Fishing in October: What's Biting
The species with the strongest bite in October across the lakes in our guide, how to fish each one and where to go.
Northern Pike
Cooling water at 45-60F pulls pike back to the weed edges and shallows to feed on baitfish. This is prime time for large pike on big jerkbaits, bucktails and live suckers.
Try: Bucktail spinners, Large spoons, Jerkbaits.
Crappie
As temps drop through the 60s, crappie follow shad into creeks and shallower brush at 8-20 ft. Tight-line minnows or tiny jigs near submerged structure.
Try: 1/32-1/16 oz jigs with soft plastic bodies, Live minnows, Small spinners.
Walleye
Falling water in the 50s and 60s brings them toward shallower rock, bait-rich flats and creek mouths at 8-25 ft. Jig and minnow, swimbaits and crankbaits do the job. Evening is best.
Try: Jig with minnow, Nightcrawler harness on a bottom bouncer, Crankbaits.
Muskellunge
Fall is the best season: at 50-60F, big fish feed heavily on weed edges and points in 6-20 ft. Large jerkbaits, bucktails and live suckers produce. Midday is also productive.
Try: Large bucktails, Glide baits, Jerkbaits.
Rainbow / Brown Trout
As water cools to 50-55F, trout head to shallower water and river mouths. Browns spawn in fall; rainbows follow bait. Spinners and minnow baits are great.
Try: Small spoons, Inline spinners, PowerBait.
Full Rainbow / Brown Trout guide →
White Bass / Wiper / Striped Bass
Fall is prime. Schools push shad into coves and the surface, in water of 55-70F. Run-and-gun with swimbaits, spoons, and topwaters.
Try: White jigs and curly tails, Spoons and slabs, Inline spinners.