Here's
what George Langley of the Eagle River Fishing Guide
Association, is reporting about fishing in the Eagle
River area:
FISHING WITH THE GUIDES
10/22/12
by George Langley
As we slip ever further towards winter, our fall fishing is proceeding in vastly different directions. The walleye fishing has been spectacular, but the musky fall season is slow in developing for some reason. Water temps are now down soundly in the 40.s pretty much everywhere, and a mid level warming spell won’t change anything. This is much different from last fall, when we had one warm spell after another, seemingly throughout the whole fall period.
Leaves are completely gone, and the only color out there is from the tamarack trees. Water levels are seriously low again, making many landings difficult or impossible to use. All we can do at this point is to hope for a lot of snow this winter.
We’ve got a good month of musky and walleye fishing left for those late fall nuts, and then it’s time to turn our thoughts to ice fishing (after deer hunting, of course). A few of us wish there were two Octobers and two Novembers; there is just too much to do with only one of each.
Walleye fishing has been very good all fall. Presently, some of the larger walleye have left the holes on the Chain and are moving back to the weed edges to feed. While many fish can still be had in those holes, you might want to look to those weed edges for some larger fish. Minnows are still by far the best bait for this part of the season. On the larger lakes they are still deeper. In fact, some anglers have caught fish as deep as 45’ in some holes. Larger minnows are working on these lakes – redtail chubs have been best. These two patterns will hold now through the rest of the pre-ice fall period.
Musky action has been a bit of a puzzle, to be honest. While the water temps and conditions have been close to perfect, the sucker fall action period has just not started in full force. The general consensus is that it is going to start any day now and will be great for the rest of the open water season. We are still dealing with some turnover on some lakes, which will affect the fishing.
For artificial baits, the best baits have been jerk baits and twitch baits, both of which can be paused during the retrieve.
The real deal with musky is that they have still been on a night feed, and this is causing the poor daytime action. As it gets colder, that feed will turn to a daylight period and the action will be much better.
Panfish action has been OK, with perch by far the best fish to catch in the fall. They have been hitting fathead minnows on all lakes. Not too many anglers fish them – mostly they are caught as a bonus by walleye anglers. Actually, fall is a great perch time if you can stand the wind and the cold.
Watch for some great musky action in the upcoming days.
Good luck and good fishn’
For
more information about fishing the Eagle River area
call us or visit our website.:
*George Langley, Eagle River Fishing Guide Association, 715-479-8804;
www.eagleriverfishingguides.com
OCTOBER 2012
NORTHWOODS REPORT
Fall is here and many of the trees have beautiful color. By cranberry fest we should be at peak color and our visitors will enjoy the Northwoods beauty. Fall is also the time of the year when the hunting seasons are in full swing. Ruff grouse hunting has been very productive with hunters seeing many birds. With the leaves on the trees yet the grouse have a big escape advantage. The archers are seeing deer and they are on the move perhaps indicating an early rut this year. The bear hunting is productive this year with the bear bait locations being hit regularly.
Since the cold temperatures hit the last week in September the water temperatures have dropped. Water temperatures dropping and length of daylight in the fall triggers the pre-winter feeding to put on a layer of fat to carry the fish through mid and late winter. Walleye, northern, musky and panfish are all very active and fishermen are experiencing outstanding success.
With the leaves dropping and the wildlife being on the move this is an wonderful time to go hiking and enjoy the scenery and the wildlife. Remember when hiking or biking wear blasé orange wheather you are on the roadways or in the woodlands. The hunters are also in the woods and the blasé orange identifies you from wildlife.
This is the best time of the year to be in the Northwoods so enjoy with respect our outdoors.
Keep a tight line,
*Yukon Jack Outfitters,
1857
Scattering Rice Lake Rd.,
Eagle
River, WI 54521,
715-479-3219;
website: www.yukonjackegv.com
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