Guess I will have to step up and take reset duties in the absence of Eric. Man I am sure gonna miss the commraderie you bring to the table.

Dudes, it's my loss, not yours. Last years event was top 10 in the most awesome category. I'm feeling it will only get better. I'm missing out on some serious good times, not to mention the awesome fall Mille Lacs piggie adventures!!!

I wanna see pictures!!!!!

I think I'm in the same situation as you are. Not looking good as of now to get back up there.

Again, if there is anyone else looking at these posts and wants to meet a great group of guys and learn a ton of info on Fall Eyes, and the crank bite , call and get a spot before it is filled up.

I had the pleasure of meeting Patti last week to look at her "new" boat. I see she's looking for a seat...any one of you would be very happy to have her with. Great girl and will provide some laughs for sure. She'd make any cranky ol fart grin a little.

I don't think anyone that needs an open seat will have a problem finding one. Last year most boats had 2 people in them, but 3 and even 4 is very doable, and there are advantages to having more lines in the water for this kind of fishing. And Paul told me his mac daddy trolling pontoon could handle 6 people.

I might have an open seat. I have one "for sure" and a couple of "maybes" in my boat right now.

Alright guys, it's getting to be time to buy a few new lures, especially with a big trip coming up. How about your top 5 for trolling Mille Lacs in the fall?

RR...

I am somewhat of a newbie at this deal, but I learned a ton last year fishing with PerchJerker up there. My favorite bait especially for the moon phase we will be in up there is no longer produced, but you can find em once in a while on ebay, for (gulp) 20 bucks.

For me here is the list:
1. Rapala Husky Jerk 12/14 in Orange Craw
2. Rapala Husky Jerk 12/14 in Firetiger
3. Rapala Husky Jerk 12/14 in Tennessee Shad
4. Rapala Husky Jerk 12/14 in Glass Perch
5. Rapala Husky Jerk 12/14 in Glass Purple Perch
6. Rapala Husky Jerk 12/14 in Clown or Glass Clown
7. Rapala Hucky Jerk 12/14 in Gold

You might have noticed a trend in the selections, and there is a good reason for it. From what I have learned the fish are going for big baits to bulk up for winter so they want meat, and lots of it. I have even heard storys of guys catching big eyes on suicks and Rapala F-18s up there too. The Husky Jerk runs in the perfect depth range for where the walleyes should be during a typical fall (6-10 feet) when trolled. Depending on how much line you have out, you can adjust em to get the desired depth.

If you guys can't tell, I am really freakin excited to get back up there this fall. Can't wait to stick a nice eye or two. From the sounds of things we might even be able to find some slot fish this year. Last year they were all in the 22-28" range it seemed. I want to win my dollar back...

Man this sounds like a blast! Wish i could go but with college and work i dont think im gonna be able to make it. Hopefully next year!

I got my Orange husky jerk-baits on line in Feb. I pd $7.00. Keep checking various places. matt or patt @ Thorne bros. may be able to help you locate some. It's worth giving them a try.

The baits that are likely to be hot will depend on the water temperature. If the water is still warm small shad baits and shallow shad raps are likely to the be the ticket. If the water has cooled past the mid 50's or for sure the low 50's then stick baits like Husky jerk-baits and Rogues are likely to be the ticket. It is almost a one-or-the-other-bite ...... if shads are working then sticks probably aren't, and if sticks are working then shads probably aren't. If both are working ..... well, then it's probably either a fantastic bite or a terrible bite.

I prefer big baits but right when the bite is switching from shads to sticks it seems like the smaller stickbaits sometimes work better ..... and a lot of that has to do with the depth and structure you're fishing. One of my best trips on the east side of the lake (near Appledoorns) in recent years was in 3-4 feet of rocky water, and we had to run small stickbaits because everything else would run too deep.

For colors, simplify things as much as possible. You need firetiger (I have had nights up there where I haven't run a color other than firetiger). You need a reflective pattern like clown or chrome blue. And you need a dark pattern like perch or black/gold or something dark green, dark purple or the dark orange craw color that guys have been talking about.

The baits I run the most in the fall are #7 and #8 shallow shad raps, #12 husky jerk-baits, and the rogue that is about the same size or slightly larger than the #12 husky jerk. There's other baits I run too, but these are the most common.

Hey Dave or Paul,

With the weather we have had this year and the lake already being cooler than it was last year at this time, what are the chances we will have low 50s by the time we get up there? I am really hoping for low 50s, but I really enjoyed the 80 degree high we had on Saturday last year.

When do you slow down from 2.2-1.8 down to 1.5 or slower? Is it when the water temps hit 52 ish? Last year it was 57 or 58 wasn't it?

As of last week the temps were still around 70. I would guess the temps in a month would be around 56-58 unless we get some nasty weather.

As far as speeds, it could be different from night to night. Usually with colder temps slower is better.

Rain will cool a lake down faster than air temperatures. An extended warm spell or cold spell can have a noticable effect too.

The colors, speeds, baits etc. I talk about are really just guidelines and starting points. The bite changes from night to night and many times it changes during the night as conditions change.

The point is, none of it is a guarantee or a sure thing. It's a good starting point and it's playing the percentages. But sometimes doing the opposite (or something else) with bait choice or speed or color will beat the percentages.

If the water is low 50's, 2 mph or a bit slower would be a good starting point. If not getting fish then try it faster and slower until you find something that works.

Polarsus-

You missed Rainbow Trout on that list.

Don't rule out Super Rogues, Thundersticks, and even some Original Floating Raps, Floating Rogues, etc.

I'd rather have a variety of lures to cover different depth ranges. Also a variety of lure actions/wobbles as indicated already (shad vs minnow baits). Rattle vs no Rattle.

Thanks for the info guys, I think I'm pretty much covered for HJ's and Shad Raps, well I have enough that I will only buy a few more, probably in the 14 size as I don't have any that size. Also I will look at some Rouges and maybe a #8 or #9 SSR or 2.