Minnesota Fishing Report: Ross’s Fishing Review

Ross Hagemeister
Ross Hagemeister

Hello fall-time anglers and those of you who often think about fall-time fishing but never quite make it to the lake. Get here. Come to Otter Tail Lakes Country right now. It’s very pretty. Otter Tail Lakes Country is studded with bands and groves of maple trees and man are they a sight—all over the county. And there’s no better place to view our bright fall colors then from your boat catching crappies, walleye, or bass. The fishing the past few weeks has been second to none. Walleye continue to feed heavy trying to fill up but they have been insatiable. Use bright colors as the fall tinted water on most of Otter Tail Lakes County’s lakes has changed the fish’s visual cues since spring and summer. Also, don’t be afraid to use large minnows and baits. If you were catching walleye on medium leeches 5 or 6 weeks ago, those fish have since become interested in minnows that are 3-6 inches long.

autumn lake The water temps have dropped significantly lately—most lakes are seeing temps in the low 50’s. Search for panfish deep. It’s not uncommon to find them in 20-30 feet of water—especially in our smaller lakes where the max depths are around 30 feet. I usually try horizontal presentations to try and locate schools of panfish. If I mark some and don’t get bit, I toss a marker and jump into a vertical presentation. Unlike walleye and northern and bass who might want larger baits right now, I’d still recommend being conservative with panfish—keep jig weights at around 1/32 or 1/16 in deeper water—but that’s it. Check weed edges near drop offs for bass and don’t be afraid to fish larger lures—big plastics and big spinner baits etc. Get to Otter Tail Lakes Country and get on one of our 1,100 lakes and see fall’s beauty from the water, it’s really great. Good luck.

By Ross Hagemeister, Meister Guide Service, meisterguideservice.com