HELP! Late fall walleye pattern

Hey guys, first post here, I have to say I am obsessed with the IDO show! Anyways, can anyone give me some tips on this late fall pre ice walleye pattern? I live in northern Michigan and fish a hand full of small inland lakes. I do not have electronics for my boat so I’m trying to fish blind! I just can’t seem to find the fish right now. I typically pull crawler harnesses so I can cover a lot of water to find the fish without electronics. That does not seem to be working at all right now. I’ll attach the link to the lake I most commonly fish so you can see what I’m dealing with. Any tips and suggestions would be very helpful as it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting ice any time soon.

Try any deep holes if it has any.

This time of year I have rarely had good success pulling crawlers. Crankbaits in blue/chrome colors or perchy colors work pretty well for me as well as jig and a minnow. If the lake has it, I like to fish deep structure this time of year (15 to 30 feet), though closer to shore can produce closer to dark. Deep weed edges and deep structure is where I prefer though.

thanks! there is a couple, one twenty and one twenty three foot. I did try fishing the twenty foot hole yesterday jigging with a jigging rap. no takers though. thoroughly frustrated because typically i do very well one eyes on that lake.

Lol. The fish have to win once in awhile. I usually don’t do very well in the fall either and I find it frustrating also. Might want to try a jig and minnow and try to stay vertical and work it slowly across the deep areas. Let us know how you do.

i usually stay away from trolling cranks because the weeds are so thick and high in this lake. Maybe they will be down enough now with the cold water temps to try it though.

i’d love to see the IDO guys do a show on this topic, small inland lake walleyes in the late fall early winter open water! I learn so much from them!

this is my lake I live on…. pretty awesome sturgeon fishing on it too!

Attachments:

1. OTSEGO_LAKE.pdf

If it were me, I would focus on those points where they drop off to deeper water, and the inside turns. I think you said no electronics though which might make the insides turns a no go, but the points would still be an option.

Well I tried the twenty foot hole in the north bay…. 4 hours of cold wind and freezing rain yesterday morning, big walleye minnows on jigs, and crawlers…. nothing. not even a nibble. I’m seriously at a loss, where the heck are the fish at, did they disappear?!?! I broke down and found a good deal on ebay on a used fish finder, can not wait for it to get here!

Jesse,

Welcome to IDO! Is this lake in-between Grayling and Gaylord by chance?

FDR

it is just on the south side of gaylord, its the biggest lake in my county…. and normally a walleye factory for me. went out again tonight, 20 mph n wind and 2 1/2 foot waves in my 14′ boat made it a little…. fun we’ll say. jumped around to a lot of different types of locations, caught one 23 1/2″ pike…. i’m at a loss

The one thing you got right is your trying. Keep at it.

Are you frustrated enough yet to consider buying a set of eyes? I hate wasting time fishing where there aren’t any. Ask for a fish finder for Christmas!!!

I think Justin is on the right track with steep drop-offs this time of year. Point comfort looks like a good litmus test for how the fish are biting that day.
I would try there with a jig and a minnow on the weed edges. Typically this time of year, the remaining green weeds are a good bet. It’s also important to keep in mind that the fish are slowing down as the water approaches ice up. light jigs and shiners are usually my first rig that i try and then branch out from there.

http://webapp.navionics.com/#@10&key=_mkqGbcycO

Have you considered fishing other lakes around the area? I’d be looking hard at Thumb Lake just North of there.

http://webapp.navionics.com/#@11&key=elyrGzvndO

thanks guys for all the advice! I just received my first fish finder in the mail yesterday. I’m a single income father of three little boys on a blue collar income. My wife told me last week that she thought I should spend a little on myself to get a fish finder, so I found a good deal on eBay and got a lowrance x47. It’s not new but it should do the trick for 50 bucks. I fish point comfort most often, have not had any luck, hopefully now I can at least see where they are or aren’t. As for fishing the other lakes around yea I do, but they hail in comparison as far as walleye, thumb lake has no walleye in it that I know of. Hopefully this weekend I will find some fish with my new tool! Thanks again guys.