WINNIPEG RIVER,
MANITOBA
The portion of Winnipeg River below the Pine Falls Dam at Pine Falls, Manitoba, remains one of the most remarkably consistent places in North America for spectacular walleye fishing during late September and October. In most years the fishing extends into November, as long as the weather holds.

It's not just a traditional river fishery. The river runs only about five miles before entering a large bay attached to Lake Winnipeg. In the bay, walleyes are caught by anglers anchored along the river channel as it twists through the bay, as well as by anglers anchored on rocky humps. Trolling -- over open water, but more generally along and over rockbars -- also produces here. Traditional lures include the #7 or #9 Rapala Shad Rap, trolled on a long line.

In the river, anglers generally use jig-and-minnow combos as they slip with the current to probe river-channel edges, and structural elements like humps and rocky flats. Trolling deeper-diving crankbaits like the Rapala #11 Tail Dancer Deep also triggers fish holding in rivers. This is one prime tactic employed by Guide Larry Snow, who prefers fatter bass-style crankbaits on this fishery at this time.

"Run the baits up current, as well as down current and cross current, over and along hard-bottomed areas where the fish wait to feed on shiners that have entered the river," Snow says. "Crankbaits often account for consistently larger fish."

Walleyes often enter the rivers in waves, according to Snow. "Depends on river flow," he says. "If we get consistent releases from the dam, shiners continue to enter the river. That's why the walleyes are here. Occasionally, we don't have enough water in the fall to spur a consistent run of shiners and walleyes, so it's best to call to see what's happening before traveling a long distance.

"Most years this is one of the most fantastic fisheries anywhere for larger fish. Lots of fish push past 10 pounds and top out near 14 pounds or so."

About an hour to the southwest, the Red River flows through the city of Winnipeg and often hosts great fall fishing in the river section below the Lock Port Dam at Selkirk, just north of Winnipeg. Some years one river's hotter than the other, at certain times.

Contact: Papertown Motel, 204-367-2261 (lodging and information); Guide Larry Snow, 807-466-2188.

LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER,
WASHINGTON/OREGON
Compared to the more popular fisheries on the Columbia River pools upstream from dams, the free-flowing Lower Columbia from Bonneville Dam downstream to Astoria remains a relatively untapped resource for consistent catches of huge walleyes. "The best bite period kicks off in mid-July and can last through October," says regional walleye tournament angler Jerry Spiess, also the West Coast distribution and sales manager with Lund Boats. "Ten- and 11-pound fish are common, and 14s, 15s, even 16s are do-able. It's an incredible fishery."

To put big fish catches into perspective, Spiess points to an August Lower Columbia Walleye Club tournament where it took 73 pounds for Mike Davis to win the 2-day event. And that was with a 6-fish-per-day limit and a 2-fish-over-24-inches restriction.

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