Though the calendar doesn't say so yet, weather forecasters count the time around Labor Day as the start of autumn. Walleye fishermen can attest to the truth of that. Fish are no longer concentrated in their summer haunts. Trolling structure or fishing shallow weed lines produces fewer and fewer walleyes. Days are shorter.

Nights are cooler. The transition has come.It is as if all of a sudden, walleyes aren't where they were. "They're gone."As early as mid-August, subtle changes (that often go unnoticed) signal the start of the fall transition period.

Weeds begin dying, from colder overnight temperatures, fewer hours of sunlight, and other factors.Look for dying weeds, that's what starts it and push it. It has often been said of late season killer Walleye fishing that what a lot of people don't understand is that baitfish will only stay in those weeds as long as they are very green

. Once weeds start to die off, it seems as though baitfish and walleyes start to leave those shallow-water weed areas.Shallower, dark-water lakes enter the transition period first. Deeper, clear-water lakes experience transition later in fall. S

ome lakes have green weeds all the way to ice-up.Walleyes on the move can be hard to locate, so the transition can be frustrating. But, these fish migrate to predictable areas and gather in big schools, generally according to size.Once the big ones are located, action can be incredible.

What the fall does is it gives the walleye angler the edge all in all. You will soon notice that the fish are not spread all over the lake. They are in key spots in the deepest part of the lake. You can literally eliminate most of the lake, as you think about where to look.Where do these transition Walleyes go?At first, they start to move out to more open-water areas, sand is a really critical thing, if it's available.

They slide out to areas around deep water, like sand bars that come out from shore and drop to deeper water, sand flats, sand points, and sand humps.The best place to look for the elusive Walleye fish is sandy areas, especially in September. If you are fishing your summer spots and they aren't there, start fishing the sand."Don't look for walleyes in the deeper water, though, not yet. As the transition is getting underway, it's still common to find walleyes in 15 feet and less.At those depths, a good quality sonar unit can be a big help.

Walleyes may be so tight to the bottom, they're difficult to see, but not impossible. A really good sonar fish finder unit that measures and displays up to 640 vertical pixels is the ticket. Combine that with bottom tracking and the zoom feature, and you can often pick up on walleyes tight to the bottom.

Likewise, they may be on the very top of the structure. In that case, spooking fish can become an issue.The bottom line is this: if an area has the characteristics that should hold fish, fish it. The best way to check the shallows is to keep the boat in deeper water, cast to the top of the structure and work back down.

This is the time of the year to use live bait. Walleyes begin to move deeper as water temperatures drop toward turnover, which begins at 62 degrees F or so. Instead of looking for fish to be on top of structures, look deeper. They will be in spots like the sharper breaks or on mid-lake humps that top out at perhaps 20 feet, rather than 15, or in holes in soft-bottom flats where depth drops from 15 feet to 20 and then returns to 15.At this time, walleyes become more selective about where they stage.

They generally locate on a spot-on-a-spot. For example, if they are on a mid-lake hump with scattered boulders, they will be on the boulders. If all rock, look for the patch of sand. If all sand, look for the rock pile. It's time for a different fishing paradigm. Think where those big fat Walley are this time of year.Precision with regard to location becomes important. Because more and more walleyes show up on these few spots, more and more of the lake holds no fish. It's easy to be skunked if you don't pay attention to subtle differences on the structure. On the other hand, it can be a bonanza if you do.

You will find that once you find one walleye, you'll often find the mother lode of Walleyes. Where one rat is so to speak is the whole colony or in this case school of Walleye fish. As water continues to cool down, through the 50s to the 40s, walleyes tend to locate on structure that leads to the deepest water in the lake.

Check points or bars that extend out into the deep basin when water temperatures reach the 30s, walleyes that were in 15 feet of water in mid-August are now down 45 feet or more (where this kind of depth is available to them). They tend to seek out places where mud and hard bottom meets in the deepest water in the lake.

Deep boulders become fish magnets.The deeper water is warmer and holds food at that time of year. In shallow, dark-water lakes that have a perch forage base, walleyes will dig up lake Manitoba fishflies and mayflies as well as the other aquatic insects from the deep mud at the bottom of the Lake Manitoba Narrows.

In deeper, clear lakes, they may be at 70 feet and deeper looking for the minnows, whitefish and assorted acquatic life that are in deep and even more deeper waters at that time of year. Fish are on the move as fall turns to winter. Move with them and you'll turn cold weather fishing into a hot time on the water.

Secret Smallmouth Fishing Techniques by Trevor Kugler

For those of you who like to catch Smallmouth Bass this article is for you. I'm going to reveal one very effective technique that will help you catch more Smallmouth on your next fishing outing. Not only that, but I will also provide you with some tips that will make you a better angler as well. These simple yet effective tips are easily worth the five minutes it's going to take you to read this article.

For the purpose of this article, I'm going to focus on fishing for these bass in the current of a river or stream, simply because that's my area of expertise...river and stream fishing. If you've never had the pleasure of hooking and fighting a two to four pound Smallmouth in the flowing waters of a river or stream, let me assure you that it's as much fun as can be had while clothed! Catching these feisty fish in rivers and streams is a ton of fun.

Let's begin with the technique. It's really quite simple. All that you need are some small swivels, split shot sinkers, pre-tied gang hooks, and live worms. I'm going to assume that you're standing in a river or stream that contains smallmouth bass. Begin by taking the end of your line and tying on a small barrel swivel (size 10 or 12). Now on the opposite end of the barrel swivel, tie on a set of pre-tied gang hooks (size 8 or 10). At this point add split shots above the barrel swivel for weight. Start with two or three, the goal is to have your offering bounce off the bottom as it tumbles naturally with the current. The number and weight of the split shot will have to be adjusted depending on the current. Now simply add a live worm to your gang hooks and your good to go.

The goal is to cast your line parallel to the current, and then let it flow naturally with the current, until the worm is directly below where you are standing. Keep your line taught as it flows with the current, and you should feel it hitting bottom from time to time (getting snagged will happen while using this technique). With a little practice, you'll quickly be able to tell the difference between a bite and bottom.

The technique just mentioned is an extremely effective technique for smallmouth fishing is rivers and streams. It works quite well for trout also, if you're interested? Another great tip is to make sure that your on the water fishing when the fish are the most active. How do you know when the fish are the most active? Simple, by paying attention to the weather and moon, and knowing how these two forces of Mother Nature relate to fishing.

The final tip/technique for smallmouth fishing is to use lures that are as realistic as possible. I realize this might sound very sophomoric, but there are fishing lures that are more realistic than others, and using these amazingly realistic fishing lures will increase your catch rates, it's as simple as that.

The opportunity to be on a boat ready to catch fish, enjoying the beautiful scenery, and the camaraderie with the crew of the boat is the best experience in fishing you can find. Here are some helpful tips to enjoy fishing.

a) Choose a boat wisely. A boat that meets your needs and your goal on what to do with the fish you catch are the things to consider when choosing a boat for Hawaii Fishing Trips.

b) Choose the appropriate Island in Hawaii that meets your desired duration of the Fishing trip. For shorter trips, choose an Island in Hawaii that has deep water right near shore. These islands are ideal for shorter trips in fishing where catching fish will not take long.

c) Consider bringing tackle, bait, ice and fresh water. Confirm with the boat company if they will provide these items. Tackle is a set of pulleys and ropes assembled to facilitate the mechanisms for hoisting and pulling. Bait is for luring the fish. Ice is for keeping the catch fish fresh during the trip. Fresh water is for thirst quencher during the fishing trip.

d) Wear comfortable clothes that are suited for a hot summer day. T-shirts and shorts are the best pair of clothes to wear in fishing. An extra T-shirt will also be useful.

e) Consider bringing a baseball style cap for shading. This is effective in shielding the hot rays of the sun during the fishing trip.

f) Bring polarized sunglasses to see the fish in the water.

g) Closed toe boating shoes are highly recommended to use. They are made for keeping the feet from slipping when action gets good.

h) Bring food and drinks if the boat company will not provide these items. Cans are better than glass for drinks. Chips like Cheetos and Doritos for snacks seem to go well at sea.

i) Do not forget to bring medicine for seasickness. To minimize feeling seasick, take an 8-hour sleep before the fishing trip. Being fully awake and active before the boat leaves the dock will help prevent from feeling seasick all through out the fishing trip.

j) Eat a full meal at dinner and a light breakfast before the trip.

k) Do not forget to bring sunscreen. Sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher is highly recommended to protect the skin from the harmful UV Rays of the sun.

l) Decide before the trip on how to get at the harbor for the fishing trip in the morning. Either choose to take a cab or rent a car.Using some of these tips will go a long way towards having an enjoyable day of fishing.

Walleye fishing is a blast to fishing hobbyists on their own. But there are a number of people out there who want to share the experience with their families. Although, it isn't a guarantee that they all will enjoy the experience as much as you do. So, how should you plan your next Walleye fishing trip with your family and ensure that they'll have lots of fun too?

Some good suggestions can be found below:
1. Take a virtual tour of the site and see if there are other activities to enjoy. It's a given that you are going to fish. But try to check if the spot you want to fish also has picnic grounds, swimming areas, and restaurants. If you want to spend the night there, try to check out the lounge and the campsite. Are there enough things to do inside as much as outside?

2. Look for kid-friendly places. Some walleye fishing spots are true blue sports fishing spots. This means no kids are allowed. But of course, there are some spots wherein they are more than welcome. If you are planning to bring your kids along, try to look for a place where captains simply go out of their way to talk to children and teach them the basics of fishing while you, on the other hand, are concentrating on your catch. Only then will you be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

3. Bring food - lots of food. Regardless if there's a picnic ground around, keeping the tummies of your family full is always a good idea. Constantly complaining about hunger is definitely a sure-fire way to spoil the rest of the day. If they are famished, there's no chance that they will be able to find exciting things to do on their own.

4. Make sure that the spot is quiet, nice, and comfortable. Sometimes, people just need to break away from the hassles and bustles of their daily life. And anyplace that's nice and quiet is refreshing, regardless if they have nothing else to do but to marvel at nature itself. Bringing your family to a beautiful fishing spot can be thoughtful in itself.

These tips will definitely make your next walleye fishing trip a lot more exciting, not only for you but for the people whom you'd like to share it with. Keep in mind that an experience shared is always better than having it all to yourself.