While it seems this species is always in a transition, there are periods during the year when walleyes can be easily profiled and plenty of fish can be caught. It's about timing, but then that's always the situation when it comes to fishing, especially when you're fishing for walleyes.

For more information about Lake of the Woods charters, go online to www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com.

BASSWOOD LAKE
Crow Wing County
Autumn's cooler nights and lower sun have water temperatures dropping and the suspended walleyes return to the shallows to fatten up for the long winter ahead. On lakes that have tullibees, you can count on the walleyes moving shallower because the forage base spawns in the fall on shallow rubble near vegetation and that's where the walleyes will be. It's a good time to be on a lake that doesn't get much fishing pressure and has plenty of tullibees, like Basswood Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

"October is the perfect month for this trip," Johnson said. "Not only are there lots of nice walleyes in 6 to 12 feet of water, but grouse season is open, so you can get in some hunting as well as fishing."