by Bob Jensen
It’s during the fall season when I often remember the words of a fishing friend. Many years ago I told that friend that I was going fishing for walleyes that night and asked if he would like to go along. My friend said, “Fishing at night is for people who can’t catch’em during the day.” I fished alone that night and caught some nice walleyes.
From northern Minnesota to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to north Iowa and to the Missouri River in South Dakota, some friends and I have taken lots of walleyes and some really big ones at night in the fall. Here are some ideas for getting in on the walleye action when the sun goes down.
The best trophy walleye producers will often be large, deep lakes with clear water. Lakes like this are home to baitfish like ciscoes and whitefish, and walleyes that eat these baitfish get bigger than walleyes that eat perch and shiners.
There’s another reason why the walleyes go on a night-bite in the fall. Those baitfish that make the walleyes grow big are fall spawners. They’re in the shallows at night laying their eggs at a time of year when the walleyes are interested in adding some fat to their body to get them through the winter months. Those baitfish are very susceptible to hungry walleyes when they’re in those shallow areas.
The fall-spawning baitfish will usually spawn in shallow water that is close to deep water. Shorelines or off-shore shallow sand or gravel areas will be good starting points.
In lakes that don’t have fall spawning baitfish, a night-bite can still occur. Look for areas with current. Go out during the day to current areas and see if baitfish are present. If they are, walleyes will visit at night. Also look for rocks or logs under the water that you could trip on at night when visibility is limited.
If you’ll be fishing from a boat, keep your gear …
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