Fishing Reports
3316 Fishing Reports
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Vertical Jigging 10-19'
Structure
Dam
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
46°
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Finesse Jigs
Structure
Standing Timber
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
52°
Bass were hanging off wing dams in deeper water with some wood.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
65°
Throwing sinkos on long points and slowly dragging them were key to getting fish to bite due to all the baitfish being pushed up shallow.
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Vertical Jigging 0-9'
Structure
Ledges
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
46°
Days are numbered with ice up coming, but with water temps at 46, we still have maybe a week left of open water fishing. And this is THE time to be out on the water. Still, the bite on the Croix continues to be tough with the bumper shad crop this year. Predators are well fed and aren't showing much interest in baits (live or artificial). Nevertheless, I muscled 5 walleye on 2 3/4in jigging raps long casted on the top of ledges in 8-10 FOW. They had tiny heads and plump strong bodies indicating they were young and well fed! 3 of the 5 came from an active pod I spied on my Lowrance Active Target. I got lucky and decided to record my retrieve through a pod and I happened to hook up with one. Check it out - https://youtu.be/EXOWRcfdnCw. The Active Target was an invaluable tool to search for fish and I didn't waste time casting where I couldn't see fish. I think I have one more outing in me, then it's time to put the boat into storage. Boo Hoo!
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Vertical Jigging 0-9'
Structure
Dam
Forage
Minnows
Catching with jig and minnow on slow retrieves
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 7'-12'
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
44°
Slowly retrieving the Rock Crawler along riprap banks. Also caught fish on Core Tackle Ozark rig with a Berkley Power Hawg trailer down the steep outside bends in the river.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Hard Swimbaits
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
45°
Slow retrieve over and around points.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Pilings
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
53°
With this looking like the last week of nice weather in Chicago before it really gets cold I had to get out. Fishing is already slow, but knowing they’re fattening up on baitfish, I threw a cold weather staple in a shad-like color as a last resort. Picture doesn’t do it justice, but this one was a FATTY. Had some shoulders on it. Hoping I can find more this week before fishing shuts down next week.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Docks
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
46°
Fish were holding tight to docks and shoreline areas where docks used to be
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
45°
Casted paralleled to the river shoreline riprap with a slow retrieve. I crawled the bait along the bottom while maintaining contact.
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Vertical Jigging 10-19'
Structure
Ledges
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
54°
This has been one of the biggest booms in gizzard shad in the Croix that I have ever witnessed. Consequently, predators have all the food they want and their bellies have been full all summer/fall. Fishing has been very tough. Yesterday was no exception. Despite finding fish staged in their normal fall spots on ledges, they were unresponsive to techniques that typically entice them to bite this time of year: deep trolling cranks, dragging small suckers, jigging raps. However gizzard shad are now balling up and not moving around as much due to falling water temperatures. The hope is is that as water temps continue to fall that the walleye bite will eventually turn on.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Swim Jigs
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
47°
Casting either parallel to riprap or directly toward riprap between laydowns.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
50°
Water clarity has really improved with good green vegetation harder to find. I sidescanned flats to find remaining vegetation and then casting baits through and around submerged vegetation
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Lg)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
54°
Found the bass on the deep weedline in 14-16 feet. Wind-blown points were the most productive. The heavy jackhammer worked well, but the 6” Final Copy swimbait caught more and all of the larger ones. Caught a bonus musky on a Spro KGB Chad Shad.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
50°
Lots of quality 2lb largemouth caught on laydowns with a chatterbait. Anywhere with wood and some rock seemed to hold bass. Also caught a few on the A-Rig slow rolling it parallel to stretches of laydowns.
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
51°
Fished rocky bottoms around points. Same areas where you can catch smallmouth bass as well.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
51°
Fished rocky points in shallow water. Slow retrieve keeping contact with bottom.
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Lipless Crankbaits
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
52°
Slow yoyo retrieve keeping contact with bottom.
