Late-Fall Walleye Offensive Plays  WHITEWATER® Fishing pro, Tommy Kemos, shares forage-matching tips for cold water walleyes

Late-Fall Walleye Offensive Plays 

WHITEWATER^® Fishing pro, Tommy Kemos, shares forage-matching tips for cold water walleyes

MUSKEGON, Mich. (October 25, 2023) – “I used to hunt a lot in fall,” shares veteran walleye tournament pro, Tommy Kemos. “But I realized I was missing out on some of the best fishing of the year.”

While Kemos still likes to put a deer in the freezer, in recent years he’s spent a lot more of October, November, and even December on the water.

“When the water temp hits bout 50 degrees a lot changes. First, lakes have gone through turnover, and this allows walleyes to roam anywhere in the entire water column, from 5 feet to 50 feet of water.”

While he says finding fall fish can sometimes be challenging, he spends a lot of time shallow and generally has positive results.

“When the water temps first drop, walleyes start moving shallow in the evening hours. During the day they may be deeper, but I’ll start by driving around and looking at my 2D sonar to not only locate big marks, but find the baitfish, too. That’s the real key in fall,” says Kemos.

On a lot of natural lakes across the Walleye Belt, fish will follow shiners and young of the year gamefish into deeper basin areas, often congregating around transition areas.

What kind of transition areas?

“I look for where basin mud turns into harder bottom, like sand, gravel, or rock—what experience has shown me to be higher percentage areas for bigger fish. These fish do not stray far from the most predominant forage.”

“For example,” Kemos continues, “on lakes with tullibees (ciscoes), walleyes follow them into the areas where they spawn in fall and absolutely gorge on them—even forage up to a foot long. In Wisconsin, the big spawns are typically during the full moon during the end of November or early December. Find that and you will find big walleyes. Fish at night and they’ll be shallow, and off on the transition areas and basins during the day. Me, I prefer to fish during the daylight hours, so I go out and try to tempt them while they’re staged for evening and night feeding, not necessarily eating. However, you put the biggest creek chub you can find in front of them and you’ll get bit.”

Kemos will also cast or troll large Berkley Hit Sticks.

“Depending on the depth the fish are holding, I’ll fish the standard or deep Hit Stick; they’re both super effective. At night the shallow-runner is the deal for mimicking those fall spawning tullibees in depths from 5 to 15 feet,” notes Kemos.

But during the day, Kenos says it tough to beat live bait rigging giant creek chubs or slowly dragging or jigging them on a 5/8- to ½-ounce jig head.

“I’ll spot specific fish with my electronics and cast to individual fish. On lakes, I’m investigating points and humps close to the tullibee spawning grounds, which are generally shallower, hard bottom areas with a little bit of grass close to the main basin,” says Kemos.

Kemos says that if the lake has shiners and perch, the biggest fall-time walleyes are still going to hone into tullibees as primary forage.

Late-Fall River Play: Match the Young Sheepies

“This is going to sound crazy,” says Kemos, “but late-fall on rivers I’m generally fishing 4-inch Gulp! Minnows on heavy jig-heads for the biggest fish around. And typically, something in pearl white or watermelon.

And he doesn’t rip the jig at all, essentially dead-sticking it along current seams to mimic the gizzard shad and young of the year sheepshead big river walleyes are gobbling up.

“Most of the biggest walleyes are actually eating small sheepshead, because as the water cools down, sheepshead metabolism slows way down and they get super slow and easy to eat. They just kind of drift along bottom, not really even swimming.”

So, Kemos’ theory is dead-sticking a big Gulp! Minnow on a heavy jig mimics this easy food source.

“I’ll just let the plastic tap bottom and give it a pretty good pop and hold it completely still. Depending on the current, I’ll hold the bait anywhere from six inches to 3 feet off bottom. You don’t have to move it at all; big walleyes will come up and absolutely annihilate the jig. It goes against everything that we know about jig fishing, but it’s deadly some fall days,” offers Kemos.

In terms of rod, reel, and line set-up, Kemos is a big fan of medium power, extra-fast action rods.

“Without even touching the reel handle I can lift the rod ever so slightly and follow the bottom contour. So, as it gets deeper and shallower, I’ve got more room to work with the longer rod. It also gives you a little bit more room for good hooksets with the larger jigs, which you really need to drive home.”

Staying Warm for Late-Season Walleyes

“If it’s colder than 50 degrees, I put on the WHITEWATER Great Lakes suit on over the Tamer suit. I’ll also add the WHITEWATER Torque heated vest. What I really like about the heated vest is that it’s versatile. Some fall days it’s 20 degrees in the morning and then by two o’clock it’s 60. With the push of a button, you can adjust your comfort level—or not even engage it at all. I’ve found that if you keep your core warm, your body’s warm.”

WHITEWATER Tamer Softshell Jacket

• Windproof breathable softshell polyester stretch fabric
• DWR treated to repel moisture
• 3-piece hood adjustable for fit
• Sleeve, chest & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility
• Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor and shallow water anchor fobs)
• Two waist pockets & a welded chest pocket to keep gear dry
• Sleeve insert with a built-in thumbhole opening for security
• Jacket comes in Grayish “Shade” w/black accents (270)

MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3XL)

WHITEWATER Tamer Fishing Bib

• Windproof breathable softshell polyester stretch fabric
• DWR treated to repel moisture
• Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility
• Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor and shallow water anchor fobs)
• Three pockets (2 cargo, 1 chest) to keep gear dry
• Covered leg zippers for easy dressing over boots
• Adjustable silicone suspenders with grip
• Bib comes in black “Charcoal”

MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3XL)

WHITEWATER Buoy Fishing Hoodie

• Comfortable, durable cotton/poly blend
• DWR treated to repel moisture
• Adjustable shock cord & locks for hood adjustments
• Front & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility
• Zip closure kangaroo pouch pocket
• Rig knit cuff and waist for a secure fit
• Hoodie comes in black “Charcoal”; Breaker Blue; and Buoy Red

MSRP: $99.99 (SM-3XL)

WHITEWATER Great Lakes Jacket

• Waterproof/windproof 20k/20k lamination & heat-taped seams to keep you dry
• Durable mini-ripstop 4-way stretch nylon with a polyester lining
• 3-piece hood with multiple adjustment points
• Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility
• Sewn-in D-ring for a safety cord
• Four storage pockets (2 waist, 2 chest) with covered openings
• Two handwarmer pockets with YKK® AquaGuard® waterproof zippers
• Hook and loop cuff adjustments for a secure fit
• Jacket comes in: Buoy Red w/black accents (273); Grayish “Shade” w/black accents (270); and all-black “Charcoal” (099)

MSRP: $269.99 (SM-3X)

WHITEWATER Great Lakes Bib

• Waterproof/windproof 20k/20k lamination & heat-taped seams to keep you dry
• Durable mini-ripstop 4-way stretch nylon with a polyester lining
• Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility
• Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor/shallow-water anchor remote fobs)
• Dual Velcro® waist adjustments
• Three pockets (2 cargo, 2 chest) to keep gear dry
• Two handwarmer pockets with YKK® AquaGuard® waterproof zippers
• Leg zippers with storm flats and snap closures to keep feet ankles/feet dry
• Adjustable suspenders with silicone grip to stay in place
• Bib comes in: all-gray “Shade” (270); and all-black “Charcoal” (099)

MSRP: $269.99 (SM-3X)

Torque Insulated Heated Vest:

• One touch button delivers three levels of heat on-demand via a built-in USB power cable in the pocket
• DWR treated nylon shell repels moisture
• Reflective logo touchpoints for visibility
• Smooth polyester lining
• 80g Primaloft Silver insulation for warmth
• Lycra binding for a snug fit
• Three pockets for storage (1 chest, 2 waist)

5V/2A power bank sold separately

MSRP $219.99

ABOUT WHITEWATER

Whitewater performance fishing apparel gives anglers distinct advantages whenever Mother Nature’s unpredictability conspires to ruin angling adventures. Whether faced with wind, rain, snow, sun, or extreme temperatures, Whitewater apparel equips anglers with the ability and confidence to overcome the elements, so they apply their focus and energies on fighting fish, not the conditions. Whitewater is a brand by Nexus Outdoors, headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan, USA. Learn more and order at whitewaterfish.com.