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Fishing - A Northern Minnesota Tradition
Date: October 31, 2011
It's late October here on beautiful Lake Vermilion. The taconite gray sky, cold weather, and shorter days mean one thing-the muskies are putting on the feed bag. Late fall is my favorite time of the year to fish muskies. There's just something scintillating about the crisp mornings, cool clear water and big piggy fish!
With water temps in the mid to upper 40's, the lake is well past turnover and the fish have started moving into their fall patterns. Bait is paramount this time of year. Find the whitefish and tulibees and find the muskies. The whitefish are very close to spawning and the tulibees follow. You will still find some structure fish hanging around remnant weeds but for the most part it's a rock, sand, gravel, and open water bite in late fall.
Pick your poison as far as tactics as each year develops it's own personality. Last season I did much better casting but the previous fall was my best trolling bite ever. Casting lends itself better to fish holding tight to structure whereas trolling is better when the fish slide a little deeper or suspend over open water. One common denominator is go big or go home. 10 to 16 ounce rubber swim baits are like giant gummy bears to big pike and muskies. Go with as big a trolling bait as you can find. A big profile and aggressive wobble are the two keys.
Look for fish around edges, large complex reefs and ancillary structure, projections off of main lake shorelines, and sand and gravel bars. When you see pods of bait on your electronics, there will be muskies in the area. Try different tactics and stick with what works. On some days, the bite is in short distinct windows while at times the fish are active throughout the day. Pay particular attention to majors and minors and sun and moon changes. As always, time on the water is key. The more time on the water the more reward.
Late fall fishing is not for the faint of heart. Bone numbing cold, high winds, and snow and ice are daily challenges until ice up. Dress warm and in layers, wear your pfd and always carry a cell phone. The hazard markers are off the lake so if you're unfamiliar with Vermilion, be very careful. Fall is also one of the most rewarding times to be on the water. Feeding windows are intense and the girth of fall fish is simply impressive. Have a fun and safe time on the water and let 'em all go!
Paul
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This report, along with those of other guides, can be found
on the
LakeVermilion.com web site.
pauljpollock@yahoo.com
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