For the Tomahawk Leader

NORTHERN WISCONSIN – With the cooler weather we had last week, we’re now ready to start a serious fall pattern – if only it would stop warming up. The maples are starting to show colors nicely and it will be beautiful for the next three weeks or so. We’ve had some drop in water temperatures, but we’re still waiting for a big drop.

Walleye fishing is good, but the fish are moving some and hard to locate at times. It’s time for the annual migration to the holes on the Chain, but on some days they seem to just be suspending in the middle of the flats in between the holes and the weeds. Those are the tougher days. The best bait has remained half crawlers, which is somewhat unusual for this time of year. Minnows will be best as the water temps go down. The big lakes are now producing better, also on the hard bottom edges right off the weeds.

Bass fishing has remained pretty good, with the smallies hitting well in about 10′ of water and deeper, over harder bottoms. Plastics have been best right on the bottom. They haven’t been regurgitating any crayfish, so that food is gone for the year. Largemouth have slowed some, but you can still get some with wacky worms in cover near the shorelines.

Northern action has been very good in the weeds, especially those deeper grass weeds. You can fish them with slip bobbers quite well at this time of year.

Musky fishing will be an adventure in coming weeks. While we have suckers in now, we’ve not heard of much action with them. It’s just a little too warm yet.  Bucktails still seem to be the most effective right now. As the temps drop, slow down your retrieve for best effect.

With a slight warming trend in the weather, it will be a nice week on the water. Take advantage of it before those cold, windy days with snowflakes flying set in.

Good luck and good fishin’!