LATE FALL TROPHY WALLEYES
By Bob Jensen

Fall is a great time to catch fish. Most gamefish throughout the Midwest are looking for a meal this time of year. The falling water temperature is Mother Nature's way of telling the fish that winter is coming, which sends the fish into a major feeding mode. Although most of the fish that inhabit the Midwest's lakes and rivers can be caught right now, walleyes are the most popular with most anglers. Right now is a very good time to take lots of walleyes, and your chances for getting bit by a truly big one are better now than at any other time of year.

If you're looking for lots of action, you can't beat a jig this time of year. Jigs are good for numbers of walleyes, and with some additions, they will be appealing to the biggest walleyes also.

Start off with a Fire-Ball jig and a three or four inch minnow. This set-up is great for determining if the fish are active. On cloudy days or if there is some wind, check out the shallower wind-blown points or rock structures. A casting presentation will be best in the shallow water.

If action is slow in the shallows, try the deeper areas. Keep a close eye on your sonar to detect the presence of walleyes lurking near the bottom.

When the fish are found, and if they're willing to bite the Fire-Ball and minnow, you may want to change jigs to try for a bigger fish. Although lots and lots of giant walleyes have been caught on this jig/minnow combination, it might work well to try a different jig with a plastic body.

Try a Lip-stick jig with a minnow for the larger fish, or go to a Buck-Shot Rattle jig with a Power Grub or Power Minnow body with a minnow. The plastic adds bulk, which makes the jig appear larger. Larger baits will appeal to larger fish. The truly big walleyes prefer to eat one big meal instead of several smaller ones. In some areas, a Power Lizard on a jig is extremely effective for trophy walleyes.

Another trick that many successful walleye-catchers use is to take the head section off a seven or ten inch Power Worm and use that for the body. You're adding bulk and color, but no action, which is desirable in some situations. Be sure to use plastic that is a different color than the jig-head unless the fish are showing a definite preference to a particular color.

A heavier jig is often desirable this time of year, especially if you are working straight up and down in deep water or current. A quarter ounce jig is about right, but don't hesitate to go larger especially in rivers.

While other outdoors-people are in a duck blind or deer stand, or chasing pheasants, or staying home watching football on t.v., you can be on the water with a great chance to catch your biggest walleye ever. The choice is yours, but for those folks interested in catching big walleyes, the choice is simple.