I am fortunate to spend in excess of 160 days per year fishing in open water. Spring action may be fast and furious, but toss in a strong cold front and a drop in water temperature, and your targeted species may end up with a case of lockjaw. Summer produces numbers of fish, but locating and catching those big fish is unpredictable.

The author caught a big Menominee River smallmouth. Photo by Mike Mladenik.

While I enjoy all my time on the water, it's the fall that's most rewarding. Gone are the personal watercraft and pleasure boaters and, most important, the big fish go on the feed. Fall cold fronts cause big fish to stack up and trigger a feeding frenzy. Of course, it helps if you are fishing productive water. While there are many places with exceptional fall fishing in Wisconsin, here are a few I highly recommend.

MENOMINEE RIVER
It's no secret the Menominee River is my favorite fishing hole and with good reason. After more than 27 years guiding people from all over North America and logging hundreds of smallmouths over 20 inches, the proof is in the pudding. When booking dates, my clients often inquire as to the best time to fish the Menominee and my answer is always the same, "While there is never a bad time to fish the river, the fall is the best."

An awesome late-summer topwater bite runs through late September and the further you progress, the bigger the smallmouths are. Catching 20 to 50 smallmouths longer than 18 inches is common. The best action occurs following a few days of stable weather and is usually centered around weeds; however, tossing poppers or prop baits over rocks and shoreline wood is also productive. (Continued)

After a cold front, the topwater bite shuts down and you must refine your presentation. Start with minnow imitation crankbaits to locate smallmouths, and then switch to a tube or soft plastic jerkbait. By October, artificials continue to catch smallmouths, but if you want a hawg, use redtail chubs.

Fish the redtail chubs on a plain hook or jighead. I have caught big smallmouths on the Menominee right up to ice-out.

The walleye population is good and like smallmouths, they also go on the feed. Casting a jig and minnow below a dam or in a deep pool will yield eating-sized walleyes. The fall sturgeon season is also popular on the Menominee, with Bear Point and the Hattie Street Dam being favorite areas to fish. Find a deep hole or river bend, toss out the anchor and soak some night crawlers or cut bait and you are in business. Anglers may also take advantage of the fall salmon run in the lower Menominee.

Finding a boat launch is no trouble, since Marinette County, Wisconsin Public Service and WE Energies all maintain access sites on the river. For information about lodging, contact the Four Seasons Resort at (877) 324-5153 orwww.fourseasonswi.com. For general information, contact the Marinette County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 236-6681 or www.marinettecounty.com, and for guide service, contact me at (715) 854-2055 or www.bigsmallmouth bass.com.

DOOR COUNTY
Finding a multi-species body of water is no problem, but finding a place that offers trophy potential for all species is a gem. Bret Alexander of Alexander Guide Service said, "The fishing this past fall was fantastic, and as usual we caught trophy smallmouths, walleyes, northern pike, along with nice brown trout and salmon." Alexander added that the fall bite starts in September and runs through November and on some years through December.