Fall fishing can be spectacular, and this is the time of year when northern angling is at its best. There are countless lakes to choose from, so we went to Crestliner Pro Jason Mitchell to find out what his top three picks would be for walleye fishing.
Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota – “Different lakes cycle with different classes of fish,” Mitchell explains, “and this lake is absolutely peaking right now. Conditions are great with water levels up, and it’s one of the hottest walleye lakes in the entire country — it’s just full of fish over 20 inches.” To score big here, he recommends deep crankbaits, jigging raps, or using creek chubs on live bait rigs off the ends of points.
Winnipeg River, Ontario, CA – Mitchell says he has high expectations for fall walleye fishing in the Winnipeg, especially later in the season because there’s a big migration of fish from the lake into the river. The shiners run first, and the walleye naturally follow. “There’s the potential here to crack the 10-pound mark,” he says. “This is a place where lots of very large walleye pack into a relatively small area. Jigs and plastics generally work well, as do shiners.”
Lake Kabetogama, St. Louis County, Minnesota – “This is just a lovely lake,” Mitchel says of the 25,760-acre waterway located in Voyager’s National Park. “It’s undeveloped since it’s located in a national park, and there’s hardly anyone out there. The fall foliage is just amazing. Fishing jigs on reefs and rockpiles you’ll catch a lot of walleye between 18- and 25-inches, and often a lot of nice smallmouth are mixed in, too.”
Naturally, we also asked what boat he runs for fall walleye fishing, and why. Mitchell says he favors his Crestliner 1850 Pro Tiller, and his favorite feature is the great control the tiller steering gives him over the boat. With a 90-hp Mercury FourStroke on the transom it has plenty of speed and range for fishing large lakes and rivers. And, considering how hot fall walleye fishing can be, we’re betting Crestliner pro Jason Mitchell might be spotted on his 1850 Pro Tiller at any of these three hotspots just as soon as the leaves begin turning.
For more pro fishing tips, read Jason's blog post on catching walleye in the spring.