How-To

Downey’s top 5 fall baits for northern fisheries

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We asked Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bob Downey to show us his top five setups for fall fishing on Mille Lacs Lake. Bob lives in Hudson, Wis., and spends a lot of time fishing around the area. Mille Lacs is not his home lake, but it is one of the best smallmouth factories in the North.
We asked Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bob Downey to show us his top five setups for fall fishing on Mille Lacs Lake. Bob lives in Hudson, Wis., and spends a lot of time fishing around the area. Mille Lacs is not his home lake, but it is one of the best smallmouth factories in the North.
His boat and camper setup is ready for the week of fishing ahead, and he was kind enough to give us a look around while he dug out his setups for this gallery.
His boat and camper setup is ready for the week of fishing ahead, and he was kind enough to give us a look around while he dug out his setups for this gallery.
Downey goes to work picking through a rod locker full of St. Croix rods. These are ready for an upcoming day of practice on Lake Champlain, but Downey doesn’t mind showing us his Mille Lacs juice.
Downey goes to work picking through a rod locker full of St. Croix rods. These are ready for an upcoming day of practice on Lake Champlain, but Downey doesn’t mind showing us his Mille Lacs juice.
“These five techniques not only work on Mille Lacs Lake, but anywhere in the North for smallmouth, and largemouth, in the fall.”
“These five techniques not only work on Mille Lacs Lake, but anywhere in the North for smallmouth, and largemouth, in the fall.”
Digging through a box of hard baits, Downey searches for the one.
Digging through a box of hard baits, Downey searches for the one.
And, a Rapala DT10 is the bait of choice.<br> <br> “I like to use this crankbait to cover lots of water, and the typical area is 10- to 15-feet of water on shoals and reefs.”
And, a Rapala DT10 is the bait of choice.
“I like to use this crankbait to cover lots of water, and the typical area is 10- to 15-feet of water on shoals and reefs.”
This one is in the Chartreuse Rootbeer Crawdad, one of Downey’s favorites!<br> <br> “When the water dips below 60-degrees, the crank will catch active fish.”
This one is in the Chartreuse Rootbeer Crawdad, one of Downey’s favorites!
“When the water dips below 60-degrees, the crank will catch active fish.”
St. Croix Mojo Glass Rod is the choice to toss the DT 10 around.
St. Croix Mojo Glass Rod is the choice to toss the DT 10 around.
Next up, a 13 Fishing Loco Special, deep diving jerkbait.
Next up, a 13 Fishing Loco Special, deep diving jerkbait.
This color is called “Lucky Charm.”
This color is called “Lucky Charm.”
“Like the crankbait, a jerkbait will work almost all year on Mille Lacs, but it gets colder around the fall transition, water in the mid 50-degrees, it becomes more of a key.”
“Like the crankbait, a jerkbait will work almost all year on Mille Lacs, but it gets colder around the fall transition, water in the mid 50-degrees, it becomes more of a key.”
“I use it to cover lots of water and find active bass. A jerkbait works different from the crankbait when fish get keyed in on minnows and perch, rather than crawfish. They may be more suspended off the bottom or schooling around balls of baitfish.”
“I use it to cover lots of water and find active bass. A jerkbait works different from the crankbait when fish get keyed in on minnows and perch, rather than crawfish. They may be more suspended off the bottom or schooling around balls of baitfish.”
The rod of choice for the jerkbait is a St. Croix 6-foot, 8-inch Victory Medium XF rod.
The rod of choice for the jerkbait is a St. Croix 6-foot, 8-inch Victory Medium XF rod.
The third bait is a swimbait on a jig head. Downey rigs a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper on an All-Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher jig head.
The third bait is a swimbait on a jig head. Downey rigs a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper on an All-Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher jig head.
“I use this bait for two techniques – reel it straight back over shallow flats, higher in the water column, or cast and drag along the bottom, similar to a wobble head.
“I use this bait for two techniques – reel it straight back over shallow flats, higher in the water column, or cast and drag along the bottom, similar to a wobble head.”
For the swimbait, a St. Croix 7-foot Legend Elite medium action rod gets the job done.
For the swimbait, a St. Croix 7-foot Legend Elite medium action rod gets the job done.
The fourth bait is a year-round favorite as well — a drop shot.
The fourth bait is a year-round favorite as well — a drop shot.
The drop shot is made with a #4 VMC Neko Hook and a 1/4-, 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weight depending on the conditions/depth.
The drop shot is made with a #4 VMC Neko Hook and a 1/4-, 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weight depending on the conditions/depth.
The bait is a Reaction Innovation Shiver Shot finesse bait.
The bait is a Reaction Innovation Shiver Shot finesse bait.
“Anywhere from 8- to 20-feet, used in the same areas as the Ned, the drop shot is even more of a clean up bait. I also like it for fishing individual boulders.”
“Anywhere from 8- to 20-feet, used in the same areas as the Ned, the drop shot is even more of a clean up bait. I also like it for fishing individual boulders.”
For the drop-shot set up, Downey likes a St. Croix Avid 7-foot Medium Fast Action rod.
For the drop-shot set up, Downey likes a St. Croix Avid 7-foot Medium Fast Action rod.
The final bait, a Ned rig. To make his rig, Downey pairs an All-Terrain Tackle Mighty Head with a Reaction innovation 4.5-inch Pocket Rocket.
The final bait, a Ned rig. To make his rig, Downey pairs an All-Terrain Tackle Mighty Head with a Reaction innovation 4.5-inch Pocket Rocket.
A St. Croix Legend Elite 7-foot Medium Fast rod is Downey’s choice for his Ned set up.
A St. Croix Legend Elite 7-foot Medium Fast rod is Downey’s choice for his Ned set up.
To pick apart areas a bit slower, Downey will rely on the Ned when he finds a concentration of fish. He uses it to 'clean up' areas — like the drop shot — and more specifically when the fish get off the crankbait bite.
To pick apart areas a bit slower, Downey will rely on the Ned when he finds a concentration of fish. He uses it to ‘clean up’ areas — like the drop shot — and more specifically when the fish get off the crankbait bite.
Thanks for the tips, Bob!
Thanks for the tips, Bob!

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