Today’s Target Walleye is a “Special Issue” jammed full of fall-transition walleye fishing tips! September 7, 2011 . Much of their stalking is done in the skinny water and often under the cover of darkness. "It's basically ice fishing in a boat. Bump up to a #6 or #7 as temps reach the lower end of that scale. ©2020 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Fall is perhaps the most interesting season to catch walleye because the fish are in a long, gradual transition from summer to winter locations. Jig Head tipped with a salted shiner or softbait such as Northland's 4-inch Impulse Smelt Minnow. Walleyes spawn at night in depths between 2′ and 6′ over sand or gravel bottoms. At the east end of the Walleye Belt, along the New York-Pennsylvania line, veteran walleye angler Doug Yohe savors the fall season, which he says offers a chance at wind-milling 40 or more hungry 'eyes per trip on Allegheny Reservoir. These three techniques will help you put ol’ marble-eyes in the net this fall. Unlike the slow strokes of the Winnipeg River, he favors a vigorous snapjigging cadence to call fish from a distance. Yes, fall is a prime time if you love to walleye fish and target big fish. > “If you’re fishing summer spots and they aren’t there, start fishing the sand. ", Yohe uses his Lowrance HDS electronics to pinpoint prime lies along the channel, commonly in depths of 25 to 30 feet. Also on Lac Seul. Location is the key to fall and winter walleye and sauger fishing. "Deep-bodied, tight-wobbling baits with a bit of flash are top picks," he says, noting that the Lindy Shadling is his favorite. "I've had 9-pound walleyes throw up 11-inch walleyes, so when I troll cranks, they're big ones," he says. The state’s many lakes (some say more than Minnesota) are chock-full of walleyes of all sizes–from classic 15-inch eater to 14-pound monsters. I had the chance to hop in the boat yesterday with Mille Lacs guide... We asked fishing hall of famer and northern MN fishing guide Tom Neustrom how... You dreaming of open-water yet? Baitfish move back to the extreme shallows and walleyes will be right on their heels.”. Could be water moving between islands or an incoming feeder creek. Fishing sucks at Peck, spring or fall. Full write-up archived here, few excerpts below: "Shallow bays with an 8- to 15-foot hole that drew walleyes early in the season become hot spots once again, and the holes can fill up with fish." "I like a standard Lindy Jig with chartreuse mixed with green or orange," he says. Don't bother. Wisconsin Fishing Service Ice Up North. > “Vary the height and number of jig strokes before letting the lure crash back down to the bottom. Tempting the Big Walleye’s of Fall . Big boulders and rock locations can hold walleye through the year but on so many different fisheries, these locations seem even more appealing in the fall. Now retired, Yohe travels far and wide, tracking down top finishes on tournament trails like the Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit and National Walleye Tour. As water temperatures drop from summer highs to the low-40°F range, Robertson savors the slice of paradise from the Ohio ports of Sandusky to Vermilion, and centers his crosshairs on the hotbed of activity around Huron. Minnesota. They will look for the deeper holes and will locate near them. With the fall season fast approaching, there’s so much we all would like to do and so many things that can be done at this time of year. They generally locate on a spot-on-a-spot. The first thing to do is to locate the deep wintering holes. …the most effective crankbait for working shallow structure there is. Sharp ledges or breaks that coincide with current are perennial locations for finding fall walleye. #fishheads, Brett McComas is the main man for Target Walleye He was discovered in Brainerd, MN after years of wondering how in the heck people break into the fishing biz. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Randall Gaines chases fall walleyes on fisheries across the Midwest, from western Lake Erie to Minnesota’s Cass Lake. > > If you’re getting this Target Walleye email for the first time, a friend probably signed you up! <<. Instead of looking for fish to be on top of structures, look deeper. A eutrophic lake is a natural, fertile-type lake. Work both ends of the spectrum until a trend emerges.”. (We won’t sell the addresses, use them for spam, etc. "Too much slack and you won't see or feel strikes," he cautions. A 7′ 6” M F-action is perfect. Snap-jigging has taken off in the walleye world over the last 4-5 years (thx Al!). Other huge factors to consider when being able to find these late fall walleye are depth, location of fish in the water column, structure they relate to, baitfish and wind direction. > Once the water hits 57-62 — and the weather is cooperating — he’ll put on BIG ol’ bent-lip #9 Shallow Shad Raps. Big winds. Minnesota with many different places to fish for walleye makes it a great place to take a walleye fishing trip. Bad roads. Site Staff During late summer and early fall patterns, walleyes can be deep, shallow or anywhere in between. Where To Find Fall Walleye In Eutrophic Lakes. Here are some of my top Wisconsin locations and techniques to use for catching fall salmon, muskie, walleye, smallmouth, and northern pike. It’s a fun way to catch ’em and really good at pulling bigger bites, especially in the fall.I tracked down walleye nut. They run 5-7′ outta the package, but Brad will pinch on a small splitshot up above the bait to get ’em down to the 8-10′ range. Current attracts walleye in the fall especially. As a rule of thumb, good fishing in the fall often means good fishing at first ice. Same on parts of Lake of the Woods and other surrounding waters. Devils Lake Is The Place For Pike Outdoorsfirst. > “As far as rods go, I like a 6′ 8″ M XF-action stick…that quicker action allows you to get more snap out of the jig. Stellar slabs include the iconic C.C. Catching them is... Folks are increasingly realizing that the beauty of a big bluegill lies in its rarity. One of the indicators to look for is water temperature. I like paddletail swimbaits like the Berkley's 5-inch Hollow Belly or 5-inch Flatback Shad on a 1/2- or 3/4-ounce Saltwater Bullet Head from Kalin's or Owner. Yes, fall is a prime time if you love to walleye fish and target big fish. Wisconsin Fishing Resort Hayward Lakes Area Vacations. At the east end of the Walleye Belt, along the New York-Pennsylvania line, veteran walleye angler Doug Yohe savors the fall season, which he says offers a chance at wind-milling 40 or more hungry 'eyes per trip on Allegheny Reservoir. Early fall seems more conductive for milk running good spots and simply covering water. Walleye: As the lake transitions into fall, Walleye will start to wait just outside the shallows of Portage and Sucker Bays as well as shallow narrows as dying vegetation on the shores start to push smaller bait fish out into slightly deeper water. A general rule of thumb is to look deeper than would in summer. Big boulders and rock locations can hold walleye through the year but on so many different fisheries, these locations seem even more appealing in the fall. MN-FISH, Target Walleye — walleye during open water and all species during hardwater — is brought to you by Al and Ron Lindner, Jim Kalkofen, Brett McComas and other diehard fish-nuts like you! Riggings rest on 20-pound braid mainline and an 18- to 24-inch fluoro, leader joined with a barrel swivel. He favors a 20-pound superline mainline capped by an 18-inch fluorocarbon leader affixed with a small barrel swivel to banish twist. 24″ of fluorocarbon is generally enough even in clear water and greatly reduces the number of times the leader knot goes through the guides of the rod. In this case we change out the hooks with a larger #6 Berkley Fusion19 Treble Hook for better hooking…. Tracking of Walleye implanted with transmitters continued in Lake Pend Oreille over the past month. Many consistent limit catches came in from lat/longs ranging from 13 & 29 (Middle GPS co-ordinates) off Lorain to 23 & 34 off Ruggles Beach and points in between. Thelen deploys cranks on 8- to 10-foot trolling rods spooled with 10-pound mono, tipped with a snap. He's quick to troll a bottom bouncer and spinner rig along the edge of still-green weedlines. 2. Walleye Fishing In Minocqua Northern Wisconsin And Hunting. Early ice is a prime window for targeting walleye. Once it hits the water, I’m letting it sink to the bottom before I do anything — bottom contact is key. > “…used to switch between Berkley FireLine and Berkley Nanofil…but now we all agree: The new Berkley Fireline Ultra-8 Carrier is a mix of the 2 lines with the smoothness of Nanofil due to the four extra carriers and the abrasion resistance and strength of the original Fireline braid. Other good locations can include moving water around bridges and causeways. ", On inland systems like Wisconsin's storied Winnebago Chain—where Muche also guides—he says a massive fall run of 15- to 18-inch male walleyes floods holes from the mouth of the Wolf River at Lake Poygan up to Fremont and New London, producing an overlooked bonanza. Gumbo. "Most of these areas are not directly connected to the main lake, but they're close. Posts: 37,751 Walleye, I was born and raised in … "In clear conditions, deep trolling is a good way to catch numbers of 15- to 22-inch fish. Finally, if fall walleye locations are confounding you, and you haven’t found anything at shallow or intermediary depths, consider going back to what worked in the summer. These 5 Wisconsin Waters Have Best Chance To Produce A State . "They offer a different action and stand out from schools of baitfish.". This could be live bait rigging deep structure, or even pulling leadcore. "A few fish crack it. Save your time and money to go where you can catch something. Boulders and Structure Fishing Walleyes will relate to boulders and structure through the open water season, but these locations often just get better and more predictable come fall. Another of Thelen's favorite fall patterns in many midwestern waters hinges on wind and waves concentrating baitfish and walleyes in shallow water on hard-bottom points with easy access to deep water on both sides of the structure. ", "If the pattern's workable, you always see baitfish in these areas, suspended in the water column, with your electronics. Today’s Target Walleye is a “Special Issue” jammed full of fall-transition walleye fishing tips! The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more... Little is known about the effects of softbait ingestion on bass. Large round boulders are often big-fish magnets. Recognize that your favorite lake has two different types of high percentage, late fall walleye locations: steep breaks that lead toward deeper water, and mid-depth flats that still support green weed growth. "Many of the points I fish top out around 4 feet deep, so I cover these areas with casts," he adds. But I break points into four zones. Advertisement #4 08-12-2020, 07:05 PM REW. And even if you have one, some days the wind might keep you on shore.TW fan. Recognize that your favorite lake has two different types of high percentage, late fall walleye locations: steep breaks that lead toward deeper water, and mid-depth flats that still support green weed growth. This can be a frustrating time of year to track down a limit of tasties. Get him at brett@targetwalleye.com, TargetWalleye.com | Rapala.com | IceForce.com. Noted big-water guide and tournament competitor Jason Muche works the night shift on the fish-rich reefs out of northern Lake Michigan's walleye mecca of Escanaba, catching giants in the 10- to 12-pound class. Indeed, greenbacks flooding in from the main lake offer excellent odds at personal bests. From November until ice-up, the water temperatures are pretty uniform and walleyes will take advantage to roam and hunt. "From August on, you gotta knock 'em on the head with a slab spoon," he says. Pet tactics that worked all summer long may work … It’s hard to decide what we want to do first. No baitfish, no predators. Giant fall walleye will try to rip the rod from your hands when they see and feel the paddletail swimming by—proving the presentation isn’t only effective, but also a lot of fun. Since walleyes often are scattered across long stretches of structure, he prefers trolling crankbaits. These cookies do not store any personal information. The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more efficient fin designs, glide technology and allows the boat to be moved in any direction. A general rule of thumb is to look deeper than would in summer. Fall Walleye on the Rocks By Jason Mitchell Big boulders and rock locations can hold walleye through the year but on so many different fisheries, these locations seem even more appealing in the fall. Walleye locations in the early fall. If I've tried to convey one message to other anglers the past few years about fall walleye fishing, it's that walleyes likely will behave differently from one lake to another. this Rick Olson write-up deeeeep within the Fishing Minnesota archives, like the $1.99 Berkley Spiral Rod Holders, Click here if you want to learn a little more about links in TW. "Line-counter reels let you duplicate productive letbacks. Triggering big fish is all about putting something down there that moves like animals walleyes... Give a Gift   Fall can be a fabulous time to get in on some real trophy walleye fishing on The Great Lakes. Site Staff During late summer and early fall patterns, walleyes can be deep, shallow or anywhere in between. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. "Start with divers along reef edges in 16 to 17 feet, then pull shallow runners over the tops in 6 to 9 feet as the night progresses. Chinook salmon make their annual fall migration to shallower water and the harbors that dot the Lake Michigan shoreline in October and November. > “After a month or more, the migration reverses. Boulders in deep water (that might range from fifteen to forty feet of water) are especially productive. These types of areas will be easy to identify using a combination of digital cartography, sonar and Aqua-Vu underwater cameras. For example, if they’re on a mid-lake hump with scattered boulders, they will be on the boulders. > “It’s definitely more of a shallow-water deal…usually less than 10′. Things that go bump in the night are no deterrent for the walleye faithful, and neither is a little cold weather. Fish are on the move, but they’ll be migrating to predictable areas and eventually schooling up hard. Locations where streams and rivers enter lakes attract baitfish and can be a huge draw for autumn walleyes. Fall is heavy feeding time for largemouth bass. For my sliding dropper, I use a 2′ piece of 12-lb mono to a 2-oz cannon ball weight…allows the weight to slide up and down the line — that way when a fish picks up a bait they can run with it freely.”. The In-Fisherman crew head to Lake Erie to catch smallmouth bass. Thursday, August 15, 2019 - 2:40 PM MDT. While big, deep lakes are often thought of as “classic” walleye waters, small, shallow lakes often harbor good walleye populations that often go on the bite now too. We asked guides, pros, editors, and other major players what walleye jig they could least live... A look at several different lure designs and how they attract ice walleyes. Devils Lake Is The Place For Pike Outdoorsfirst. |   But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Now retired, Yohe travels far and wide, tracking down top finishes on tournament trails like the Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit and National Walleye Tour. If you have gone walleye fishing in the midwest, you’ve probably heard Wisconsin come up as one of the best states to catch walleye in. This could be live bait rigging deep structure, or even pulling leadcore. “What the fall does is it gives the walleye angler the edge,” Bohn says. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Most times the walleyes will be at a very specific depth, but will move up and down the contour. As the leaves begin to drop and the temperature starts to cool, the walleye begins a migration to typical areas in search of food to fatten-up for the upcoming winter. Trying to forgive but will never forget. On Minnesota's famed 130,000-acre Mille Lacs Lake, veteran guide Jon Thelen highlights a late trolling pattern driven by walleyes moving shallow toward the end of the open-water period. Once the big ones are located, action can be incredible. Once fall hits, the jigging season is on for walleyes. …perfect fish-attracting wiggle and some great fall colors like ‘fire tiger’ and ‘crawdad.’, > “Another option, would be avoiding the negative effects of the turnover by trying to find a lake that hasn’t turned yet, or one that already has and had a week or 2 to settle down. late fall jerkbait walleye ; Late Fall Jerkbait Walleye. Witness John Grubenhoff's 20.32-pound giant that broke the state record last March. October 26, 2020 Bill Schwarz Walleye Fishing Comments Off on Fall Walleye on the Rocks. "In October, healthy weededges hold walleyes," he says. Walleye locations in Lake Pend Oreille (late-July to mid-August) By , Lake Pend Oreille Fishery Research Staff . "They feed heavily before winter," he says, noting that the night bite below McNary Dam is as good as it gets. ), National Professional Anglers Assoc. "But the bulk of the biggest fish follow migratory baitfish, and that means keying on gizzard shad, white bass, smelt, and emerald shiners.". > “Walleyes will position at different locations along the dropoff depending on conditions. These are 4-year old fish that are completing their life cycle and soon going to perish. Snap-jigging plastics for shallow fall walleyes. "If that doesn't work, jig right down the middle," he says. If you have mapping on your GPS unit, you can locate them that way. "Hook the minnow through the mouth and out one of the gills. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Compared to spring, I would also dare say that the patterns and locations also hold out longer. Giant fall walleye will try to rip the rod from your hands when they see and feel the paddletail swimming by—proving the presentation isn’t only effective, but also a lot of fun. Walleye Fishing In Minocqua Northern Wisconsin And Hunting. September 7, 2011 . Walleyes were still spread out from the Clark Fork River downstream to the Pend Oreille River. Here’s how to find them. Right: Doubles like the two pictured at right aren't un-common during the peak of fall walleye fishing. Yohe's go-to tactic is simple yet deadly. Boulders in deep water (that might range from fifteen to forty feet of water) are especially productive. Lesyshen has some great insight on all these factors, definitely things you want to remember when you are out on the water. Right: Doubles like the two pictured at right aren't un-common during the peak of fall walleye fishing. Fall patterns are often drawn out and consistent. Capt. Hey fall trollers — water temps are finally starting to dip! A few years ago, I did really well pulling leadcore, at night, in 25 feet of water in October. Remove Advertisements. He also advises anglers trolling crankbaits to think big. Fall patterns are often drawn out and consistent. > “If they don’t eat it on the bottom, usually that quick snap will get a reaction bite out of fish and they’ll eat it on the fall. Walleyes were still spread out from the Clark Fork River downstream to the Pend Oreille River. You don’t need a boat to catch fall walleyes! %AD1% Underwater points, main-lake reefs, flats, and sunken islands hold fall walleye concentrations. "The plastic bodies on jigs like a Lindy Watsit or Fuzz-E-Grub add bulk and the tails boost action," he says. "You'll have company out there, and need to watch out for tribal gill nets and commercial vessels.". ", Muche's setup includes 10-pound mono mainline, planer boards stoked with glow sticks or reflective tape, and a #2 split shot just ahead of a barrel swivel, positioned about 6 feet from the bait. Fishing tips that can help you "pull a Rabbit out of the hat" on your next trip Northern Minnesota and the 1000 Grand Lakes Area. "Walleyes stack up in 20- to 25-foot holes, and the action lasts through ice-up. Go big or go home A classic fall technique for oversized daytime walleyes is to fish oversized live baits, especially redtail chubs, along deep structure. First, take a long look at your Humminbird/Lakemaster digital contour map: if … Whether you're within striking distance of these notable hot spots, or apply the patterns that work on them to your home waters, they can be your guide to your best autumn ever. Longtime In-Fisherman friend and walleye fanatic Chip Leer reminds us that the Winnipeg River below the Pine Falls dam ranks high among the continent's top spots to boat a fall behemoth. Fall Walleye on the Rocks Fall Walleye on the Rocks . Fall Walleye Patterns “¦ “Location=Presentation!” October 15, 2010 December 5, 2017 Parsons & Kavajecz *Any, Articles, Berkley, Berkley Flicker Shad, Casting, Fall, Jigging, Off Shore Tackle, Off Shore Tackle OR12 Side Planer, Trolling, Walleye. It's a time for bruiser sized walleyes. September walleye fishing can be about locations but also about the process. Diehard walleye anglers know October offers some of the year’s finest fishing on lakes, rivers and impoundments large and small. On his home waters of Minnesota's Leech Lake, Leer looks to deep humps topping out 20 to 40 feet beneath the surface in Walker Bay. Fall walleye locations include sunken islands, humps, and reefs, especially with access to deeper water; deep feeding shelves and mud flats; and main-lake points, narrows, current areas, islands, and steep dropoffs. Trolling tactics rule, with crawler harnesses giving way to spoons and crankbaits through the fall progression. Go big or go home A classic fall technique for oversized daytime walleyes is to fish oversized live baits, especially redtail chubs, along deep structure. > “Dress the jig with either an Impulse Core Swimbait or an AuthentX Pulse-R Paddle Tail. They will start dropping deeper into them as the temperature drops. All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. By (mostly Brett) Posted on September 11, 2020. They might also be sitting on the edge – somewhere in the 15- to 25-foot … Trying to forgive but will never forget. The Walleye is a fish that can be found in the river (in Pelican Town or Cindersap Forest), the Mountain Lake, and the Cindersap Forest pond during the Fall or Winter when it is raining. After paying out 120 to 150 feet of line until his lure bottoms out, he reels in a few cranks and begins a nonstop series of rips and pauses that add extra action to the lure. > “If the boat driver finds a mark and wants to cast, keep an eye on the orientation of the boat, wind and fish. > “I fish a variance of a basic bottom rig: 20-lb braid mainline to a 3-5′ 12-lb mono leader with a 1/0 octopus hook. In October into November, we typically see light pressure on many A-list fall walleye fisheries, even though some of the year's finest fishing awaits. Beginning in October, the fall trolling bite starts to turn on. With either lure style, he performs a steady, aggressive ripping repertoire featuring 2-foot lifts and slack-line drops. The lake produced the 17-pound 9-ounce Pennsylvania state record. Mud. I actually like fishing more flat-type areas because the fish are cruising at night looking for an easy meal.”. 10 Best Fall Walleye Hotspots. "I know some big fish are always working deep structure, too," he says, "but I focus on structural elements in 6 to 15 feet of water, adjacent to deeper water. A few years ago, I did really well pulling leadcore, at night, in 25 feet of water in October. Fall Walleye on the Rocks Fall Walleye on the Rocks . With the fall season fast approaching, there’s so much we all would like to do and so many things that can be done at this time of year. Thursday, August 15, 2019 - 2:40 PM MDT. September walleye fishing can be about locations but also about the process. "The leader keeps the bait from fouling the mainline," he says. "It's one of the most overlooked bites around," he says. You can use a ball-head jig tipped with a minnow, but I like swimming jigs like Northland's Puppet Minnow and jigging spoons like the Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon or Minnow-Head Hook. > “They start to move out to more open-water areas at first…sliding out around deep water: sandbars that come out from shore and drop to deeper water, sand flats, sand points and sand humps. It’s almost like walleye angers want to start going into “panic mode” this time of year. Fortunately, walleyes are creatures of habit. Spoon, along with a number of supersize options up to 1 ounce in weight. This keeps it on the jig and acts like a modified stinger hook.". I usually stick with natural colors (shiner, smelt) unless the water is really stirred up, then I’ll switch to something brighter (chartreuse and pinks).”. Cranks are consistent producers, but most of the big fish fall for the same swimbaits mentioned earlier. Big boulders and rock locations can hold walleye through the year but on so many different fisheries, these locations seem even more appealing in the fall. Budget-friendly spiral rod holders [like the $1.99 Berkley Spiral Rod Holders] work just fine. Seems like these push the bait around more and make it easier for the fish to ambush. ", After spending most of summer tickling treetops and treelines with spinnerbaits and small cranks, guide and decorated tournament angler Rob Rowland taps a deep fall bite on Nebraska's Lake McConaughy. Productive fall locations for big walleyes can be both deep and shallow. Keeping tension on the lure will reduce the side-to-side action that makes Shiver Minnows special…makes a huge difference in the number of bites. Casting light jigs is a great tactic, though Mitchell says pulling splitshot rigs with small flicker blades, like the #0 on the Micro-Blade Spinner he helped Northland develop, work wonders as well. Brett is one of those guys who majored in marketing, only because there was no such thing as a “fishing degree” at the time…. The first step is to get a good contour map of the river or section of the river you are going to be fishing. Big boulders and rock locations can hold walleye through the year but on so many different fisheries, these locations seem even more appealing in the fall. I expect this to be a good fall season based on the numbers of good catches reported from the sandbar waters this summer. Walleye activity can range from bad to good depending on how quickly water temps cool off. ", Muche's weapon of choice for the river bite is a 1/4-ounce leadhead tipped with a minnow. Conservative jig strokes are key. "It's a great big-fish bite, too. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. They feed with more intensity, with more purpose, and in predictable locations. Grubenhoff's favorite tactic during fall is vertically jigging 1/2-ounce bladebaits like the Heddon Sonar. It’s 9/11 today. You can literally eliminate most of the lake, as you think about where to look.”. > “Walleyes can be more difficult to find at this time of year because they’re on the move and transitioning from deeper to shallow water. When I do get a bite, I try to get to the rod quickly and open the bail to feed line. Target Walleye/Ice brings you the best, worst and funniest stuff in the walleye and ice-fishing (all species) worlds! Larger rivers are another place anglers can count on for consistent fall walleye action. Charter Member : Join Date: Nov 1999. Warm Water Walleye In Rivers & Reservoirs Where To Find Them: Once the water warms, river and reservoir walleyes will commence feeding on active schools of baitfish, often relating to the old river channel or deep river pools. Best Places To Fish Fox Lake Wi Travel Wisconsin. They basically bowhunt for walleyes…one rod, one lure, searching for big fish with their electronics before taking their shot: Compared to the spring, there are way fewer boats to compete against compared to the same fisheries after ice out. Fishing tips that can help you "pull a Rabbit out of the hat" on your next trip Northern Minnesota and the 1000 Grand Lakes Area. Location: . People ask me about walleye depth in late summer. Trying to forgive but will never forget. Walleye: As the lake transitions into fall, Walleye will start to wait just outside the shallows of Portage and Sucker Bays as well as shallow narrows as dying vegetation on the shores start to push smaller bait fish out into slightly deeper water. Likewise, the action moves higher in the water column as winter draws near, from deep in the abyss in early fall to within 20 feet or less of the surface by November. Solid info from Brian “Bro” Brosdahl and Mike Gnatkowski in a throwback Game & Fish write-up, few snippets below: Largely regarded as the walleye capital of the U.S., Erie doesn’t need much of an introduction and the fall bite doesn’t disappoint. Plan your next fishing and boating adventure here. "A little caution is in order, however," Hoffarth adds. > “Walleyes become more selective about where they stage. Tough fishing in the fall can often translate to tough fishing at first ice. > “Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon leader material in 10-, 12- or 15-lb makes a great connection between the braid and lure.