EAGLE RIVER CHAIN
The Eagle River Chain has long been a favorite destination. Covering 3,600 acres, the 11-acre chain produces quality fish of all species. It's one of those places where boat traffic may pose a problem, but after Labor Day, anglers usually have the water to themselves.

"The same fishing patterns prevail on all the lakes of the Eagle Chain," guide Mat Hegy said. "The muskie action is consistent from Labor Day through ice-up. Early in September, muskies roam the weedlines with bucktails being the bait of choice. On occasion, there may be a good surface bait bite. By the end of September, Hegy moves from the weedline and casts 6- to 8-inch twitch baits and jerkbaits along the 10-foot breakline. Hegy also suggests fishing suckers on quick-strike rigs.

The key to catching walleyes in the early fall is to fish the weeds in the evening and the deeper breaklines during the day. After Labor Day, use a jig and leech or a jig and night crawler. The top jig colors are chartreuse, orange, white or plain leadhead. Once the water temperature begins to drop, switch over to a jig and fathead minnow. When the water temperature drops below 40 degrees, walleyes migrate to deep holes.

There is also a good fall panfish bite on the Eagle Chain with activity centered on the weeds. For crappies, use a small slip-bobber and a small minnow. Use the same slip-bobber rig tipped with a piece of night crawler to yield bluegills. Cast the weeds with spinners and shallow-running crankbaits and you may connect with a nice northern pike. For additional fishing information, call guide Mat Hegy at (715) 571-7544, and for lodging, contact the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce at (800) 359-6315 or www.eagleriver.org.

MOOSE LAKE & LAC COURTE OREILLES
Dark water flowages are legendary for producing muskies, walleyes and crappies, and Moose Lake in northern Sawyer County fits the mold.

Guide John Myhre lives on the flowage and fishes it extensively.

"Moose Lake has good number of muskies in the 40-inch class, lots of walleyes and slab crappies," he said.

Most of the 1,670-acre flowage is less than 10 feet deep but has ample structure, including weeds, stumps, cribs and rocks. Special fishing regulations include a 40-inch size limit on muskies, a 10-fish panfish limit and a five-fish bag limit with no minimum size for walleyes. There are four landings on the flowage.

Myhre said the shallow dark water flowage cools rapidly in the fall and muskies adapt to the change in water temperature. In early fall, muskies relate to weeds, but by late fall, the action centers around rocks and wood. Moose Lake muskies eagerly attack a 12-inch sucker on a quick-strike rig. Casting jerkbaits and plastics is also effective, but because of the dark water, stick with bright colors.

Fishing the cribs and the main-river channel yields both crappies and walleyes. For crappies, use a combination of tube jigs and minnows. Use a jig and minnow for walleyes. However, when using minnows you may expect periodic bite-offs from muskies. Moose Lake is also a sleeper for smallmouths, and each year 18- to 22-inch fish are caught.