🍁 Just few days away from fall! Leaves are dropping, temps are dropping. This is the start of the fall feed. Maybe the best time of year to catch big fish. Fish of all kinds will moving up near dams as the water cools. The low river and stream levels may accelerate the movement as fish seek deeper water. Deeper being relative to the system, a 2-4 feet drop into a hole can concentrate fish.

🖥 Side note, I do have a NEW YouTube video up, more on that later…

📉 The river bite for me, all around, has been the worst year I can ever recall. Even with the walkable shoreline, finding deep spots or current has been a big challenge. But I did manage this unique shaped bluegill, which I caught a few days ago fishing below a dam. The water flows there were a trickle. This bluegill reminds me of that photo of a Mola Mola swimming with a chunk of its head bitten off.

Mille Lacs Lake needs no introduction. It is my favorite lake in the midwest to fish, mainly in from a boat, of course. I do shore fish it, but it’s not ideal, especially with the low water. In fact, I’ve only made a few trips there this summer and each time has been a near bust. Also, the boat traffic when I’ve been there has been minimal, not much fishing pressure. Be careful launching. But if you do get out there in a boat, it can be amazing. For detailed lake info, including verified catch data areas-historical stocking-DNR size sampling, be sure to check out the onX Fish app. I find myself browsing the web app more and more searching both local and other states.

Side note, I always find it funny that it’s called “1,000 lakes lake”. It translates straightforwardly from French as "thousand lakes." But it wasn't originally the lake's own name. It was named for the region ("Pays de Mille Lacs" - Region of a Thousand Lakes), and the name later attached specifically to this, the region's largest lake.

🥶 The first major cold front of fall can actually be a good thing, turning on the feeding frenzy. This signals to them (all fish) that winter is approaching and time to fatten up. Jerkbaits, like the tried and tested Rapala X-Rap #10 is ALWAYS tied when I fish there. Big smallmouth can roam shallow well into fall, case in point with this 🏈 (pictured below) I caught while SHORE FISHING two years back on NOVEMBER 6th! Air temp was 44 degrees that day. This fish was filmed cast-to-catch, check out my Instagram Reel on that one. I use a similar retrieve like in spring:

Loooooong cast-pull-pause (2 to 4 seconds)-couple of moderate snaps-pull-pause-repeat. Braid (10 or 15lb Sufix) to a fluorocarbon leader (10 or 12lb Sufix).

🌞 From a boat, on sunny fall days, I’d be fishing shallow rock areas (4-6 feet) with nearby access to deep water. The smallies roaming those will be aggressive. Shake and bake ‘em with the X-Rap and a ned rig (bottom) or hair jig (near the bottom). Three different styles of bait presentations that are my go-to’s. The first major shallow rock pile coming in from a big boulder point. If the bass aren’t up there, then I’d switch gears to that 18-22’-ish range targeting them with a ned rig first. Like a 3/16oz or 1/4oz VMC Ned Rig Jig with Rapala Crush City Ned BLT. Braid to a fluoro leader can work excellent. But I’ve crushed the smallmouth there numerous times on a straight 6lb fluorocarbon when it’s calm and sunny, just have to check the line often.

Game changer. During my latest YouTube video I unbox and test the Deeper Max sonar for the first time on the shores of Leech Lake. I first saw someone using an earlier version many years ago while fishing Lake Mary in northern Arizona. A guy marked a pike while fishing along the dam and caught it. I blanked that day and have always been curious about these. Was it a gimmick? I don’t know anyone that has one or seen any other angler in the USA using it. Most of the videos are either from Europe/UK shore fishing carp or fishing small ponds or streams in the USA. I wanted to give it a proper test on a big lake and in wind… Leech Lake. TLDR: I’m very impressed and caught a nice smallmouth from a far out boulder I found.

This thing is very easy to use. Download the app, connect it via wi-fi, cast it out. It tells you surface temp, you can see bottom hardness, it saves each session to the app with a “scan history”, and even maps in 3D.

Rivers. I’m still scratching the surface on the capabilities of this unit. For shallow clear rivers and streams, don’t really see using it. Stained rivers, absolutely, letting it drift down current to find breaks lines and rock. Marking fish is good and all, but finding out the exact depth, structure contours, cover composition (weeds) is just as important. Especially when returning to spots, I’ll know the basic depth and where the break is to most accurately chooser my lure presentations. And avoid snags!

Lakes. This opens up a lot for bigger bodies of water. I would be making different lure choices knowing the depth is near 25 feet compared to 15-18. Is there a sand to rock transition? That would be very difficult to find in low light or stained water, except maybe dragging a tungsten jig or drop shot to “feel” the bottom. Also, knowing there are suspended fish out there! Instead of just fishing the bottom, I’d be throwing a deep diving jerkbait to target fish in 8-10 feet over 25 feet.

Time Saver. Sometimes knowing there’s nothing out there… move to another spot. Like here:

Stats. More info on the Deeper Max: battery life up to 15 hours (GPS off), works on wi-fi (no cell service needed), GPS detailed 3D maps, 2.6 inches wide, weighs 3.31 ounces, works for kayaks and ice fishing, 3 sonar cone angles (7° - 20° - 47°). To find out more, click here.

In my latest YouTube video I show the road trip journey from home to a Manitoba fishing lodge fly-out, share border crossing tips and of course, the Deeper Max unboxing. You can watch it here on YouTube.

Currently working on the next video, which will feature Eagle Nest Lodge. My blog from that trip is featured on Matador Network. Big thanks to Travel Manitoba and Matador Network for organizing it!

If you made it this far, THANKS! Hope you have a great weekend!