Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

Like many Michiganders, I can’t wait for fall to arrive. It’s my favorite time of year, because autumn means hunting. Somehow, though, I still get to enjoy some fall fishing, too. It just wouldn’t be right to not wet a line with all the awesome fishing we have here.

As waters cool in the fall, fish go on a feeding binge. The end of the summer doldrums makes fish more active come autumn. Aware that leaner times are ahead, fish sense that they need to bulk up for the winter. Food sources are plentiful, so fish take advantage of these seasonal abundances to build up fat reserves to get them through until spring. Some species -- like Pacific salmon -- are fall spawners. They make spawning runs that concentrate thousands of fish in Michigan rivers. These runs are often short and sweet, so anglers need to be there during “prime time.”

I know that hunting is a favorite pastime of many Michigan sportsmen and sportswomen, but you owe it to yourself to try some of these fall fishing hotspots, too.

LONG LAKE
Grand Traverse County’s largest inland lake at 2,860 acres, Long is a bustle of activity during the summer months. However, once school resumes and summer cottage owners go home, the lake settles down and anglers reclaim the water.

Long Lake has a long history of walleye plantings, and the persistence seems to have paid off because it supports a good ‘eye population now. The fish average 16 to 17 inches, but ‘eyes in the 25- to 26-inch range aren’t uncommon.

Anglers jig with minnows or troll with crawler harnesses to catch walleyes during the summer months, and these same tactics work in early fall during the daylight hours. Because Long Lake is very clear, don’t be surprised to find walleyes in 25 to 35 feet of water or deeper during the day. The ‘eyes relate to the myriad of structure here. Sloping contours off the midlake islands are natural hotspots. An underwater point straight out from the boat launch off Edgewood Avenue on the lake’s northwest corner is another walleye magnet.

However, the local anglers know that Long Lake’s walleyes begin to make nightly pilgrimages into the shallows as the waters cool in the fall, and they produce an entirely different kind of bite.

“The walleyes move shallow under the cover of darkness,” confided fishing guide Dave Rose. “Key is to cruise the lake during the daytime and locate green weeds, and then work the edges of those weeds after dark.”

Rose recommended using suspending stick baits like Rattlin’ Rogues, Rapalas, Husky Jerks and other elongated lures. You can add Suspend Dots to shallow-diving lures. Rose said to anchor quietly and cast parallel to the weed edges. Schools of walleyes will move in to herd minnows against the weed edges. He advised using a light or medium spinning rod-and-reel combo with superline because the sensitive line is perfect for detecting the subtle bite of a walleye at night. Try the shallow flats in the bays on the west side of the lake, and listen for schools of walleyes slashing minnows on the surface.

Rose said “Indian summer days” are perfect to fill a bucket with some of Long Lake’s jumbo perch. Rose said the perch average 9 inches here, but there are some real jumbos, and fall is one of the best times to catch them. The perch schools roam the 30- to 35-foot depths where you find deep weeds. The perch can be caught on both minnows and wigglers. Try the flats off South and Fox islands.

For bait, tackle and maps, contact MC Sports in Traverse City at (231) 933-6158.