The fall-walleye season on Saratoga Lake had started out almost non-existent during the month of Oct. This was due to water temperatures that stubbornly hung in the upper 60’s and would even climb into to ‘70s during our endless Indian Summer. Past Octobers brought water temps down to the 50 degree mark which seams to define “fall-walleye” season, that triggers fish migration into shallow water, 5-15 feet. Once there, they patiently ambush minnows and baby panfish and bass. As this temperature drops into November and December, the number of walleyes and their average size GREATLY INCREASES every night right up till the ice comes in usually around very late December.
So far this season, my October trips were solo missions with me scouting out conditions and usually scoring one “lone-ranger” walleye, but a few truly large bass-both largemouth, smallmouth and panfish.
Friday, Nov. 14- was the first trip that I consider “fall-walleye” season truly starting, since the water temperature was consistently 45-46 degrees almost lake-wide that day. The super annoying weeds that were replaced and combined with fall leaves are sub-siding and Saratoga Lake is taking on more fall-like conditions and appearance. My fishing cousin pals Andy and Tom G came into to town to help me kick-off the “fall-walleye” season Friday evening and fishing was luke-warm, with us scoring 2 nice walleye on Husky Jerk Rapalas we picked up at The Wiggly Worm. The hottest thing of the night was the Lobster Bisque they treated me to at Lago’s while we took a break from the fishing mid-eve around 730pm since they still had complimentary docks in for hearty late season souls…. We had just a few other hits, both Tom and Andy just prior to dinner each hooked nice fish that won their own releases, special Thanks for Tom taking good pics both Friday eve and Saturday. On Saturday afternoon we managed to score a few nice chunky smallmouth bass on Bass Pro XPS blade baits, when an 6pm cold rain coming in soon ended the outing…
Cousin Andy felt fishing was a month off- which I concurred, and that this week things will start perking up. I plan to fish this Friday. Weather right up through Dec. 4 looks real fishable I’m thinking this Thanksgiving week will be good fishing… I will toss out an update Sunday morning November23…. Let’s do some catching!
