Late Summer Tips and Tactics for Producing Quality and Quantity

Most walleye anglers feel as though there are really only two time frames that sizeable walleyes will bite and provide numbers to the equation.  However, with my recent experience there is another time frame that begins in the middle of July and proceeds all the way through August into the turnover period of September.  During this time frame water temperatures exceed mid-70's to mid-80's depending on depth of water and clarity. 

With the water being so warm this triggers hatches of bugs and also helps promote algae bloom for some lakes.  Therefore, fish become intensly active at particular parts of the day.  I am sure most everyone is aware of the dawn, dusk period of feeding and low light,  but there is another time of day that most anglers give up on.  In my world the lunch bell rings around noon, this can work the same for walleyes.  On most northern Minnesota lakes walleyes with generally be shallower in low light conditions.  What if they never left those shallow areas?  What if the forage was so plentiful that these fish started feeding actively all day long?  To test this theory I fished day long periods for several weeks in a row. 

Here is what I determined, clear lakes provided an abundance of walleyes ranging from 14 to 18 inches in size from the time of 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. As the morning progressed the fish got bigger in size, but the numbers were still there.  The way I caught all these walleyes were with a different array of walleye spinners produced by different companies.  All tipped with half a crawler and most of the spinners had a two hook harness, ones that weren't were tipped with an even smaller piece of crawler.  These fish were so active that the bait could be minimal and the fish would still be hit it hard.  Fish that were bigger in size tended to be located in the same depth range.  The biggest fish that we produced came in the middle of the day.  All were caught from noon and there on,  these ranged over 24 inches in size, the numbers appeared weaker, but the aggressiveness never changed. 

This went on for several weeks in a row, locations never changed and the pattern remained consistant even through changing weather fronts.  Colors mattered depending on the light penetration on given days.  Rain and wind made the fish bite even harder and still days would slow things down somewhat.  Wind direction determined where the bait fish would be on certain locations but for the most part wind direction was irrelevent.  The most important factor through all of the fish caught was proper depth and proper speed.  The speed being traveled was 1 mph to 1.3 mph.  Any slower or faster and the fish would just not simply bite,  precise weights also proved to be a key factor,  a Lindy No-Snagg or Northland Rock-Runner, 1/2 ounce in size were the favorites in my boat. 

Walleyes may have two favorite periods where they bite extremely well, but now there is a third period, and for most walleye anglers, your favorite walleye lake will produce just as many fish, during the late summer months.  Don't rule out the possibility of putting a mid-summer pattern together and then sticking with it through to fall turnover.  These fish have schooled up and chase baitfish,  and if the baitfish don't migrate to different spots, then the fish have no reason to move either.  So try the techniques presented on your next trip and enjoy the water.

Muskies and Northern Pike Provide Mayhem In Many Diverse Situtations



Photo By: Landon Hoffman



For those fisherman looking for the ultimate rush and a solid fight, look no further than the muskellunge.  Muskie’s are known as the fish of 1000 casts.  Muskellunge will eat fish, ducklings and even small muskrats. It waits in weed beds looking to ambush is prey. With a keen sense of sight the muskie then attacks and gulps down the stunned or dead victim head first.  Muskie’s are light silver, light green or light brown colored and usually have dark bars running up and down their long bodies. 

            In addition to their sight, muskie’s use their lateral lines to find food. This is a series of small holes with hairs inside that are scattered around their body surface. When something moves in the water it wiggles the hairs, and the fish can tell a meal is nearby.  Muskellunge are found primarily in clear lakes, slow-moving rivers, and backwaters.  Muskies tend to stay in a home territory rather than range widely.

            They prefer clear water with a temperature of 68 to 72 degrees.  Since muskies prefer larger prey to satisfy their diets, I would recommend any type of bait that had a lot of vibration and colors.  Popular colors commonly used are orange and green colorations.  Along with spots and stripes this will entice and trigger bites.

            Closely related to the muskellunge is the species called Northern Pike.  With similar physical characteristics the Northern Pike is more commonly known and caught by anglers.  The quickest way to tell a northern pike from a muskie is to note that the northern has light markings on a dark body background, while muskie’s generally have dark markings on a light background.  Built for quick acceleration, they ambush prey from cover, seizing fish with needlelike teeth. Northern pike can't afford to expend that amount of energy in pursuit of prey; therefore they concentrate their efforts on larger forage. 

           Common foods are yellow perch, tullibee, suckers, minnows and other northern pike. Though northern pike eat sunfish and bass, they prefer more cylindrical fish. Northern pike also eat leeches, frogs and crayfish. Small northern pike remain in shallow weedy water through much of the year. Large northern pike move deeper as summer progresses, seeking oxygenated water of 65 degrees or cooler.

          Typical colors include perch color variations and fire tiger colors.  These are vibrant in the water and can be seen in murky or clear conditions.  One thing to consider when fishing these species of toothy fish is your children or if there are going to be children present.  These big fish can cause a lot of commotion once hooked.  Therefore, it is always a good idea to be mindful of children, especially around the giant sized hooks used to catch these big fish of prey. 



Riggin' and Jiggin' for Walleye Opener

Minnesota's walleye opener is quickly approaching, with less than a month to go walleyes have began spawning and are moving to find shallow rocky areas.  By walleye opener fish will have spawned and will be in the post spawn stage.  Post spawn walleye can be somewhat docile in nature, therefore subtle jigs and rigs hovered over a fish will produce a strike!

Effective way to rig these post spawn walleye's are to rig with colors that are popular on the lake you are fishing.  If you do not know the particular color for your lake then I would suggest starting with red, gunmetal, bronze or silver colored hooks.  The key here is to make the bait appear as natural as possible.  Early in the season minnows and leeches are two popular baits, water temperature will dictate if leeches will be an effective bait, however there is still a good chance that a walleye won't resist the dance of a leech.

Photo Taken By: Alex Larson MLMP

Since these fish will be coming from the shallows, they won't have moved far from those spots.  Position yourself adjacent to these spots and fish anywhere from 5 to 15 feet depending on your particular lake.  Also, rocks and gravel are not the only place to find these fish, weeds have become an major area to provide walleyes post spawn shelter and weeds also provide opportunities for forage.  Both offer great opportunities for post spawn walleye action. 

On lakes with more rock areas, jigs are a more effective way to catch walleyes.  Jigs come in a variety of sizes and offer immediate response when a fish bites.  Also, jigs can be fished several different ways, casting, popping, snapping, and vertical are the most popular.  All give you a particular action and trigger different bites.  Never-the-less, walleye season is here, so get out and enjoy the opener and if effectively used, this information should put fish in your boat. 

Spring Time Ice-Out Crappies Are Frantic!




Photo Taken By: Alex Larson (Larson Guide Service)

  Spring time is here once again anglers, and as we see progress in the ice melt there's one thing all anglers have on their minds.  PANFISH, PANFISH, PANFISH!! Before the ice is even off the lakes crappies are on the move.  Crappies will begin to move shallow during this time period because their forage is moving shallow as well.  With sunlight being able to penetrate the water column, weed growth has already began.


In classic crappie lakes, weeds are present in 1 to 15 feet of water.  Broadleaf cabbage and Eurasian water milfoil are two weeds that grow fairly quickly once water temperature warms and sunlight is able to promote growth.  Crappies will move along these contours seeking out easy meals of minnows, bloodworms and other aquatic insects. 


CRAPPIES ARE NOT IN SPAWN MODE YET ANGLERS!  Many anglers feel that spring time brings with it the spawning for all fish species, however fish respond to water temperatures, and although crappies may be shallow in the spring time, that doesn't dictate that the spawn has began.  Spawing for crappies occurs when the water is around 65 degrees.  In some more northern lakes this temperature can be lower, because the fish have adapted. 


Immediately after ice out popular baits to use include tube jigs, tinsel head jigs, and any 1/32 to 1/16 ounce jig head tipped with a popular synthetic plastic imitation or live bait.  Colors range from lake to lake, however pink, charteuse, and electric blue tend to be the most popular among anglers.  GOOD LUCK! with the spring time bite anglers and I look forward to a safe open water fishing season!!