Rigging and jigging fall walleye

Fall is a tough sell for most walleye anglers. Part of it is simple conflict of interest; many anglers also enjoy hunting and have no time to fish in fall. Yet, many walleye anglers who donʼt hunt still feel compelled to winter­ize the boat come October. Why this is so remains something of a mystery. Fall walleye fishing is generally great, with hungry, larger-than-average fish. There are no lineups at the launch, and all the best reefs, shoals, and flats are virtually free of boats. Best of all, there are no personal watercraft or water skiers anywhere in sight. Yet, there are challenges. Just dropping a line in any old place will not guarantee hot action. Luckily, the patterns walleye follow in autumn are relatively easy to decode. Prime locations In fall, walleye tend to be less scattered and focus on key structure or depths. When I first tried to catch fall walleye, I assumed that as the water cooled fish would move back into the shallows they preferred in spring. I actually found the reverse was often true. As fall wears on and the water gets colder, walleye move deep, where temperatures are more stable. The majority concentrate at the foot of drop-offs or on steep shore­line areas. While there are exceptions to this – such as walleye that feed on suspended baitfish – that little piece of knowledge has helped to put crisp walleye fillets on my table well into November. The best drop-offs in fall are usually associated with a large reef or flat that extends to the shoreline. These reefs are the spawning areas for cisco and whitefish. Walleye ambush baitfish on flats adjacent to structure. The bottom of the break, as the flat meets reef, is generally the key point. However, walleye will set up on the side of a drop-off, if thereʼs enough stair-step structure to hold them. Occasionally, walleye move into a steep, wind-blown shore­line. The longer the blow, the bet­ter the chance fish will pile up on the deep edge of the shoreline. Iʼve seen this pattern on both islands and mainland. Fishing in waves when the air is in the single digits isnʼt a lot of fun, though. This is where a back-troller boat fitted with splash guards makes a difference. The guards push the spray back out and keep the angler dry. Zero in on fall walleye Walleye on wind-blown