Brad Laabs: Lake activity is slow, but the bite is good

Water temperatures range from the mid- to high-50 degree range now. Water levels are low, so caution at the access is prudent. Having boots along may come in handy. Docks at accesses will start to disappear now.

Some boats are still out fishing, and on some lakes a few duck hunting boats are out, but most of the lake activity now is pulling docks, lifts and boats as people get ready for the upcoming hard water season.

Overall, activity on the lakes is slow, but the bite is good, so it is very pleasant to have most of the lake to yourself when fishing now.

Most of the anglers out fishing right now are chasing walleyes or muskies. A few are after fall crappies, and even though we have good fall bass fishing for largemouth and smallmouth, very few anglers seem to take advantage of that bite opportunity.

Right now, some walleyes are deep out to 30 feet of water, some are on outside weed edges in the 18-to-24-foot depth, and some are shallow (especially if the wind is sweeping the flats).

The great thing about this time of the season is the fish are schooling up more than the summer period – and once you find one, you can catch several in the same area.

Live bait rigs (Lindy) or jigs and minnows, jigs and plastics, or jig raps are producing the best. Many musky anglers are still burning baits over the top of shallow weeds.

The weed growth has diminished significantly, so areas still holding some green weeds become prime. The big sucker minnow bite under bobbers trolled slowly along shoreline breaks has started, and will continue to get better for these monster fish as water temps continue to drop.

Crappies are starting to school up, and some anglers that chase them regularly report that most fish that have been contacted now are holding suspended off edges with sharp drops to deep water.

Small jigs with minnows or plastics or small jigging raps have been producing. Even though we have some very good bass lakes, and some good smallmouth populations in some area lakes, not as many bass anglers take advantage of that fall bite in our area. With so many fall activities and hunting as a competitor, outdoor sports people have to make tough choices and priorities for time (stupid work gets in the way for some!).

Just so you are aware and have another possibility to conflict with how you spend your time, I will let you know that the shiner run on the Rainy River has started. This means the huge populations of walleyes are just outside the gap area, in Four Mile Bay, and in the river at Lake of the Woods at Baudette.

That bite will last from now until ice, and of course the first ice bite up there is excellent also. This area is a very popular destination in the spring with the walleye spawning run, but the fall can be a close second for numbers and size.

Have you noticed that there never seems to be enough time in the fall for everything? If I could have a wish granted, it would be to extend this season by at least a month. It goes by too fast. If you have been getting distracted by all the noise about Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Washington in-fighting, upcoming election ads, and blah, blah, blah. Help yourself with a little priority re-set and get out for some fall fishing!

(Laabs owns Brad Laabs Guide Service)