LVO Sportfishing Report
Hey there, Northwoods anglers, and welcome back to the LVO Sportfishing Report! I’m Tim Buffington, ready to get you dialed in for another week of fantastic fishing here in the Northwoods.
It’s hard to believe this is already our final report of the year—it feels like summer just started, and it’s crazy how fast the season flies by up here. What an absolute blast it’s been sharing patterns, tactics, and keeping everyone dialed in on the water with the Fishing Minute right here on WJJQ.
Labor Day weekend is officially here, and with the holiday festivities kicking off and early fall transitions right around the corner, there’s no better time to get out and wet a line.
Early Fall Is Bringing the Best Bite of the Year
As we roll into these early fall patterns, get ready, because this is hands-down the absolute best bite of the year across the board for all species.
Walleyes Moving Shallow
Starting off with the walleyes, look for fish pushing up onto shallow rocks and sand flats.
As that water cools, they’ll be aggressively sucking down minnows and plastics alike. Just like I preach back in the spring, this is the time of year I switch right back to paddle tails, and the Northland Eye-Candy Paddle Shads are tough to beat.
Rigging them up on a 1/8-ounce VMC Mooneye jig gives you that subtle, natural glide on the fall. But if those walleyes are really firing, don’t be afraid to upsize that jig head to a 3/16 or even a 1/4-ounce.
That heavier head speeds up the drop rate, turning that plastic into a pure reaction bait that forces aggressive strikes.
Gear for Snapping Plastics
When you’re snapping plastics, gear choice makes all the difference.
I definitely like to run a St. Croix medium-light, extra-fast action rod. That extra-fast blank gives you plenty of backbone for solid hooksets, but keeps a softer, snappier tip that’s perfect for popping that paddle tail cleanly off the bottom.
And keep an eye out while you’re working those spots, because those giant fall crappies will gladly hammer those same paddle tails all day long.
September Musky Patterns
Now, let’s talk muskies.
September is hands-down my absolute favorite time of the year to chase them. With cooler weather rolling in, water temperatures are finally dropping, and muskies love sucking tight up to the green weeds and pushing up into skinny water.
Bucktails, twitchbaits, and topwaters are always the very first things coming out of my musky box right now.
When I’m guiding with multiple clients in the boat, I always run a system: fastest-moving bait up front, followed by the second fastest, and so on.
Usually, that lineup looks like a bucktail in the bow, a fast-moving topwater in the middle, and a twitchbait working the rear deck to clean up those lazy fish.
It’s amazing how one day they want nothing but that burning bucktail, and the next day the angler in the back tossing a twitchbait is getting all the action.
I make adjustments day by day, and once the fish show us a clear preference, I’m not afraid to switch everybody over and run that same hot bait across the whole boat.
Looking ahead to later into fall, make sure you start stocking up on rubber baits and glide baits now—by early October, those will be the main players alongside those pricey live suckers.
A Thank You to Everyone Who Followed Along
Wrapping up our final radio broadcast of the season, I want to give a massive, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has tuned in and followed along each week.
This year was truly a huge year of growth, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the kind words when I run into folks out in public.
Even if we haven’t met personally, please never hesitate to stop me, talk fishing, or share a story about your latest success on the water.
Hearing how these tips helped put a fish in the net makes my day, and it makes all those late hours sitting in front of the computer putting these reports together completely worth it.
Fishing Reports Will Continue
So even though the Fishing Minute update will no longer be on the air for the rest of the year, Aquatic Arts will still be publishing regular fishing reports over on their website at TomahawkFishingReport.com.
While I won’t be doing weekly reports anymore, I promised Shane & Sam I’d drop them a report once a month to keep you guys dialed in on the latest seasonal patterns, so be sure to check them out during the off-season to stay in the loop!
Enjoy Labor Day Weekend
So make sure you get out there and soak up every minute of this Labor Day weekend with family and friends.
Share the water respectfully with all the extra holiday boat traffic, stay safe out there, and go make some lasting memories on the lake!
Tight Lines from LVO Sportfishing
And that’s your LVO Sportfishing Report for this week. Get out there, be safe, and enjoy another fantastic week of fishing in beautiful Northern Wisconsin!
And before you head out, be sure to stop by Aquatic Arts Fishing Pro Shop for all your fresh live bait, tackle, and local expert advice. Check out tomahawkfishingreport.com for live weather, lake, flowage, and river conditions
As a proud member of the St. Croix Pro Staff, I highly recommend keeping the Best Rods on Earth in your hands this season.
And remember, if you’re ready to swap screen time for sunshine and smiles on the lake, give LVO Sportfishing a call—we are here to help at 715-612-1090, or look us up on Facebook for the latest smiles!
As always, good conservation means great fishing ahead, so don’t be afraid to let ’em go so they can grow!
From LVO Sportfishing, tight lines, everyone, and have a great week!