The cooler nights are finally starting to make things feel a little more like fall, and fishing should continue to change along with it. We're still seeing plenty of the late-summer patterns, but as water temperatures slowly come down, expect fish to become more comfortable moving into shallower water, especially early and late in the day.
Crappie:
Crappie are still being found around bridges, docks, standing timber, and other structure, with minnows and small plastics continuing to catch plenty of fish. Bobby Garlands and Crappie Magnets are always good choices if you're not fishing live bait.
We're still watching Greenbower and Rockhill at Berlin closely. Normally these areas would be starting to pick up more by now, but the amount of rain we've had has kept Berlin from dropping as quickly. We expect those areas to be a couple weeks behind their normal schedule this year. Once the lake level starts coming down more, Greenbower and Rockhill should become much better areas for crappie.
Walleye:
The Berlin walleye bite has continued to be pretty good. Trolling crankbaits is still accounting for a lot of fish, so Flicker Shads, Flicker Minnows, Harvest Shads, and similar baits are good options for covering water.
Casting has been producing too. Jigs tipped with crawlers, VIB-E's, and Jigging Raps are all worth having tied on. With the cooler nights, it may also be worth checking shallower flats and points during the morning and evening as fish begin transitioning out of their deeper summer areas.
Wipers:
Walborn continues to be a good place to target wipers. Chicken liver has remained one of the most dependable baits, while paddletail swimbaits are a good choice if you want to cover more water. Keep an eye out for fish chasing bait near the surface as temperatures start cooling down.
Catfish:
Catfish are still providing plenty of action throughout our local waters. Drop-offs, channels, bridges, and deeper holes are all good places to set up. Shrimp, chicken liver, nightcrawlers, and shad have all been working. Don't overlook shallower water during the evening as the nights continue to cool.
🍂 We're getting close to one of the better times of year to be on the water. The cooler the nights get, the more we should start seeing fish leave some of their deeper summer spots. Berlin's water level will also be something to watch closely—once it starts dropping more, Greenbower and Rockhill should really begin to turn on.