Fall Harvest
Fall fishing and hunting has been a tradition for many in Northern, MN. Nature is offering up her bounty before the cold, crisp December days creep in. The Lake Winnibigoshish area has been offering up it’s bounty, and it has been plentiful.
Crappies are traditionally a focus for many anglers this time of year. Cutfoot Sioux and it’s connecting arms and bays have been producing great crappie fishing for those who are targeting them more traditionally with trolling techniques and vertical jigging. Anglers who have implemented forward facing sonar into their arsenal are capitalizing on schools of fish using both bobber techniques and other forms of casting with soft plastics or 1/16 ounce jigs and minnows. A noticing that I made over the weekend was the amount of crappies finding shelter underneath my boat that weren’t there when spot lock was activated. There are obviously many reasons as to why this was taking place so frequently, but one large takeaway was, the boat doesn’t always need to be positioned on top of the school right away. Crappies like other species move and move often. Putting yourself in a prime location and waiting it out for that cycle of fish to push through can be an effective method. Think fishing in an ice house. When they show up, you are ready! A few other lakes in the area have been heating up, and ones not to forget about it. Sand Lake near Squaw Lake and Bowstring have been kicking out nice numbers of crappies as well.
My fall guide season is a wrap, and it’s time to start preparing for this winter along with enjoying some hunting opportunities with my family. Grouse numbers are up and hunters all over the north woods are experiencing large numbers of birds.
If you are looking to book a guide trip for this winter you can reach me on my cell at 218-259-8893. It will be here before we know it. As of right now the initial plan for this winter season will be guiding on Upper Red Lake Mid November through early December. My operation will then make it’s way back to the Lake Winnibigoshish area focusing on perch. As spring begins to creep in most of my winter guide season finishes up in the Grand Rapids area with a focus on crappies and bluegills. Take care and tight lines everyone!
Captain Jeff Johnson
