It certainly has been beautiful out there. I was wrong several weeks ago when I predicted the color was coming early, but it was right on time. 

The bad thing is that the autumn color doesn’t last long enough.The recent rain has knocked some leaves down and lets us know that the end is coming. The next color, unfortunately, will be white. 

The tremendously warm fall weather has actually raised the water temperatures on some lakes and now ranges from 64 to 70 degrees. A number of smaller lakes have concluded the process of turnover and may again if we experience a hard cold front. As it cools now, if your lake is green, that’s turnover. The big clear lakes like North Twin will turn dark also during this event.

Walleye fishing is good right now. The fish are moving deeper. On the Chain, look for fish in the 15- to 18-foot range as they near the holes, which are now worth fishing. Jigs and minnows are the best bait now. Use an eighth-ounce jig unless it’s windy. There are good quantities of fish in these areas and a few nicer fish are being caught. The deeper lakes also have fish moving deeper. There fish can go as deep as 35 feet. One place to check out on these lakes, especially in the evening, is deep rock bars.

Muskie fishing has been very good lately, with good numbers of fish reported on the Eagle River Chain. They are very shallow, even in the slop, with this warm weather. Some very nice fish have been caught in the area with suckers. The great fishing is coming with a temperature drop, and it will result in the best fishing of the year for the big ones.

Bass are still hitting, with smallies being very active in deeper water. Jigs and minnows or paddle tails will give you good results. Largemouths are slowing down as the water temp drops, but are still using cover, but deeper. 

Northerns are hitting well in the weeds. Try some Mepps No. 3 for best results. Also try sucker minnows under slip bobbers at different depths as live bait.

Panfish anglers are putting away their equipment and getting ready for ice fishing. We do see a few perch anglers fishing in the weeds, and some crappie anglers fishing over the cribs, but that’s about it.

It’s time for that last color cruise on area lakes!

Good luck and good fishin’.