Fall fishing trip questions

[paxcolt]

As I said in my post in Introductions sub, a couple buddies and I will be heading up y'alls way in mid-September for a week of fishing. We're staying just outside of Tenstrike and will mainly be fishing Medicine Lake there (not the Medicine Lake in Minneapolis). We're all primarily bass/crappie/bream fishermen, so I think we're pretty well set on equipment there, but any tips/tricks on specific lures or techniques for that time of year would be great. Since Medicine is all largemouth, we'll be taking at least one day to travel to a lake with good smallmouth. Our plan right now is to go to Vermillion; but if there are other locations closer to Tenstrike that also have good smallmouth fishing and have boat rentals available, we're all ears. We can catch 12-16" smallies here in AR anytime; we're looking for those big, thick, football-shaped ones that you Yankees are known for .

On to the fish we don't know a lot about: walleye and pike. I've caught exactly 1 walleye in my life, and never a pike; just their cousin the chain pickerel. We definitely hope to catch enough walleye to have for supper a few nights while we're there, plus have fillets to bring home. Some yellow perch would be nice, too. Crankbaits? Jigs? Live bait? Trolling? Any walleye/perch advice would be much appreciated!
The pike fishing will mainly just be for the fun of it; not sure if we'll mess with keeping any or not. My main questions there are lure types/retrieves, and leader material. I've read both that you really need a wire leader, but also that you can get by just fine with braid and 30-50# fluoro as a leader as long as you check it after each fish.


Beyond fishing, is there anything in the Bemidji area that's a must-see/do? Any restaurant recommendations? Any places that should be avoided?

[glenn57]

bemidji is a college town. only been through it maybe twice. maybe Scenic could give you some pointers!!!!!

[Boar]

If yu want walleye, give our pal cookie a call. Waskish mn

[Scenic]

Welcome to MNO.    The Bemidji area has a ton of lakes to choose from.  Fishing in Sept is an excellent time to fish.  I would be sure to bring warm clothes as depending on the year it could be cool...or it could be 80 degrees.  The one thing you will find in MN is that if you do not like the weather just wait a few hours as it can change. 

For boat rental I know some people who have rented from https://www.latitude218outfitters.com.  I personally do not know anything about them but they may be the only game in town.   

The Tenstrike area has lakes loaded with Crappie, Bluegills and Large Mouth, walleye and pike.  You will not be far from Blackduck Lake which is a great multi species lake.    You also have Upper Red Lake that has a large population of Walleye.   STAY OFF OF LOWER RED LAKE and know where the reservation line is.  

As for the smallies I would personally head north to Rainy Lake.  There you can fish the bays that normally hold larger Small Mouth and some larger saber toothed snot rockets (Pike).   Rainy Lake can provide excellent Walleye fishing with jig and minnow during this time of the year as well. For the small mouth I would be pitching jigs and plastics.  You will most likely find a walleye pitching for them as well.  They seem to like the brighter colors like Fire Tiger.  

For pike I would be throwing either a top water spinner bait or a spoon.  My favorite color of spoons is normally the Hammered Brass and Orange.   Spinner Baits I like the whites.

Walleye...you hunt a walleye such as you do a deer while hunting.  They are in specific places and at specific times for a reason.  Normally they are chasing food sources.  Again, my weapon of choice for these are a jig and minnow.   Favorite colors are Glow/Pink or gold.   Search for them just off the breaks or if it is a cold fall fish them right in the town of Rainier at the mouth of the Rainy river.   Keep in mind that you share this lake with Canada so stay on the US side of the natural river channel.

If I am fishing for walleye or small mouth I use braid with fluorocarbon.   If I am fishing for Pike I would. no question, use a steel leader.   They inhale their bait (lures) and have a mouth full of teeth.  

Fish have two means of survival.  Eat and not be eaten.   Find food, find cover and you will find fish.  

[Steve-o]

Maybe search for some podcasts.  I don't listen unless I happen to be in the car when these shows air, but they might give you some ideas.

I thought if you searched the archives for shows from last August and September, they might have some information that is relevant to your focus.  Here are some of the links...

Maybe some of the other guys have opinions on this radio show/podcast or have other ones to recommend.

Denny Fletcher talks about the fall bite and all things bait, Jim Landwehr talks about his new book, Tackle Terry gives more fishing tips, and Bob St Pierre checks in from Ely.

Mark Courts gives the latest on his fishing adventures, Owner of the Pronto Pup Greg Karnis joins to give an update from the fair, and Tackle Terry gives more fishing tips.

Tommy George give plenty of fishing tips, and Stan Tekiela talks all things nature including drones vs birds, seagulls vs franklin’s gulls, and more.

Tommy George tells more fishing stories, Mike Frisch talks bass fishing and his TV show Fishing The Midwest, then Tyler Webster talks about his podcast and his travels.

Ron Hustavet talks Game Fair, Stan Tekiela talks all things nature including bird drumming, bats, and Loon migration, Tackle Terry gives more fishing tips, and Doug the Plug talks about an outdoorsman superhero.

Tommy George give a report from Lake Vermilion, Jeff Anderson explains musky fishing and being in dangerous waters, and Josh Miller talks dog breeds and training.

John Devney talks Delta Waterfowl and the million duck campaign, Jon Thelen talks fishing tips and his shows ‘Destination Fish’ and “Fish Ed’, then Denny Fletcher comes to the cabin to talk all things bait.

Tommy George gives more fishing tips, Dave Sumner joins to talk about his flirty girty jig, and Aaron McQuoid talks fishing at Devils Lake.

[paxcolt]

Awesome, this gives me a lot to get started on! Thanks y'all.

[paxcolt]

The one thing you will find in MN is that if you do not like the weather just wait a few hours as it can change.

That's exactly what we tell folks about coming to Arkansas, lol.