Lake of the Woods

 

Walleyes are moving closer to shorelines with the onset of fall temperatures, Lake of the Woods Tourism reports in its weekly update. Anglers have reported catching more walleyes in front of Lighthouse Gap near the mouth of the Rainy River, where crankbaits and spinners with crawlers or shiners are producing the best results. Big schools of walleyes continue to roam the "no man's land" of Big Traverse Bay, the report said, and reefs also are producing well.

Up at the Northwest Angle, anglers have reported mixed bags of walleye and perch limits in Minnesota waters, with fish being found anywhere from the 14- to 18-foot depths to as deep as 25 to 28 feet of water. In Canadian waters, crankbaits have been producing larger walleyes, the report said, while pulling spinners and bottom bouncers or jigging the deeper waters between reefs is yielding fish, as well. Look for crappies in 30 feet of water or deeper off points, where jigging with a minnow is a proven tactic.

Lighthouse Gap

Fall temperatures are here and excellent fall fishing has come with it. Good numbers of walleyes moving closer to shorelines.  Walleyes in front of Lighthouse Gap increasing. Crankbaits and spinners with crawlers or shiners doing the best. Big schools of walleyes in no man’s land of Big Traverse Bay. Reefs producing well! Hammered gold, glow, perch, crayfish all good colors.

Anglers in the Rainy River finding some walleyes with morning/evening still the best. Some shiners starting push back up the river with hungry walleyes on pursuit. Trolling cranks or pulling spinners producing the best. Smallmouth bass in good numbers along shoreline rock, bridge embankments and feeder streams. Sturgeon anglers finding great success while moving around until you find the right hole.  Many sturgeon over 50″ and 60″ being boated.

CHESAPEAKE BAY:

  reports fall species such as spot, speckled trout, and puppy drum are beginning to draw more interest, while the summer favorites such as flounder, cobia, and red drum are staging to leave local waters. The cobia season closes on Sept. 15. Near the mouth of the bay and along the ocean front, some fish are exceeding 50 pounds. Nice yellowbelly spot along with some big croaker are infiltrating the lower bay and local Inlets. The bay flounder bite is still strong on live bait and jigs worked near the CBBT structure. Spanish mackerel are still available along tide rips near the Bridge Tunnel, along Cape Henry, and along the buoy lines at the mouth of the bay. Speckled trout are showing in inlets, and big amberjack are still available on local wrecks. Offshore billfish action was very good, although the latest weather could mix things up a bit.

Fluorocarbon is denser

Walleye anglers quickly realize that a fluorocarbon leader is nothing like monofilament. Although it may look similar on a spool, it's make up is much different.

Fluorocarbon is denser than monofilament; has less stretch; and obtains a near suspending property in the water, versus floating. This permits baits to be more easily located in different parts of the water column. And mere inches matter when it comes to catching fickle fish.

This means a crawler, leech or minnow fished on a live-bait rig can be fished with more precision.

Lake Winnibigoshish:

 The northern pike has stayed steady throughout the lake in 8 to 12 feet. Walleyes are being caught in the weeds on the lake’s east side and in 16 to 18 feet on Center Bar. Anglers are having walleye success using spinners and crawlers. Jumbo perch are being produced on Sugar Bar in 12 to 15 feet and off Sugar Point in 12 to 18 feet.

Mississippi River Pool 16

Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad-Cities 7.39 feet and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 feet. Channel catfish - Good: Use nightcrawlers, stink bait or chicken livers above brush piles in the sloughs of the Andalusia Islands. Also try around the mouth of Sunset Marina in Rock Island. Largemouth bass - Fair: Try fishing with plastics around brush piles and logs in the Andalusia Island complex. White crappie - Fair: Use minnows or plastics around brush piles in the Andalusia Island complex. Also try in the Andalusia Harbor. Walleye - No report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers.

Angostura Reservoir:

Walleye bite has slowed considerably though “right spot, right time” will still produce some fish. Lindy rigs and crawlers trolled in 12-20 feet of water are working bet. A few catches of nice sized northern pike have been made lately. And the bluegill bite is currently ablaze with nightcrawlers the bait of choice.

Chautauqua Lake

The combination of new moon and Eclipse turned the muskies on this week. Mike Sperry with Chautauqua Reel Outdoors reported some good musky fishing in the morning on Monday, taking three fish. The largest was taken on a Leo jerk bait in 14 feet of water off the weed line – a fish that stretched 48 inches. One friend caught two muskies in the morning, another had three. Walleye action continues to be consistent around the lake, but especially up north in the deeper water (25-30 foot depths). Downriggers and lead core line are both working. Hot-N-Tots, Shad Raps and Flicker Shad baits are all working. Worm harnesses will also work, but it’s tough to keep the perch off the line – they are everywhere.