Minnesota Fall Turn Over Muskies

(Photo by Chuck Beasley In-Fisherman)

Holy buckets did things change in hurry.  Last night I made a last minute dash to Wally World (Walmart) and I thought I was going to get blown away with the snow and wind.  It was awesome!  This kinda gets me pumped up for the ice fishing season ahead, but lets stay focused here, and remember this is the time the big ones decide to bit!  

Fall is a period when many changes happen with in the lake including the "Fall Turn Over" period.  Ok so I'm going to get a little sciency here and it might feel like you are in science class all over again but if you want to cash in on the fall bite this is important piece of the puzzle.

In most of our lakes in the Midwest there are three layers.  The first or top layer is called the Epilimnion, an upper layer of circulating warm water, usually no more than 20 to 30 feet deep, where dissolved oxygen concentration are moderate to high, then comes the Thermocline, a layer of rapid temperature and oxygen decreased with depth, often pretty thin, the thermocline separates the upper and lower layers, then we have the lower layer which is called the Hypolimnion, a cold, deep-water, non-circulating layer in which oxygen is low or absent.  

At some point during the fall the top layer, Epilimnion, starts to cool.  "Turn Over" starts when the surface water temp reaches approximately 50 degrees in which the surface starts to sink into the Thermocline.  As the air continues to cool the surface (epilimnion) temperature, a common temperature, between all the layers starts to occur.  With the wind the water continues to mix the full water mass.  Eventually the oxygen levels will be the same throughout the entire water column allowing fish to use deeper water.

So with most lakes turned over in our region most of the fish will utilize deeper structure for feeding areas.  Usually the number one location I look at are steep, wind blown, drop offs with deep water access.  Active muskies and walleyes will move from the deep water to feed on these steep edges.  When fishing for muskies in this situation it will require you to get down to these fish.  Two of my go to baits are the New Storm Giant Flat Stick and the New Storm Thunderbeast.  Both of the lures have specific triggering qualities for these types of situations.  

The Giant FlatStick (pictured above) is a bait imitating lure that can be used in a very aggressive manner with hard jerks and pauses, a straight retrieve, with slow soft jerks causing lure to work side to side and trolled.  The bait has flat sides that causes a super wide wobble, loud rattles, and is built tough so you can bang it on rocks, wood and through the weeds.

The Thunderbeast is a soft plastic with a large tail that gives huge vibration.  This is a lure you can cast out on these deep edges, let if fall, and with hard or soft jerks work it back to the boat.  The muskies just love to eat this lure up.  You can see more at Storm Lures.

So don't let a little snow or cold weather get you down!  Get out on the water, find a deep edge, and put one of these lures in the face of a giant muskie.

"Make a Memory"

Jeff "Breezer" Andersen

Reeds Sporting Goods Ice Catalog Cover 2010

Photo I took Featured on the Cover of the 2010 Reeds Sports Catalog

Huge Leech Lake Walleyes are Bitting

Holy Mackerel did we put the hurt bag on some monster walleyes on Saturday.  I had my buddies Dave, Randy, and Steve out just for a quick afternoon of fishing and it was on!  We were fishing Leech Lake in Walker, MN and man do I love this lake.  It's just that good!  I mean the wind was blowing 20 30 mile per hour out of the Northwest and it was tough to keep things straight but it was big fish after big fish.  It was so nuts that we had lines, motors and everything else tangled up!  It was awesome!  Yep it was awesome because the fish were smashing our red tail chubs!  Ok maybe the tangles weren't awesome but the tangles were only happening because the crazy wind and the huge walleyes doing battle with us.  We were fishing with Bigtooth Tackles Walleye Rig tipped with a Red Tail or Creek Chub in about 25 feet.  Our set up was the usual St. Croix Legend Tournament 7' Rig Rod with  Sufix 832 Braid and Suffix Flouro Leader Suffix Fluorocarbon Line.  The walleyes were scattered on most of the structure so covering water was key put it seems like when we ran into one there was another one that was close by.

Ok so I have mentioned this before but if you guys are looking for a get away you should really take a look at Chase on the Lake in Walker, MN.  Seriously there is everything there from amazing food, to great shopping, spa, golf, biking, bowling, and the best fishing in Minnesota on Leech Lake.  Check them out at www.chaseonthelake.com.

Picture time.  Here are several of the big ones we caught!  (Click on Photo for larger view)

Also I should mention there is a link at the very very bottom to follow my blog.  Please sign up so you can get all the updates.  

"Make a Memory!"

Jeff

 It took Dave 5 minutes to catch the first monster Leech Lake Walleye of the day.

Dave and Steve owner of Chase on the Lake with a double.  

Randy with yet another monster walleye from Leech Lake

Dave was on fire putting huge walleyes in the boat left and right.  Seriously! 

The boys even let me drop a line down for a little bit and look what happened.  Yep another monster walleye.  Leech Lake is on fire!  It's a joy to be a Leech Lake Fishing Guide when they are biting like this.

Another Double by Randy and Dave.  Look at the size of those Leech Lake Walleyes.

Steve with an end of the day monster walleye.  Come up to Chase on the Lake, get a spa, eat some awesome food at the 502 Restaurant and catch some huge leech lake walleyes with me!!! 

2008 Crestliner 202 Tournament Series for Sale

SOLD

2008 Crestliner 202 Tournament Series Powered by a 250 Mercury Verado.

20ft Crestliner with full windshield, 9.9 pro kicker electric start/trim and tilt (Low Hours) Minnkota Vantage 101, Minnkota Terrova 101 with Sonor also has handheld remote (brand new foot pedal), built in oxygenator in live-well, 5 optima batteries, 4 bank on-board charger, Mercury Smart Gauges, power steering, Lowrance lcx 113HD and 27c w/ gps, Splash Guards, extra storage box in back, travel cover, Ez-Loader trailer, Special Coating on Trailer, Custom Wheels and Bearings, 4 fish on rod holders, marine radio, AM FM CD Player, MP3 Player hook up, and 4 seats.

Boat is loaded and in great condition! Asking $34,000.

There is no doubt you will love fishing out of this boat.

Call me at 218-766-8048 or send me an email. I will try and get a few more pics up.

Click on Photo for larger picture....

Gull Lake Walleyes Brainerd MN

Yo! Just wanted to give all you fish-a-maniacs a little fishing update. I have been fishing Gull Lake in the Brainerd Area for the past few days and yep they are bitting. The walleyes are scattered, so my advise, is too bump up that weight on the Bigtooth Walleye Rig to a 1/2 once and get on the move. We caught walleyes in 13 feet of water and we caught walleyes in 45 feet of water. Move, Move, Move, Move, Move is the name of the game. I'm not really saying fish 1,349 spots I'm just talking about while fishing a certain area you should be moving at least .6 to .9 mph. If you do happen to find a school you can maybe slow down a little but it seemed like the old walters wanted the baits moving along. When we found a school of fish we would just make several passes back and forth rather then trying to sit right on top of them. We caught every fish on a Red Tail Chub and I didn't catch one. These boys put the hurt bag on em!

Guys don't get fooled by the hunting urge grab your St. Croix Fishing Rod and get on the water. The fall bite is on and this is by far one of the most scenic times to be on the water. Ha! and not too many pleasure boaters.....

Check out some photos from the other day. Bada Boom!!!

"Make a Memory!"

Jeff