A very true quote from Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple: “Time moves slowly, but passes quickly!” Summer sure did pass quickly! Wasn’t it just the other day that I was hitting the waters of Door County to start the season in early May, and now it’s Labor Day weekend! The good news is, don’t put those kayaks and that fishing gear away yet. September and October, and even into November, can be outstanding months to get out and view our Door County beauty from your kayak, and it’s a good time for catching and releasing those smallmouth bass. Door County is the No. 1 location in the Midwest for viewing the fall colors from the water. I’ve done it many times, and it’s spectacular. Pick a day with light winds, and you have dozens of great locations to paddle and enjoy the beauty!
I’ve talked about this in the past, but as we got into summer, many of the bigger smallies went deeper, which is a challenge for anglers in boats or kayaks. However, as the water cools, those smallies begin to come back into shallower water. Probably not as shallow as in the spring, but in a normal fall, you’ll find them in the 6- to 15-foot range. For my fall fishing, I’m still using the Ned Rig and love using it with the Z-Man Finesse TRD. Tube jigs in the 2.5-inch size can be tremendous in the fall. The last several years, soft plastic swimbaits, like the Keitech USA 2.8 and 3.3 FAT Swing Impact, have also been winners. Work the Ned Rig and tubes very slowly on the bottom with almost no movement, and the swimbaits should be retrieved after a long cast, slow and steady. Be sure to pay attention to those bottom lures so the smallies don’t take them too deep. The local tackle shop carries the items I mentioned and can also point you toward some of the better spots for those fall smallies.
Two points of caution with fall kayaking and fishing from a kayak: Be sure to wear proper cold-weather gear as water temperatures begin falling, and be sure to check the forecast for wind conditions. I only kayak and fish close to shore just in case of an emergency.
It’s been great sharing my thoughts about kayaking and kayak fishing with you again this year, and, as always, if you have any questions, email me at kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com. As we get into the late winter months and spring 2027, some of you may be looking to buy a new kayak or paddle. I would be very happy to be a resource for you, especially when it comes to fishing kayaks.
