Fall fishing in the Midwest: what bites and where

What the fish do in fall

• Walleye: Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Crappie: Schooled on deeper brush piles. Fish small jigs slowly.
• Northern pike: Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays.
• Smallmouth bass: Picking up. Look on rocky points and gravel.
• Catfish: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.

1. Lake Erie (western basin), Ohio

Lake Erie (western basin) covers about 1,052,000 acres. It holds walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 62 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake Erie (western basin) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Oahe, South Dakota

At 370,000 acres, Lake Oahe is a huge piece of water. Expect walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 205 ft. Its bed shows two sheltered coves and two point drop-offs worth a first look.

Lake Oahe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota

At 307,000 acres of water, Lake Sakakawea is a huge piece of water. Expect walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 180 ft. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake Sakakawea today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Devils Lake, North Dakota

At about 84,800 acres, Devils Lake is a huge piece of water. Walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and white bass are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Devils Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake St. Clair, Michigan

At some 275,000 acres, Lake St. Clair is a huge piece of water. It holds muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch. It goes down to about 27 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has two point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

Lake St. Clair today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Leech Lake, Minnesota

Leech Lake spreads over 103,000 acres. The fish here are walleye, muskie, northern pike and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 156 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Leech Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Truman Lake, Missouri

Truman Lake covers some 55,600 acres. It holds crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and white bass. The deepest water is around 80 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Truman Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Lake of the Ozarks covers 54,000 acres of water. It holds largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass. The deepest water is around 130 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake of the Ozarks today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Vermilion, Minnesota

Lake Vermilion covers 39,300 acres of water. Expect walleye, muskie, northern pike and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 76 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake Vermilion today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake McConaughy, Nebraska

Lake McConaughy spreads over 35,700 acres of water. The fish here are walleye, striped bass, trout and white bass. The deepest water is around 142 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake McConaughy today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Reading the water

In fall the surface temperature tells you most of what you need: each LakeScope lake page shows today's reading, the wind and the best bite windows, so you can pick the lake and the hour before you leave home.