I know we are just edging our way into the fall fishing mode but my latest results have been so up and down it seems that we are already there. The age old description of fall fishing being one of feast or famine has already been happening for me. A lot of it, however, is due to my lake jumping, going from one bite to the next, and not staying with a proven good pattern.

Here’s a prime example of my bouncing around from one lake to another. After a great day on the water, catching dozens of crappie and walleye, I switched gears and went to a different lake a day later. There’s no need to beat a body of water to death, even though all fish were released.

On my way to the next lake, I realized it would be too windy to fish it the way I wanted to so a change of plans was made on the fly. I drove right on past this crappie wonderland and headed further north to a great little panfish and walleye lake. Once there, I was a little surprised at the coloration of the water, which looked extremely muddy. Knowing I could possibly be in for some very tough fishing, I launched the boat anyway and gave it a whirl. I was right. It was very difficult and only a 4 pound northern pike committed to biting.

After two hours of nothing more, I packed up and headed home but fell prey to the lake I had driven past on the way there. It was still windy, maybe even worse, but my curiosity got the best of me. I had to see if the crappie were where I had expected them to be. Did the fall pattern set in yet or was I too early.

Bouncing through whitecaps on my way out to the main lake, I eventually came to a stop near a treacherous rock pile that was known to hold fish in the fall. Using a heavy jig to make things a little easier in rough water, it didn’t take long before I had a big crappie falling for the presentation. The next fish, another big one, came about a half hour later. Both were released.

It was slow fishing but at least I had my answer. Yes, fall fishing was starting to happen on this lake. A day later, I found myself trying another lake. This one has the pattern of offering good fall crappie fishing before most all lakes in the area. However, it just wasn’t ready and fish were very hard to come by. Fish weren’t settled into the deep water yet so a trolling pass along a weedline was made.

Using my shallow water favorite, a Northland Tackle “Thumper Crappie King”, I was inching along when I felt what I thought was a bite. Setting the hook, I realized right from the get-go that it wasn’t a crappie. At first I thought it was a piece of wood but when backing up to the snag I then realized it was “something” quite large but it didn’t feel like a fish. Stretching the six pound monofilament to the max, I finally got a look at my catch, a monstrous snapping turtle. The hook wasn’t imbedded but the line had wrapped itself around a back leg.

It took three attempts to free the beast, which really eyed me up throughout the whole process. Thank goodness for longhandled hook removers! It had paws almost as large as my hands and claws looking to be 2” long, along with a moss-covered shell.

The decades-old critter had plenty of power and quickly swam back to the bottom upon its release.

I returned to the super-windy big crappie lake a few days later and caught plenty of fish but most all of them were of the smaller variety. Big crappies were at a premium and I was actually glad of that, as two dozen boats were out there to take advantage of them.

Yes, it’s all beginning to happen. Crappies are going deep and grouse and waterfowl are starting to move about. Get out there and enjoy the Great Outdoors.