10 minute read
It's Trophy Time!: Autumn's Cooling Waters Can Make For Hot Fishing
Zach Wood
Zach Wood is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.
There really isn't a poor time to go fishing. After all, it’s been said that even a bad day on the water beats a good day at work.
That’s especially true here in Wisconsin. With more than 15,000 inland lakes, 42,000 miles of perennial streams and rivers, 1,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and 260 miles of the Mississippi River, there’s bound to be a good bite happening somewhere in the state.
Still, if you ask most experienced anglers to pick just one season they like best here, you’ll likely get a
strong response in favor of the fall months — for a variety of reasons.
In short, fall represents a convergence of social, ecological and biological factors that create optimal conditions to chase Wisconsin’s most prized fish.
Room To Roam
For the nonangling public, “lake season” tends to wind down on or shortly after Labor Day. Kids are back in school, co-curricular activities are in full swing and families just don’t have the same time for days at the lake.
Further, as the weather cools, the appeal of personal watercrafts, pontoons and speedboats begins to dry up for all but the hardiest of recreators.
That leaves many of Wisconsin’s waters wide open for anglers, allowing them to fish without worrying about casting into passing pontoons or being tossed about by wakes from other boaters. The reduced lake traffic also creates opportunities to hit spots and even entire lakes that are simply too busy during the peak summer months.
Cast In Comfort
Despite its reputation as a leisure activity, fishing can be hard work, especially casting big baits for musky and pike. A long day of casting in the heat and humidity of the summer, coupled with the impact of the sun’s rays overhead and reflecting off the water, can tax even the most well-conditioned angler.
The cooler temperatures of fall make for a much more comfortable environment and a more enjoyable day on the water. Autumn outings are also often mosquito-free. Need we say more?
Lakes And Leaves
Extraordinary fall colors can be found across the state, and there may not be a better place to view them than from the water. Many leaf-peepers will take to canoes and kayaks to get an unobstructed view of the fall foliage.
Whether fishing from the shore or a boat, fall anglers will find themselves surrounded by some of the most sought-after scenery in the state — a bonus that makes every trip a little more special, even if nobody catches anything.
Active Fish
Now to the actual fishing! Initially, as the weather and the water begin to cool, game fish will move from their deep summer haunts into shallower waters in
search of food. This puts more fish within range of shore anglers and makes them a little easier to find for those in boats.
“The first big move to the shallows can be a spectacular time to fish for just about any species,” said Justine Hasz, director of the DNR’s Fisheries Bureau. “Fish are holding in places you can get your baits to, and they are there because they are looking to eat.”
As we get deeper into the fall, fish will move again as water temperatures plummet, but the early fall season can provide some of the fastest action and most predictable fishing of the year for many species.
Later in the fall, dropping temperatures and diminishing daylight trigger a physiological response that prompts walleye, musky and other game fish to ramp up their caloric intake to begin bulking up. That’s why so many of the heaviest fish caught each year come in the fall.
The extra weight, known as “the fall feed bag,” isn’t just to help these fish survive the winter — it’s essential for developing their eggs for the coming spring’s spawn.
In other words, this is when the biggest fish are looking to eat and eat a lot. That means prime time for anglers hoping to hook their personal best.
Landing A Lunker
While fall is great for fishing for many reasons, understanding seasonal movement can help anglers in their quest for prize fish.
“From an angling perspective, fall could really be broken down into smaller sub-seasons,” Hasz said. “Fish will be in different places in early fall than they are (later) after lakes turn over or right before.
“Understanding those movements within the season will help anglers find and catch more fish.”
To shorten the learning curve, we asked DNR experts to break down fall movements for two of Wisconsin’s favorite fish, walleye and musky, and offer tips for success at each stage of the season.
Walleye
Early Fall
Fall walleye fishing really kicks into gear as the thick weeds begin to die off, leaving the baitfish that have used them as cover all summer stranded and vulnerable — easy targets for the walleye and other predators that begin arriving in the shallows to feast.
“This can be a great time for someone to catch their first walleye,” said Lawrence Eslinger, DNR fisheries biologist.
“Walleye tend to spend the summer months in deeper water and can be difficult to find and catch, even for experienced walleye anglers. As they come shallow searching for food, anything from a jig-and-minnow or soft plastic to crankbaits can work.”
Eslinger advised targeting rocky points near any remaining green weeds.
“If the food is there, the walleye won’t be too far away,” he said. “Fish aggressively and don’t be afraid to change presentations or spots.”
Mid-Fall
By mid-fall, water temperatures will start dropping into the lower 60s, weeds will have receded even further, and baitfish will begin seeking cover in rock and gravel bars, shallow drop-offs and whatever is left of deep weed edges.
Once again, follow the food to find the fish, noted Eslinger.
“For many anglers, these are the conditions that come to mind when discussing fall walleye fishing,” he said. “Use your electronics to find the pods of baitfish that are schooling up along points and breaks now that the weeds aren’t as prevalent.”
The walleye will be there, sometimes in great numbers, he added.
“Vertical jigging with a fathead minnow or chub is a great choice during this period, and nightcrawlers can be effective, too.”
Late Fall
The final transition occurs around the fall turnover, which is when the lake’s surface water temperature becomes colder (and, therefore, denser) than the deeper water below.
As the surface water temperature drops into the mid-50s, the cooler surface water starts to sink. That causes the water column essentially to flip, often bringing sediment and debris from the bottom along with it.
That’s why even the clearest lakes will become murky for a few days in fall. As the water mixes, so does the dissolved oxygen, meaning fish can inhabit literally anywhere within the lake; conditions are nearly constant throughout the water column.
This can create some tough fishing conditions, especially right after turnover, Eslinger said. But anglers can still find success by making adjustments.
“Anglers can have a lot of success targeting deep structure like humps, deep holes and points,” he said. “Vertical jigging with large chubs is a great way to go at this time.”
Anglers also should consider putting more thought into which lakes they are fishing.
“Lakes don’t all turn over at the same time,” Eslinger said. “If your go-to lake has turned and the fishing is tough, consider a bigger, deeper lake if there are any in the area. Those are the last to warm up in spring and are often the last to cool off in fall.”
Local bait shops can help with information about where to go for walleye in a given area, Eslinger added.
“They will know which lakes have turned already and which, if any, may still offer that pre-turnover bite.”
Musky
Early Fall
This can be a magical time for anglers who are after Wisconsin’s state fish.
“That early fall period starting around September is probably the best musky fishing of the year, at least in my opinion,” said fisheries biologist Zach Lawson, co-lead of the DNR’s musky team. “If you ask musky aficionados anywhere, especially in Wisconsin, you’ll hear about how September is a golden month.”
That’s because fish that have spent much of the summer suspended over deep water or on deeper weed lines begin to move toward the shallow weeds as temperatures fall, making them much more accessible to anglers.
“There’s this window between 70 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit where these fish, including the big ones, are congregated around shallow weeds and structure,” Lawson said. “They will set up on inside and outside weed edges, really any other shallow structure, too.
“On smaller Wisconsin lakes, especially, there really isn’t a bad place to cast on the whole lake.”
Musky also are catchable on the most popular and easiest lures to throw, he noted.
“Bucktails, top waters, crankbaits, dive-and-rises and spinners — just about anything can find success in the early fall.”
Mid-Fall
As the autumn progresses and water temperatures dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, musky will start to relocate closer to the main lake basin, often near steeper drop-offs or the deeper edges of prominent structures like points, rock bars and deep weeds.
“Mid-fall is when you see people start using suckers to great success,” Lawson said. “Deep-running crankbaits, big rubber baits, glide baits and other large, slow presentations are generally the ticket.”
Late Fall
Once fall turnover hits, the muskies can be just about anywhere, including deep humps, rock bars, points and any remaining weed edges. Anglers might even find muskies in just a few feet of water post-turnover, as they will enter shallow areas to sun themselves.
Regardless of where the fish are located, keep in mind that speed — or lack thereof — is the name of the game.
“These fish are not looking to chase down a meal like earlier in the year,” Lawson said. “Suckers are a post-turnover favorite and other slow, large-profile baits are a strong option, too.”
As with walleye anglers, those in search of musky might want to keep tabs on which lakes have turned over and adjust their plans accordingly.
“One of the coolest things about Wisconsin is all the lakes available to anglers,” Lawson said. “In the fall, you may spend a morning on one lake where nothing is happening, then trailer to another lake down the road with different conditions and have your best outing of the year.”
Learn More
Looking for new waters to explore or more information on your favorite local lake? Check out the DNR’s new Wisconsin Fishing Finder tool. It’s a one-stop shop for regulations, lake characteristics, launch locations and access points, fish stocking information and more.
