Summer panfish nibble. Fall panfish eat. As water temps drop into the 50s and 60s, bluegills and crappies switch into pre‑winter feeding mode. They’re packing on calories, which means: - More aggressive hits - Less “pecking” - Bigger fish moving shallow again You’re not sorting through tiny dinks — you’re catching fish that actually matter. They school tighter (easy to stay on them) In summer, panfish scatter across weeds, docks, and random pockets. In fall, they group up on predictable edges: - 10–14 ft weedlines - Hard‑bottom transitions - Deep pockets near green weeds Once you find them, you’re on a pile. No more chasing scattered marks. 3. Cooler water = better bait action Warm water kills bait. Fall water keeps everything lively. - Leeches stay active - Waxies last longer - Plastics look more natural - Minnows don’t die in the bucket Your presentation stays sharp all day. 4. Pressure drops — fish get less spooky By October, the jet‑ski crowd is gone. The “dock bobber” crowd is gone. Most anglers are chasing deer. That leaves the lake quiet, calm, and perfect for slip bobbers, tiny jigs, and slow fall presentations. 5. The biggest panfish of the year show up. Fall is when you catch the bull bluegills and slab crappies that never come shallow in July. They slide up to feed, and they’re not shy about hitting a jig. If you want your best panfish of the year, fall is the window. Bottom Line Summer panfish are fun. Fall panfish are better. They’re bigger, more aggressive, easier to pattern, and way more rewarding. If you want to fill a bucket — or just catch the kind of fish you actually take pictures of — fall is the season.

Fall is officially shifting here in central Minnesota. Maples are just starting to change, showing light reds and early orange tones. Oaks are ahead of schedule — lots of leaves have already fallen, especially on the high ground and wind‑exposed edges. Yards, trails, and backroads are getting that first real layer of crunchy leaves. It’s that in‑between stage: not full color yet, but definitely not summer anymore. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, and the woods are changing every single day.

SUNDAY MORNING MINNESOTA OUTDOORS Walleye - Bite has shifted deeper with the cooling nights. - Best depth: 18–26 ft on breaks and mid‑lake humps. - Best bait: live shiners (if you can keep them alive), or fatheads. - Jig color: blue/white, gold, or firetiger. - Evening bite still strongest — fish slideshallower right before dark. Crappie - Schools are stacking on suspended basins. - Look for 18–30 ft, fish sitting 8–12 ft down. - Small plastics or crappie minnows under a slip bobber are money. Bluegill - Still holding on weed edges but starting to slide deeper. - Best depth: 10–14 ft. - Tiny jigs tipped with waxies are producing - steady action. Bass - Largemouth are transitioning — slower mornings, better afternoons. - Best presentations: slow-rolled spinnerbaits, Ned rigs, and wacky worms. - Look for remaining green weeds; brown weeds are dead zones now. Pike - Hammering spoons and spinnerbaits on weedlines. - Good depth: 8–12 ft. - Lots of mid‑size fish, occasional 30+ showing up. Water Temps - Dropping into the low 60s, sliding toward upper 50s overnight. - Fish are feeding heavier — perfect fall pattern. - GARDEN REPORT — EARLY OCTOBER - 🍅 Tomatoes - Season is basically wrapped. Last of the stragglers are ripening slow — good for a few more jars or a small batch of soup. - 🥒 Cucumbers - Done. Vines are brown and finished out. - Pickling season officially over. - 🥔 Potatoes - Still digging great. Soil is cool and dry — perfect for long‑term storage. - 🧅 Onions / Root CrOP . - Pumpkins - Color is coming on hard now. Deep orange, vines dying back — perfect carving and porch‑ready. - MINNESOTA FALL COLOR REPORT - 🍁 Maples - Starting to pop everywhere — reds and oranges showing strong. Some spots already near peak. - 🌳 Birch & Aspen - Bright yellow, shaking in the wind. Classic October look - 🌲 Oaks - Just starting to turn — browns and deep reds coming slowly. - 📍 Overall - Central Minnesota is entering peak week. Next 7–10 days will be the best color of the season..

sunday 9 am -10. fishing report garden report fall colors hunting report see all of you there.

webinar was great. Monday was kind of for the new people. I’ve heard the stories before Tuesday was a good good show telling him exactly how he got where he was and how he did it.