Fishing Reports

FISHING WITH THE GUIDES  with George Langley.  

Week of  11/10 to 11/17 2024

We are getting a mix of our usual cool, late-fall weather and then some warmer weather mixed in just to keep things interesting, it seems. As anglers (and hunters), we want cold at this time of the fall. While it looks like we’re done with the 50’s for now, we really need some colder nighttime temps to move us towards some ice. Mid-30’s just won’t cut it! We need those 20’s and teens. Water temps are sitting in the mid-40 degree range throughout the area.

Walleye fishing is ok at this point. The fish are in the holes, or on the edges of the holes, on the Chain. This makes them pretty easy to find and when you do, they are quite willing to feed. Many of these anglers are concerned sportsmen and release the big 'eyes for next year’s spawning efforts. Jigs and minnows have been the best bait, and some anglers have gone to larger types of live bait such as sucker minnows, but most are using large fatheads. On the bigger lakes the fish are off the breaks on hard bottom areas in water from 20' to 35' (or deeper.) Again, large fathead minnows seem to be the most common bait.

Panfish action is decent for perch and crappies, with the crappies pretty deep now and the bluegill mixed right in with them. You'll find them off the weed edges or in structure, in deep water. The perch will be deeper than the crappies and ‘gills. Fish for both with fatheads or crappie minnows, but crawlers are still working for these fish, too.

Bass action has slowed and other than a few big smallies, we just haven't heard much from those anglers. If you’re looking, try some plastics in deeper weeds or structure.

Northern action is great, as usual, with a lot of musky anglers reporting catches of northerns on musky baits while fishing in or near weeds. Per usual, the deeper the weeds the better for these fish.

Musky action is ok, despite the warmer temps. We’re not seeing the usual patterns we do, as the weather hasn’t exactly cooperated. The sucker bite has been pretty decent and would improve with some real cold. The key to the rest of this month’s fishing will be cold nights – if we get some of those, that will bump up that late-fall feed that we usually see.

Provided the weather cooperates and we get a drop in temps, we could see a banger for the last few weeks of the season. Get out that cold-weather clothing and some hand warmers, and enjoy some quiet solitude out there. Hopefully we’ll see ice on some of the lakes up here soon. A person can dream, right?

Good luck and good fishin'!