Team Supreme is introducing a weekly letter to our friends and members. We would like to thank you for your continued support over this past fishing season and share with you information over the coming year. Our intentions are to offer outdoorsmen specific information as well as exciting offers only available to our members. Enough with semantics…
Fishing Season is over…
At least it appears that way because I have noticed a considerable absence of fishermen on the water. As you read this newsletter the bite up and down the Mississippi River is at its fall peak. Fish of every species are on the chew and easy to locate. Huge Smallmouth, Largemouth, Stripers, and Walleyes are all being caught. To help you locate these bruisers I will offer up last weeks patterns for each species…
Stripers: It is no secret that the easiest way to locate large active schools of stripers is to follow the gulls and look for active feeding. Well as it sits this is your best bet. From pools 7 – 10 the gulls are working up and down the river feeding off the schools that the stripers bring to surface. Many people make the mistake of heading up to the closest dam this time of year. The biggest stripers will be on the biggest shad you can find. Keep searching particularly in the morning hours for these all you can catch buffets.
Smallouth: The smallies are making their way toward there wintering areas which contrary to popular belief often resides in or around current. They are setting up in these deeper water areas and pushing up to the inside of current breaks to feed. They have not been pounding the topwater lately however 1/8 and 3/16 oz hair jigs have been getting beat up. Swim these slow in the areas you suspect are holding fish. If you catch one be sure to work the area methodically. Chances are there are many more. The Bite is semi challenging as once you get one to go and have confidence there is a school in your area you are able to boat a pile. Finding the first one is the trick.
Largemouth: All I can say is “Funnel”. Find your areas that are between deep water and the shad and the funnel between them will be full of bass. As stable weather sets up the fish seem to move closer and closer to current. As fronts move through they seem to set up in the deeper water and not want to chase much. I am not talking about long movements just areas in the general vicinity. If we have a couple days of stable weather and or a front approaching don’t be afraid to pull out the topwater plug. We have been getting some real bruisers on jerkbaits as well.
Walleyes: Well many of you died in the wool walleye fishermen know that this is one of those magical times of the year. The fish are making their way to the dam; however, many of the really big fish are not there quite yet. They are still feeding on wingdams; however, there seems to be a decisive movement taking place. Right now we are finding the bigger walleyes from 1 to 5 miles below. I am getting reports that more and more walleyes are finally showing up at the dam but I would still venture further south for a real trophy. The magic depth seems to be around 10 feet and ring worms seem to be the ticket. I am not sure if many of you are tossing plastics for walleyes; however, if you are not I suggest adding this to your bag of tricks. Many of the local guides swear by them.
Final thoughts:
This is my personal favorite time of the year to actually enjoy fishing. There are no competitions to get ready for. No urgencies pending and no reason not to enjoy every minute you can get out on the water. The scenery is spectacular as the trees are as colorful as I have ever seen them. We are getting visits from all sorts of critters on the bank and the Bald Eagles are giving us inspiring demonstrations of what life is all about. My only sadness is that soon we will be covered in a white blanket to which we will be forced to make daily withdrawals from our memory banks until spring. Remember the more deposits you make now the richer you will be.
Jc
