Our group is considering returning last week of September again next year. We have been going that week the last four years. Several in the group are pushing for 1st or 2nd week of September next year. We go on Seagull/Alpine/Red Rock lakes. We moved from early September to late due to crowds and mosquitoes the first two weeks of the month.

For those who go late September, why do you go?

Leaves

Fewer mosquitos, fewer people, fall color, but there is more chance of bad weather and it also seems more people are going then than before.

My answer won't help, but the reason I go is because this place is special and I will go as often as I can. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December that answer is the same. If I get the chance, I'm going haha! The activity might chance, the weather will change, and this place is magical all the same.

boonie: "Fewer mosquitos, fewer people, fall color, but there is more chance of bad weather and it also seems more people are going then than before. "

All these reasons. Plus it used to be the only time I could go.

Choose a more secluded route for added happiness, or choose a more challenging route as that weeds out some folks, as well.

I just got back from a few days on Ensign with my son. Beautiful weather, almost no other people, easy to find a campsite, no bugs, crisp air, and the fall colors were starting to really pop. I will definitely trip at this time of year again.

Welcome back! Eager to read your report... and how did the leeches work??

As it turned out, there wee no leeches available. The guys used lures and worms. Fish finders picked up large groups of good sized fish about 40 feet deep on Red Rock which were apparently Walleye (according to the outfiter). Caught one Walleye and that was it. Outfitter said we needed to go to two hook rigs and use worms. According to him that antagonizes the Walleye and they will hit it. Never heard that before. Caught a lot of Pike and some small mouth.

So for Walleye, 2nd week of September next year or stay with last week?

I've never gone in September, but based on a one-walleye-week, I'd change something and go earlier.

We absolutely crushed the Wallayes a week ago on minnows. Early May, late September, minnows are the ticket if you can keep them alive.

For what its worth I went over labor day and just this past weekend and fishing was excellent both times. Live minnows seemed to work just about everywhere I tried. I am starting to think I may switch my big trip to September instead of spring since I seem to catch more walleye in the fall...

For me this is the best time of the year, fall colors, cooler temps, less people and no bugs and usually good fishing. On the down side, less light and more possibility of bad weather. But I think it’s worth the chance.

I've done a lot of early/mid/late September trips over the years and I prefer early over late. Better weather (usually), longer days. Bugs are pretty minimal in early September too. The only advantage I see to later in the month is fall colors and even less bugs. That said, whether I go early or late in the month usually boils down to what I've got going on with kids, work, etc...

Your walleye experience was similar to mine whenever I go in September, including my last trip to Basswood a few weeks ago (2nd week). I marked a ton of fish in the 30 ft. range with my fishfinder. Tried all sorts of plastics, jigs, spinners rigs, bobbers, crankbaits, nightcrawlers and various combinations to no avail. Only walleye I caught was a small one from camp, after dark on crawler/bobber. Luckily the pike and bass was excellent so I eventually gave up on the eyes and changed focus.

I've mostly not had great results fishing for walleyes in Sept other than one year on Ogish, and did OK on Malberg one time. Then again I am not a expert or even advanced eye fisherman. Might have to try and figure out how to keep minnows alive...

egknuti: "For me this is the best time of the year, fall colors, cooler temps, less people and no bugs and usually good fishing. On the down side, less light and more possibility of bad weather. But I think it’s worth the chance."

+1

I love the last week of September. This year temps got down to 28 degrees at night. A couple of guys in our group mutinied and said they were not coming back if we kept going last week of September. I cut them a deal. Next year we would go 2nd week of September. If we ran into other paddlers and mosquitoes we would be changing back to last week again in 2024.

Three years ago we went 2nd week. Paddled Seagul and portaged into Alpine. The portage was like a highway. People coming and going to the point we had to set aside gear and wait for it to clear. When we got to Alpine, EVERY camp site was taken but one. We left one of our groups on Alpine and the others returned to Seagull.

We will see next year.

Isn’t that a very busy route regardless of month?

It has not been the last week of September. Didn't see anyone on it. 2nd week it looked like a highway in rush hour

I go then because of reasons mentioned; leaves, fewer people and bugs, and because equinoxes are reported to favor auras. Shorter days, campsites "well used" and risky weather are negatives changing my tripping plans. No more big loops in the fall. This year was spent at the Sawbill campgrounds.
Regarding changing conditions. One year at a favorite Lake Three campsite it was cool but dry and minimal wind. I saw curtains in the sky on that trip. Another trip to the same site had high winds blowing right over the firepit and back to the only sheltered place to hang the hammock. High was 40 and cloudy with spits of rain on and off.

That's usually when everyone else I know cant go, so it's a great excuse to go solo...

BUT, just got back from a 6 day trip with my son and brother, and it was a good reminder that it is not a great time to take inexperienced people due to the cold water temps and the chances for hypothermia. I actually made my 13 year old go swimming and bathe in the cold water so he understands why it's so important to not tip the canoe (we had some close calls and he wasn't understanding the gravity of the situation).

I much prefer the second week of September regardless, that's really the sweet spot IMHO. Just find something where there are less folks around.