Fall Walleye & Waterfowl

[John K.]

Planing on doing some early research for a fall one week fishing and hunting trip.Looking to put together a trophy walleye and waterfowl combination trip,both withen 50 miles of each other.My first thought for an area is Lake Erie, Huron Ohio,but I am not sure of an area for public waterfowl hunting.Looking for any other areas that somebody might suggest for this trip,withen eight hours of the Chicagoland area.Thanks in advance, John K...

[AquaMan]

In MN, I can think of a number of spots that offer both, great fishing and excellent hunting. Problem is great duck hunting weather is typically poor walleye fishing weather and visa versa. However, I have done both on the following: Lake of the Woods, Leech Lake, Ottertail Lake (or any of lakes in the northwest area, too), Upper Red Lake and the Mississippi River down by Red Wing. Timing on the ducks is everything since the last few years the weather has been mild and therefore the hunting poor in the mid season. Warm weather kept the big flocks from coming down till very late in the season. Some still never made it down and are sitting on open rivers all over the midwest.

I would also check into Lake Sakakawea (SP) and Devils Lake. They have had consistant & outstanding shooting year after year. You can chase a few Sharptails and Ringnecks as well. Sak is a great walleye lake.. DL is better for SUMO pearch. Problem is you exceed your 8 hours pretty quickly once into North Dakota.

I guess I would start in the Mississippi River area and work north from there.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all begins and ends at the water's edge...

[CJHughes]

Kelly's Island has some great night time walleye fishing in the fall and also thousands of ducks on the lake in Nov. If the walleye are not hitting at night you can fish for perch and smallmouth during the day .I have never seen so many ducks anywhere , I don't hunt ducks at Kelly's but there are guys hunting them out of layout boats.

[esoxm41]

hello john are you on lunch , just checking the posts for something good when i found this one . stick to fishing forget the waterfowl. bye : kerry

[Backwater Eddy]

Fall & spring trophy walleye and waterfowl often peek at the same time in SE North Dakota, my neck of the woods.

I have not in the past guided for both even though I am licensed to do so. I concentrate on the walleye end of the deal myself, that could change this season with all the new interest in a combo trip. Walleye in the afternoon and night and feather bags in the morning type deal.

I handle the walleye and I am confident I can get you on some very good waterfowl shooting in the fall, or on our spring geese.

Your 50-mile radius specification is very do-able in my region. However I would prefer you shoot the geese that fly over me on the river and poop in my boat.

:D

Give me a buzz if you’re interested.

Ed Carlson

Backwtr1@MSN.com

Backwater Eddy ~ ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[Al]

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but 90% of the ducks you see around the islands in the fall are mergansers.....if those are what you call a duck. Don't get me wrong, there are mallards and other species around, but lots and lots of mergies and Cormorbuzzards. Somebody needs to rid the lake of those basturds.

[chadk66]

John,
I'm with Backwater Eddy on this one. Your only about 12 hours or so to Fargo from Chicago land and it is worth the few extra hours drive. Eddy is a first rate guy and I hear he's a pretty good guide also. The duck hunting in North Dakota is excellent, especially for Mallards. Eddy knows all the spots for the best fall trophy walleye fishing also.

[CJHughes]

Maybe that is the reason the guys that are hunting up there when I am fishing never stop shooting all day .

[Science Nerd]

Depending on how tight you want to stick to your 8 hour drive limitation I would take Mr. Carlson up on his offer. The duck hunting in ND is fabulous and will spoil you for much of anyplace else and public hunting is still pretty easy to come by although sadly getting tougher quickly. You should also be able to scare up a pheasant or sharptail if thats your thing. The fishing is also excellent on the Missouri impoundments with trophy potential. The only problems are deciding what to chase and which boat to bring. If that is to far then the Mississippi River can be great fall fishing and duck hunting. I don't know anything about hunting around Lake Ontario but there certainly must be some ducks and geese that move through and the fishing is the best. I am awfully envious of your trip whichever you get lined up.
Nerdy

[Backwater Eddy]

Thanks for the vote of confidence guys.

You are right the fall duck hunting is the best it has ever been. Spring and fall goose is great in ND & SD.

Fishing is always good somewhere.

:)

Backwater Eddy ~ ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[FISH4U]

I HUNT/FISH around the Erie Island a lot every fall.
I've done well on all species, walleye. perch and smallmouth.
I've shot my share of ducks also, fishing is more constant than duck hunting. Ducks like to fly ahead of major northern cold fronts. So if you hit it at the right time WATCH OUT plenty of action and a good variety of species, This year was a very slow year for ducks for us but we did shoot: red heads, blue bills, cans,golden eyes, buffles and a lot of puddlers.

try it you will like it.


good luck.........