the stars for maybe 30 minutes due to the cloudy conditions. Water temps can be anywhere from the upper 40s to lower 70s depending on when you go and what the air temps have been leading up to your trip. Tree colors can make for some great views during the days late in the season. There are less people in the fall after Sept 21st. If you are going for lakers remember the season ends at the end of Sept.


Instead of fall I would focus more on late August to early Sept. time frame if it were me. Good luck on your trip!"

Thanks Mike, we did a late August trip a few years back and the mosquitoes were pretty tough...great fishing though. Good to know about the laker season end.

How odd.....the one thing I really enjoy about August fishing is the general lack of mosquitos. I frequently find myself mumbling "I could get used to this" :-)

There was a time when I flat out swore I would never trip in August after having had such easy and good late June fishing. But reality and responsibilities prevailed and it was either August or I didn't get to go.

I applied fast deep water crank bait trolling with good success on walleye and slowed down for lakers. Big Muskie sized plastic swim baits fished in 20ft brought steady action on nice sized northern. I have yet to crack the August big smallmouth nut but then again I haven't put my mind to it. From this very board I have learned that Quetico Mike does well on smallmouth in August fishing significant inflows in water only 10 or 12 ft deep. My best smallies in August were caught in a 50 ft basin while trolling a crank bait for lakers. I caught 2 back to back just a smidge shy of 4lbs, solid fish. I could see many others on bottom with my electronics........I have always regretted not dropping down a jigging spoon. Might of been epic.......I know where they are and might just slide by this August and give them a real try for a few days.

So that's the deal late August and early September........basically fish deeper, bigger and faster. Outside of the Quetico light line and live bait would be hard to beat if you can locate the fish first.

Got this one last August in less than 3 feet of water......

A beast......looks like it had the feedbag out chowing down getting ready for winter. I have always heard that smallies really chew in the fall. I am always super busy with business come September.

I will have to give your pattern a try........late August, major inflow, rocky flat with crayfish imitators like a tube.

I have a hunch where you caught that fish (and your many others ;-)......the foam in the water of a previous pic is a clue which is not easily ignored. I might have to drift your spot this August in addition to jigging a spoon in that 50ft flat. Fortunately they are not so very far apart.

Who knew smallies would hang that deep in August.......but it's true. I watched a show where Gary Yamato fished in 50 ft of water on Lake Erie to win a bass tournament in August. Limits of very big smallies, it was eye opening.

I did catch it on a tube at the start of a river flow from the main lake. I already bought some new tubes for August this year. Black with blue flake with a blue skirt. I discovered that most of the craws in the river area had blueish\violet color on the claws, so the blue skirt on the tube might make for a better attractant than my standard green pumpkin. I will let know in September.

QueticoMike: "Got this one last August in less than 3 feet of water......


"

NICE CARP!!! Just kidding ... nice!!

although it may take more effort to find fish, once you find them they are usually easy to catch. They are on the feed to bulk up for winter . I mainly fish for Walleye in the fall. Minnows and crawlers are my bait of choice, accompanied with a jig, or slip bobber jig combo. My fall trips are usually the last week of September, or the first week of October. The Walleyes seem to be congregated off the edge of the reefs in anywhere from 20 to 40 feet. If there is some mud bottom close it seems to be helpful. Also, I have had great luck in shallow areas that have substantial current. In these areas, I use a slip bobber and let the current do the work. I am fishing no deeper then 5 or 6 feet deep. I have caught some massive Walleyes in areas where people think I’m fishing for bluegill. They don’t look like “ typical” Walleye spots, but the current is a Walleye magnet. Usually both of the areas I have suggested give up Smallmouth and Big Perch also.

Cretbo: "

QueticoMike: "Got this one last August in less than 3 feet of water......



"

NICE CARP!!! Just kidding ... nice!!"

Here's a nice carp I caught last year out of the Great Miami river.....

Mike,

That's a sweet GMR carp! Did you get a weight on that monster? I've caught quite a few carp from that river fishing around the West Carrollton area, but have never found one bigger than about 12 lbs.

Dave

Hey Dave,

No I didn't have a scale, it felt close to 25 pounds, but who knows. Caught it on a Rebel Craw. Took 15 minutes before I ever saw the fish. Thought it might have been a big pike at first because I was in a pike area. My biggest carp ever came while canoeing and caught a 42 inch carp on a black and silver AC Shiner.

mastertangler: "Whole different ball game that's for sure. I typically fish late August and can picture early and mid September being similiar. Lots different than hungry, shallow and spread out spring fish.

It's much easier to do poorly especially if you apply springtime methods and are under the misconception that the game will be largely the same. You can do well but more skill and knowledge is required IMO. "

Completely agree with this statement, especially if you're talking about going in late September until the lakes start to lockup. Water temp can do some interesting things and fishing can be extremely tough. Higher level knowledge and tactics can be required especially if you rely on eating fish for sustenance. Forage becomes a bit scarce and bait fish tend to school and move to deeper basins of the water column where the temps are more stable, oxygen levels are sufficient, and where food is available. Fishing deep water also provides it's own challenge with keeping your bait presentation in the strike zone and also getting a solid hook set. Super braid lines help tremendously with this issue.

The key (as always) is to find the bait fish, the game fish will be within reach. Figure out bait profile, color, and presentation to improve your odds of success.

I have been going in the fall (between Sept 15-Oct 7) every year for the past 8 years and can say that fishing is almost a waste of time. I would starve if I had to rely on catching fish. This past fall I only caught 1 fish in 7 days. A fish finder will show tons of fish sitting on the bottom of the lake but I can never get them to bite. Fall is the best time to be in the BWCA for a number of reasons but fishing isn't one of them.

Fall is s pretty general term when I think of fall I think October and the fishing depending on lake and species targeted can be from slow to fantastic. Fall turnover is a major consideration and if you land on a lake during turnover you better have some different meal options other than fish. My advice is if your targeting anything other that trout I would go in mid to late September. If your targeting trout ( other than lake trout) which closes September 30th or big pike October is your month !

I mainly go in the spring also, but have done many fall trips also. This past fall I went in at lake one and went west on the kawishiwii river, fishing was pretty good nothing huge but we caught plenty of fish and had fish 3 of our 4 nights. had to work to find the walleyes trolled til we found them then just jigged. We caught a ton, we got into some nice crappies and smallies too. And more pike then you care to catch but they are fun and the guys I went with are from Texas and they wanted to try pike so we ate some. We did take leeches just to tip our jigs with but we probably would have been okay without them