Walleye Hunt

I have been fishing walleyes for years but just got my fishouse on Mille Lacs this year. Therefore, I am still learning the lake. We had success last weekend on the shallow rocks fishing slip bobbers. I am learning the whole night trolling piece. Where does the flats fit into all of this for fall fishing. We did well pulling spinners and live bait in May and June on many of the different flats. Does this return during the fall or is a guy better off with the bobbers/trolling?

I’d say the best for Oct and Nov is trolling minnow floating baits along shorelines, and along dropoffs, and over weedtops in 8-12 feet of water. you can look back to last Oct and look at a ton of posts with pics and techniques to learn from.
good luck.
Jack..

Wabasha, Jack hit it on the head. The Fall brings a ton of fish shallow to the typical spring spots. These fish can be taken a variety of ways, ie. trolling, corking with a leech, and I have had some dynamite mornings rigging the Sand breaks on the North end with Crawlers and Leeches in October.

Thanks Guys! That is what I assumed. Keep knocking em’ dead!

Guys

How much does wind play a role? I have noticed how nice it is to work the shallows and the reefs on the calm side of the lake. I realize the windy side rocks would probably hold more fish but just how big of a factor is it?

Is it worth the time to do some open water trolling at an in-between depth during the height of the day. (Say of the edge of a flat or break 17-26 feet?

Wabasha,
As far as wind, I think it would be a benefit to have some (not much) coming into a shoreline I was trolling. It probably is a fine line from an incoming breeze, with small waves, or small rollers coming in, to a gale coming in with white caps. which would be almost un-trollable. The biggest thing at night, you have to be thinking SAFETY at all times. If your boat, or a person’s capabilities are not up the weather, then they have to fish somewhere else, OR not fish at all.
Wind coming in- I feel it helps- just not too strong.
I will leave your Flats question to someone else with more experience there.
good luck.
Jack.

My opinion is you dont need any wind at night.Some of my best nights have been on a flat lake and I prefer it that way.The walleyes have a big advantage over the bait fish at night so if you know where the bait fish are you will probably find some walleyes.you can still pick up some fish during the day in 10-20 FOW but if it is cloudy I would stay under 10.Most of the fish lately have come from under 10 FOW even on clear days.Minnows have also been working well lately for live bait.I havnt seen much going on out on the flats lately but I have heard rumor that there is still a night bite out there.The launches were still going out there a week ago.Also been catching some real nice Jumbo perch on the rocks and if you hit the right spot you can get a limit really fast.

Nice to see you surface Robert.

Hopefully see you on the water soon.

Im sure we will cross paths.I will be out there almost every night starting this weekend till ice up.Going to be a great fall and sure was a great summer on the pond.Are you picking up the new boat soon?

Thanks again guys. I’ll be up again this weekend fishing the north/east side. Gooooooood Luck!

Robert! Good to see you on the board. I’m waiting for those “open seats” to start popping up.

Castaway I’m in my new boat.

I probably will not be up unitl next Tuesday.

And I’m doing some smooth talking at home to get into Lip’s old boat.