FISHING WITH THE GUIDES with George Langley - Week of 11/9 to 11/16

We’ve slipped deeper into the late-fall rhythm here in the Northwoods and beginning to get a good taste of what’s to come. The trees are bare, the air has a distinct edge, and lake temperatures throughout the area have finally dropped well into the 40’s. Sustained air temps below freezing have helped. Lakes are through turnover, vegetation has mostly collapsed, and fish are settling into their pre-winter habits.

For walleye the window is still open, but the patterns are changing. Look deep and definitely take advantage of the early morning and late evening hours. Windy weather was an issue for a bit of last week, but we also saw some nice calm days with beautiful evening weather for fishing – and  plenty of fish caught.  Fatheads and small suckers on light jigs or under slip-bobbers remain strong go-to offerings.

Bass are rarely being targeted at this time of the year but smallmouth are now hugging rock structure or gravel humps in deeper bays and can be caught with a quiet presentation.  Largemouth are tougher to find: tucked in the last patches of weeds or shallow warm wood areas, they’re holding very tight and moving very little.

Northern can be found in shallow bays that have a few weeds left over. These fish are always aggressive, and fall going into ice season is no exception. Flashy spoons dragged though their haunts are a good way to get their attention.

Not many people are fishing for panfish at this time of the season, but if you’re going, look deep to start with. Small jigs with waxies or small plastics like mini-mites are a good choice.

Musky fishing is still going strong as these ladies and gentelmen bulk up for ice. With the dropping temperatures suckers have been working best, with throwing big rubber to keep you warm a good secondary technique.  The windows are definitely narrowing, so for the best chance at a fish stick to early mornings and later evenings. Don’t hesitate to check the solunar calendar, especially at this time of the year.

Crowded waters are now rare; you’ll likely be one of the only boats out. Many anglers have already called it a season, and the next week may be your last mildly comfortable shot on open water before we start getting serious about ice. Truthfully, we’re seeing more people gearing up for that, along with hunters coming through the store right now. Anglers going out on the regular at this time of the season are few and far between, but if you’re one of them, enjoy it while you can.

Good luck and good fishin’!
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