The old saying   is “go big in the fall” for big fish. Well, that’s kinda true. Most do not have the guts to admit it – going small will catch you a ton more walleyes in the Fall – and that’s what anglers want. Pay attention Mille Lacs folks. The fact is, people come to Minnesota to catch and eat walleyes. After over 5,000 guide trips — that’s a fact! If anglers catch a bonus trophy walleye — great!  But, the majority of the anglers would much rather catch a bunch of walleyes verses one big one! If you want to catch a large amount of walleyes throughout a day — then go small. 

Each year, the Spring hatching patterns are controlled by weather, lake water temps, moon/ calander phases, etc. Long story short, even after a long growing season, the majority of baitfish are not that large. I’m talking crappies, walleyes, ‘gills –many of the species anglers are after. The baitfish these fish are pursuing are not big! Half inch up to two inches on average — especially now a days. Throw in a few 3”-4” perch and you have a plan!  

That’s why my presentations will usually out-fish most anglers five to one. I purposefully use baits that are 1-3” long — no matter what it is. The entire image/silhouette that the fish see (and we really do not know how they see things in the water) has to match the size of the baitfish currently in the ecosystem.  

As far as minnows go, I do not use minnows from early June until around mid-October. Then the minnows will come out. I’ve actually caught a ton of fish on crawlers with surface temps down to 39 degrees. Use your judgment. Remember, I am a fishing guide and anglers want to catch lotsa fish — hence my slogan — Lotsa Fish! Lotsa Fun! I know it’s not proper grammar. I did it on purpose just to make my college professors squirm.  Hee Hee. Most are dead now.   Anyway, even if I’m using a crawler I’m pinching it short to “match the hatch.” Throw that piece of crawler on a red hook and you’re golden.

The color red in nature means injured, wounded, easy meal, etc. Done deal.  This small in the fall theory applies to weed fish or deep fish. If you truly want big fish only, then use a 5-9 inch minnow of just about any kind.  Suckers are great, Red tails are over-rated in my opinion, so I feel Rainbow chubs are a perfect economic compromise. Active, hard to kill, cheap, and one “gulp” and the fish has the hook—which is easy for most anglers to be effective using.  

There ya go, gotta go watch the kids play football real quick. It’s simple, so keep it that way! Lotsa Fish Lotsa Fun!  

Captain Josh Hagemeister, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service www.MinnesotaGuideService.com, www.MinnesotaIceFishHouseRental.com, 218-732-9919, 320-291-0708.