As we head into Thanksgiving, the rhythm of late fall continues to define conditions. Over the past week, fishing felt very “winter-waiting-room”: silent woods, low sun, and lake water cooling into the upper 30’s especially on cold mornings. The cold has brought skim ice on smaller and medium sized lakes and the clear water and settled structure made for very deliberate fishing for those going out. Truthfully, right now 98% of those who want to be outside are either hunting or waiting for ice. In light of that, let’s talk about early-season ice fishing.
The first ice of the season provides good enough fishing for walleye and panfish anglers to be worth the risk for many. As always, use extreme caution as the first rule for a good day out on the early hard water. …
We’re now firmly settled into winter’s waiting room. The woods are quiet, skim ice is showing up, and lake temperatures have dropped solidly into the low 40s. With the cold nights holding on, turnover is behind us and what little vegetation that remained has mostly laid down. Fish are operating in clear late-fall patterns, and the action reflects that.
Walleye anglers continue to do fairly well, though the bite has definitely become more precision-based. Most fish are holding deep and staying put during daylight, with short but productive feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Days, few and far between, with lighter winds have helped with boat control – and those who stayed mobile found good pockets of fish. Tuffies and small suckers on light jigs or suspended just above bottom are still the best bet, …
We’ve slipped deeper into the late-fall rhythm here in the Northwoods and beginning to get a good taste of what’s to come. The trees are bare, the air has a distinct edge, and lake temperatures throughout the area have finally dropped well into the 40’s. Sustained air temps below freezing have helped. Lakes are through turnover, vegetation has mostly collapsed, and fish are settling into their pre-winter habits.
For walleye the window is still open, but the patterns are changing. Look deep and definitely take advantage of the early morning and late evening hours. Windy weather was an issue for a bit of last week, but we also saw some nice calm days with beautiful evening weather for fishing – and plenty of fish caught. …
We’re seeing typical late-fall weather here in the Northwoods, and we must say we don’t hate it – it’s about time! The leaves are mostly down and the mornings have a bite. Water temperatures on area lakes are hovering in the upper 40’s to low 50’s, which is still warm for this time of the year, but they’re heading downward. We’re firmly into that transition window—turnover on many lakes is finally done, weeds have collapsed or are nearing their end and the fish are settling into their late-fall patters in preparation for what’s to come.
The walleye bite has been solid, but it’s getting more refined. The last couple of weeks they’ve ranged all over; now we’re finally seeing them move more predictably toward deeper water and sharper breaks. …