Fishing Report October 2016

October 4-9, 2016

The fall colors have peaked on Woman Lake and the walleye fishing is peaking as well.  The fish are holding on traditional fall structures in 19-22 feet of water and daily limits are the norm.  It has been cold and windy but it does not seem to affect the walleye bite.  Water temperatures are now in the upper 50 degree range and the fishing are actively biting on most everything including leeches, minnows, crawlers, and bare vertical jigs.  The walleyes have been nice size, too, with most in the 15-19 inch range with one or two over 21" each day.  We try to release most fish over 20" unless they are hooked badly.

This weekend may be my last fishing report for the fall season as pheasant hunting opens next Saturday and my dogs are beckoning me to South Dakota.  Then archery and rifle deer hunting kicks in for me after that.  2016 has been one of the best fishing seasons I have experienced on Woman Lake for both walleye and smallmouth bass in the 9 years I have been here, maybe only surpassed by 2015.  I will be back on the water and hopefully reporting some fishing success as soon as we have solid ice in early December.  I would like to thank the many people who fished with me this year and I hope to see you all again in 2017.  The walleye fishery on Woman Lake is remarkably strong and well balanced, so I expect another outstanding fishing year next spring.