Targeting the right weeds, at the right times, for fall walleye, pike, and perch: Part 1, the day bite
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Both casual anglers and walleye purists recognize that fall provides some of the most consistent walleye fishing of the season. Shortening days and falling water temperatures trigger an instinctive feeding binge from walleyes and perch, as they build reserves for the long winter months and collect the calories needed for the development and maturation of reproductive tissues. Many anglers fishing natural lakes capitalize on a strong weed bite at this time of year, but choosing the right weeds at the right time of day will help you put more fish, and bigger fish, in the boat. In this article, I will illustrate how you can use your Humminbird Side Imaging fishing system to identify the most productive weeds to target during the day, and discuss some simple techniqes that will help you keep the landing net wet.
Dr. Jason Halfen
Professional Walleye Angler
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This screen capture shows a weedbed in 5-6 feet of water that is in the process of dying back. All that is left of this formerly vibrant bed of coontail and cabbage are some scattered individual stalks of weeds. These remnant weeds show up as small white "globs", some with a prominent sonar shadow (particularly on the left side of the screen capture), against the blue bottom. Another feature present in this side image is the pair of dark, nearly parallel lines that run the length of the right hand side image. I believe these are anchor drag marks from an angler who had set two anchors (bow and stern) in an effort to hold position in this productive area...against the force of consistently strong fall winds.
Weedbeds like the one shown above are typical summer homes for baitfish and small panfish. As the weeds die back, these smaller fish have fewer places to hide, and larger panfish and gamefish are more readily able to target the forage species. One challenging feature of an area like this is that the larger perch, pike, and walleye targets will scatter within the remnant weeds, rather than hold on a well defined edge or other prominent structural feature. For that reason, I tend to use a small set of search techniques to find any concentrations of active fish, rather than limiting my options by fishing from an anchored position.
Jumbo perch will be found in decaying weed beds like this one, and one way to find and catch them is with a VMC Hammerhead jig tipped with a big fathead minnow. The hammerhead jig offers a very compact profile and short shank hook that will really cut down on the amount of weeds that your presentation collects. I fish this relatively slowly for late fall jumbos, leaving the aggressive presentations for other species. Simply lift-drops or even vertical jigging with a nearly motionless bait are both very effective for quality perch. Try the VMC hammerhead jig in blue fire UV; it's a real perch killer!
The best weeds for fishing under bright blue fall skies are typically not those that one would target during low light periods. Likewise, the weedbeds that you may have visited during the summer to find quality bass or panfish may not be the best choices for fall walleyes. Many anglers have read that decaying weed beds are the places to fish in the fall....but, in the absence of SCUBA gear, how does the angler identify a decaying weedbed? This is a perfect application for your Humminbird Side Imaging fishing system. Consider the screen capture from my Humminbird 1198c shown below:
Big pike will be cruising these weedbeds as well, snacking on the smaller forage species as well as undersized perch and walleye. These fish are very active in the cooling waters of fall, and subtle presentations are not necessary. When on a pike-specific mission, I typically elect to long line troll these weedy flats with relatively shallow-running baits, like a Rapala Shallow Shad Rap #7 (when the water is in the 50s) or a Husky Jerk #10. These baits will provide 4-5 feet of depth when trolled at 100 feet behind the boat. I usually select vibrant colors to help visual predators like pike to find and follow the baits; firetiger and hot steel are two regular producers in my boat. If you're targeting perch but having trouble putting them consistently in the boat, you may have a pike problem; solve that problem by pulling cranks for a while!
Daytime fall walleyes can also be pulled out of these weeds; just like the perch and pike, they will be scattered yet still actively feeding. To get their attention and trigger aggressive bites, I prefer to snap jig with Trigger X 4" walleye minnows rigged on a 1/4 oz jig. When snap jigging, you are aggressively popping the jig off the bottom and allowing it to quickly fall back to the bottom. The rapid motion of the jig will grab a walleye's attention, and the rapid fall when rigged on a 1/4 oz jig will trigger solid bites. Many of the walleyes in the weeds during the day will be the smaller, "eater" variety, although quality fish, like the ones many anglers target after dark, are also available.
The bounty of fall fishing is upon us. Use your Side Imaging fishing system to identify a shallow decaying weedbed, and then choose your tackle and presentation to fit the requirement of your target species. Ice will be here soon enough, so be sure to enjoy some fall open-water action while it lasts!
