We’ve had quite the 180 from the mid-summer type of weather we had over opening weekend, the past few days have felt more like fall. I’m surprised the leaves on the trees haven’t decided to all fall off. After being struck with rainy, cool, windy days and down right cold nights it’s been a bit of a struggle on the water, the resort is also positioned on the West side of many miles of open water, mix that with 25-40mph gusts of East winds it looked better for surfing than Walleye fishing.
Picture below from L to R: Caleb Cohrs, Karl Pinske and Carter Pinske all from the Plato, MN area showing off a few of their many slot fish, every other fish seems to be 25 inches this year.
Despite winds and white caps buffeting our shoreline anglers trudged through unsavory conditions in search of golden Walleye, and while it’s never as good as you’d like it to be, they were biting. Water temps took a hit with the high winds lowering them back into the mid 50’s, about the norm for this time of year. The bite remains exclusively on minnows right now, spot-tail shiners are still available and they are the best thing you can throw at a Walleye, connect one to a jig and you have a deadly combo.
A solid 3 days of East and North East wind pounded our shores and with the gale force winds we had minnows and bait fish have little they can do but to go along for the ride, in return the shorelines on the West side of the main lake have been ideal areas to fish and will continue to be so for the next couple weeks.
Pictured below from L to R: Russ Havlik and Jeff Nagel from Cedar rapids, IA and Aaron Luehrs from Glencoe, MN – more healthy slot fish and a nice Smallie, we’re beginning to see more and more of them of late.
Finding Walleye this time of year is pretty straight forward – fish wind-blown shorelines, points, rock piles and any new growth weeds you can find, use jigs and don’t be afraid to get shallow, bring plenty of bait you’re going to run into your share of Northern Pike and hopefully some nice jumbo Perch. I would recommend getting into Sucker Bay from the West Goose Flats up to 3rd Duck Point, if you want to stay a little closer to home fish Marshal and Grassy Points they are always good for a few eaters.
The upcoming weekend has traditionally been some of the best fishing we see each year, we have guests that have been staying with us for over 35 years returning, and if I say so myself – some of the best fishermen the lake will see this year, it’s not uncommon for us to be cleaning fish late into the night. The holiday weekend works us hard, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Featured image up top is of David Beniak from Eden Prairie, MN and a healthy slot fish and a big smile to boot.
Thanks for reading
Come see us at Big Rock Resort
800-827-7106
Ray@bigrockresort.com
Ray
