Minnesota Walleye in Fall

Greetings. This will be the first year I plan to do some fall walleye fishing in Minnesota. I’ll be stationed on Battle Lake (West) for some weekends but will fish some of the area lakes in Ottertail County. I like to take my wife to some of the smaller lakes for smoother waters. I am looking for some suggestions for fall fishing for walleye during September and October. Any techniques and strategies are appreciated, from depths to locations to baits and presentation. Thank you in advance for your help!

Wade as you know I fish the Iowa Great Lakes alot in the fall.I have found that the walleyes can be very deep in these natural lakes in the fall.I like to live bait rig them using various techniques.Bottom bouncers/spinners,3 way rigs,lindy rig,etc.I have also found that bigger baits will work alot better during this time of year.Walleyes are feeding heavy this time of year and will take very big baits.Hopefully some local MN. guys will help you out on what works best for them during this time of year on the lakes you mentioned,Best of luck.
Ryan Hale

Ryan, Thanks. I may have to drag your butt up to the MN lakes with me to show me how to do some of this fall walleye fishing. We’ll be hitting the boji lakes too! See ya. – Wade

My favorite is the Vermillion River down south of Hastings. Lots of action (read: smaller fish), but I have seen, over the years, dozens of 28″+ fish. Jigs and minnows or cranks. Couldn’t be easier.

Ottertail lake is alot of fun! Some nice bars and humps to fish. I fished a tourney there a few years ago. Live bait on lindy rigs or trolling cranks should provide some good action.

Thanks for the suggestions thus far. Ryan, I assume your idea about walleye going deep applies to the MN lakes as well. The lakes there are glacier lakes similar to Okoboji/Spirit, so I would think much of the same applies. I just have not done much lake fishing in fall but I want to this year. I’ve heard great things about Ottertail but the large size is intimidating. With my wife being my main fishing partner, we try to avoid the larger lakes. I’m thinking about reposting this question closer to the Fall as well. Thanks again!

To me walleyes in the fall = Mille Lacs at night!~ Almost unimaginable numbers of big walleye after dark up shallow along reefs on large stickbaits.

Thanks James! I imagine that applies on many lakes? I hear of a lot of guys night fishing walleyes but I have never gotten into it. Sounds like I should! I’m going to have to get myself some education on night fishing walleyes as I’m sure it presents a different set of obstacles…

Thanks Again!