A Fall Fishing Bonanza
by Gary Engberg

The cool weather recently has finally allowed many of northern Wisconsin's lakes to turnover. The best fishing of the fall and maybe the year is here on most lakes. I just returned from a few days fishing the famous Lac Courte Oreilles in Sawyer County. Lac Courte Oreilles is the largest natural lake in the county and the 8th largest lake in the state This clear and deep northern lake is renowned for its trophy size fish. Muskies, walleyes, northerns, and smallmouth bass grow large on the forage rich waters of the lake. The waters of Lac Courte Oreilles have all the qualities a big fish lake need; deep water, plenty of structure (points, flats, mid lake humps, rock), good weeds, and a huge forage base (cisco, trout perch, shiners, and suckers). Add crayfish and mayfly larvae to the mix and you have the formula for big fish.

My friend, fishing partner, and Madison's resident walleye pro, Tony Puccio joined me for this fall fishing junket. If the weather allowed, the plan was to fish Lac Courte Oreilles for two days before returning home. We decided to fish for walleyes and concentrate on fishing the points, deep drop-offs, deep-water humps, and any green weeds we could find. We also cruised the main lake looking for balls of baitfish on our Lowrance electronics, since the protein rich cisco spawn in the fall on Lac Courte Oreilles. Finding baitfish is the key at any time of the year to finding gamefish. The rule of thumb is that if you find the forage fish ( bait) the walleyes and other fish are close by.

On day one, the weather cooperated. By the time we got on the water, the temperature was in the high 40's with cloudy skies and a light wind. The forecast was for temperatures in the 50's and possible clearing in the afternoon. The technique Tony and I used was basically the same used in the spring. We had medium spinning tackle ( G. Loomis rods and Daiwa reels ) spooled with 8 pound mono ( Stren for me ) and Berkley Fireline for Tony. The rod I held in my hand, I jigged a Bait Rigs Oddball jig tipped with a 4 or 5 inch sucker minnow. I tried to keep my line as vertical as possible tapping the bottom constantly. The other rod was placed in a rod holder as the "dead rod ". This rod was rigged with a 2/0 sharp VMC hook, a 6 to 8 foot snell of fluorocarbon line (it's invisible) tied to a barrel swivel, and a sliding slip sinker above. This too was baited with a large minnow. 

We drifted over the drop-offs, points, and humps. Tony was on the bowmount trolling motor slowing us down and making sure our drifts were not too fast Areas we fished were; the north point out of Muskie Bay, Moccasin Point, Wismo Bar and Point, Kentucky Bar, Walleye Bar, Deep Bar, and Point of Pines. Tony and I fished these spots and found that the fish were scattered as often happens after turnover, when the water temperature is constant from top to bottom. We caught small walleyes and northerns here and there, but nothing to get excited about.

I periodically thought that we should be muskie fishing. Lac Courte Oreilles has a minimum size for muskies at 50". There are huge ski's here with a 60 pound fish caught in the 1940's. Many hard core muskie anglers come to this lake in the fall just to fish for big muskies. The cisco forage has a reputation for producing big fish. The cisco's fall spawning is another reason why anglers target muskies. The big fish can also be anywhere this time of year. You may find fish deep and shallow. If you find green weeds, either shallow or deep, cast jerkbaits ( Smithy's, Eddie's ) or crankbaits ( Cranes, Smithy's, Depth Raiders ) Trolling cranks is allowed and is a major way to catch suspended muskies over deep- water. And, always have a sucker or two with a Bait Rigs Quick Set rig by the boat for follow ups.

Finally, while fishing a hump near Center Bar, we found fish, but not the walleyes we had targeted. Tony got the first bite and after letting the fish take the big minnow, he set the hook on what looked like a big fish. After a good fight, I netted a chunky 3 pound smallmouth This wasn't what we planned, but neither of us cared because smallmouth are a gas to catch. We caught smallie after smallie with the smallest being 18" and the largest over 21". Anyone would be thrilled catching 5 pound plus smallmouth. One would think walleyes would be in the same neighborhood as the smallmouth, but they weren't. We cotinued to move around and fish other spots, but the bass off the Center Bar were the only willing biters besides the constant northern pike action which was everywhere.

On day two, the weather changed drastically. The temperature dropped and the wind switched to the northeast. Three-foot waves were the norm, so we tried trolling in calmer areas without much success. The high winds made it impossible to fish most spots and use the methods we had the day before. By late afternoon, we had enough and pulled the boat out and started the drive home.

Walleyes were what we had targeted, but the hot smallmouth bite had saved the day and trip. I always knew Lac Courte Oreilles produced huge muskies and trophy walleyes, but now I know it has hawg smallmouth too.

There are three good boat landings on the lake and plenty of top-notch guides. This lake will continue to produce till freeze-up or November 30th, the season closing day. If it's muskies, walleyes, northerns, or bass Lac Courte Oreilles has them this fall for the hardy angler.