The Season Isn’t Over…It’s Just Getting Good!

The first cold front of November has pushed through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, leaving behind a sharp north wind and a thin layer of frost on the boat ramps.

For most anglers, the season is over. Boats have been winterized, fishing gear has been put away, and most people have shifted their attention to the multiple hunting seasons Michigan has to offer, but out on Little Bay de Noc, the season isn’t over; it’s just getting good. This is the time of year when big walleye begin showing up just before winter sets in, and only a handful of well-seasoned anglers are prepared to take advantage of the opportunity.

Each fall, as water temperatures drop and baitfish migrate, schools of walleye push in from Lake Michigan and begin staging near their spring spawning grounds. For a short window in early November, these fish feed aggressively, packing on weight before winter arrives. This isn’t a numbers game. It’s a shot, a legitimate chance, at a 10-pound-class fish, and sometimes even bigger.

A Bite Built On Timing

Fall walleye fishing on Little Bay de Noc is all about timing, not just the time of year, but the time of day… or night. Fish can certainly be caught during daylight hours, but seasoned anglers know the real magic begins after sunset. As darkness settles in, walleye shift locations and settle into their nighttime feeding patterns. Fish that spent the day suspended or hold deeper begin sliding into the shallows. Under the cover of darkness, they become more confident, more aggressive and far more willing to chase baitfish. That’s when the shallow-water bite can really come alive.

Working the Shallows

As weeds die off in late fall, they begin to decay and become brittle, easily broken apart by wave action from heavy winds. This leaves shorter, less dense weed beds scattered across flats that were once choked with summer growth. These areas are typically found in 3 to 10 feet of water and can become prime feeding zones for walleye, especially when located near break lines or transition areas. These locations allow walleyes to position themselves and ambush unsuspecting schools of baitfish.

Once the weeds have died back, trolling is one of the most efficient ways to cover water and locate active fish. Small profile crankbaits running just above the remaining weeds are a tried-and-true method that consistently produces results. The key is staying high enough to avoid fouling the bait while keeping it close enough to the remaining vegetation to trigger reaction strikes. Planer boards are critical for trolling success because they allow you to get your presentation away from the noise and disturbance of the boat. That separation can make all the difference, especially on calm, clear nights.

Don’t Overlook the Casting Bite

If trolling isn’t your style, casting can also be extremely effective for these shallow water fish. In some situations, casting can be just as effective, or even more effective, particularly when fish are concentrated or weeds become too thick to troll effectively.

When casting, look for areas such as open pockets within weed beds, rock humps, pilings and submerged timber. Suspended jerk baits such as No. 10–14 Husky Jerks or Smithwick Rattling Rogues excel in these situations. Long pauses, subtle twitches and erratic retrieves often trigger fish that follow a bait but won’t commit. When casting, boat control becomes everything. A bow-mounted trolling motor allows you to hold position and make precise, repeatable casts, especially when fishing in the wind. A 7½- to 9-foot rod paired with a 1,000- to 2,500-size reel and 8- to 12-pound braid provides the sensitivity and control needed to work these baits effectively.

When Fish Slide Deeper

Not every night sets up well for a shallow-water bite. When the fish aren’t using the shallows, it’s time to start searching deeper. Typically, this means looking in 20 to 30 feet of water and targeting suspended fish. More often than not, you’ll find them suspended 15 to 20 feet down and actively chasing bait. The challenge now becomes keeping your presentation in that strike zone. This is where snap weights utilizing the “50+2” method or Leadcore really shine.

Snap weights offer quick adjustability. A simple 2-ounce weight clipped onto your line can drop a crankbait into the desired zone without the hassle of having a dedicated Leadcore setup.

Leadcore provides a different advantage. Because the weight is distributed throughout the length of the line rather than concentrated at a single point like a 2-ounce snap weight, Leadcore gives a crankbait a unique, hypnotic fluttering action. Typically, one to three colors are sufficient, depending on the target depth.

No matter which method you choose, consistency is everything. Being even a few feet off can make the difference between catching fish and spending a long night watching boards.

Speed Matters

Speed control plays a major role when targeting suspended fall walleye. Modern electric trolling motors equipped with autopilot and cruise control make maintaining a consistent speed easier than ever, but a gas kicker works just fine, too. On windy nights, deploying trolling bags can help stabilize the boat, reduce surge and maintain a consistent speed. They also provide another important benefit: stability during late-season night fishing. A more stable boat makes moving around the deck safer, especially when fishing in the dark.

Deep-Water Casting

Much like shallow water fishing, casting is also an option in deeper water. Focus on drop-offs, reefs and rock structure using glide baits and jigging-style presentations such as Shiver Minnows, Rippin’ Raps, Berkley Finishers and Jigging Rap-style lures.

For deep-water casting, forward-facing sonar has become a major advantage. Live or active imaging sonar can quickly identify fish-holding areas and dramatically increase your efficiency on the water. Instead of simply casting toward a piece of structure and hoping fish are there, anglers can now identify fish and make more precise presentations.

Dialing in the Details

On Little Bay de Noc in November, success isn’t accidental. Electronics are a major key to locating fish, identifying baitfish and reading subtle depth changes before lines ever go in the water. Once fish have been located, it becomes an equation of depth control, speed, lure selection and boat positioning.

Every piece must work together. Tools such as Precision Trolling Data can help eliminate guesswork and keep your presentation at the appropriate depth. Sometimes, the smallest adjustments can make all the difference. Letting out another 10 feet of line, changing your speed slightly, switching lure profiles, moving a few feet deeper or shallower. Fall fish are there to feed, but that doesn’t mean they’re always easy to catch. Staying confident, paying attention and being willing to adjust is part of the process.

A Different Kind of Reward

There’s something different about fishing this time of year; maybe it’s solitude, maybe it’s the challenge, or maybe it’s knowing that every bite could be the fish of a lifetime. Fall fishing on Little Bay de Noc isn’t about filling limits; it’s about opportunity. It’s about being in the right place, at the right time, with the right approach, and waiting for that one moment when everything comes together. Because most anglers have already called it a season, out here on Bay de Noc…It’s just getting good.