A very windy day with strong gusts - water was really choppy so I only stayed out for about 4 hours - caught 3 Smallies (pictured below), 1 Pike, 1 LMB, 1 Crappie - my hope is the wind will settle down a bit as I have tomorrow (Friday) off from work and would like to log a full day on the water. 

I think I have one more outing in me before it's time to hang it up in a week.

 

Also, whoever posts the last outing of the season with a legal bass here will receive the coveted "marked as solution" to the thread.  The last man standing before ice in will be our hero for 2025. 

Out last Saturday wife and I got 9 bass all 19 to 21 inches. 1 pike 35 inches a nice one. Mostly on spinner baits. Wife got a couple on Wacky. With that the next day we went to a favorite lake drove around enjoyed the fall colors and went home and winterized the boat. This weekend plan on fishing the river in Monticello from shore for smallmouths. Looks like a a good weekend for it after that the days look miserable. We keep a diary/log every year starting on opener for bass together we caught 1549 bass 141 pike. Funny thing we were only on the boat 74 times this year usually average 125 trips

per season. over 1000 were on wacky. Thanks for all the info and I'm not done yet

I know it's not a bass but a great ending to the season

Nice. That is a good day for anyone. And you have had a very good season...over 1500 Bass for the year is pretty spectacular. 

On 10/21/2025 at 12:04 PM, Mrpike said:

Out last Saturday wife and I got 9 bass all 19 to 21 inches.

 

That's an astounding average size for your latitude. Please share pics or do you average 20-inch bass and therefore don't bother with pics?

My last outing of 2025 was today.  It was pretty raw out there.  50 degrees, windy, light rain at times.  Water temp was right at 50 degrees.

 

My friend and I caught 9 pike and 8 bass.  Four of the largemouth were quality fish, including the biggest which was a 4.5 pounder I caught.

 

It was tough to get bit with the water being so cold.  We had to hunt for weeds and fish slow presentations.  The bites were not aggressive either.

 

Feels good to close the season out with a successful trip.

 

 

Cold, raw and windy today (Saturday/10-25) -- not much luck -- 3 pike (plus one that sawed off a nice square bill lure despite a 4 inch metal leader) -- and one 17 inch LMB -- I never felt like I was around fish, didn't see any bait fish at all -- tomorrow (Sunday) the wind is supposed to be 30 mph plus gusts -- so I might try and get out early if it will be less windy or I may try a smaller lake near me (the negative is they have taken the dock out so it is tricky to launch/land, especially if the wind is howling) -- then I will try and get out Friday/31st (I have the day off) and Saturday/1st before winterizing the boat on Sunday/2nd -- If I had a heated garage with enough space to put the boat I might try and keep going out, but I don't have either of those and once temps are consistently below freezing at night, it is unfortunately, time to winterize

 

Went to my local big lake today - this guy (boat in picture) was in front of me (21 foot Skeeter, 200hp) - he and his buddy looked at the waves/whitecaps/wind - and said "Let's go to another lake" - that is a big water boat so if he was not going out on the big lake neither was I - so I went to a smaller lake - wind was still high 20's/low 30's but some shelter - trick was trying to launch the boat, with 30 mph winds blowing directly at me, with no dock - it was a logistical and physical challenge due to the wind but I got it done - didn't catch anything for 4 hours, just got tossed all over the place in the wind - then I threw a Megabass Magdraft (5in.) in Perch color - 6 pike, 6 bass grabbed it - none very big, but no complaints - it might be the last outing of the year - we will see - hopefully Halloween Day and Nov. 1 will provide decent enough weather to get out

Hit the Mississippi today.  The weather was nice except the wind.  Caught a bunch of little smallmouth and 2 16 inchers. Hook a better one but it through the hook. I did come back to the same spot and I think the same smallmouth nibbled on my swimbait.  Interesting.

Looking at the 10-14 day forecast, I don't see anything warm or mild again.  Starting tomorrow nothing but 50's on the horizon.  With the water temps dropping below 50 degrees, I think it's pretty much over in the bass realm.

 

Remember, the last person here to post a legal (12+) inch bass will receive the coveted "marked as solution" check mark.  Who's gonna brave the elements?  (not this guy)

 

I'll give it until the end of November...

On 10/25/2025 at 6:54 PM, gim said:

My last outing of 2025 was today.

 

 

RIP homie.

 

I was able to get out today (Friday)- the weather was rough - cold (36 degrees) with wind/rain/sleet (see picture) - since I had the day off I thought I would go for 6 hours - but after only catching two pike and getting thrashed by the weather I came in at the 5 hour mark - I will go again tomorrow (Saturday) - temps and wind will be about the same but no rain/sleet forecast - I tried shallow but no bites at all, then tried deep (20 to 25 feet) still no bites - the two pike were in about 8 feet of water - Any suggestions for what I might try tomorrow ? - Saturday will most likely be my last day on the water as Sunday is supposed to have big/strong winds

@WaskaCrank12 what’s the water temp out there now?

A cold, raw day - air temp was about 35 with very moist air - @gim water temp was 49 - I think the cold sleet/rain yesterday impacted the water temp - I didn't get a bite for about 4 hours - and I was ready to just head in -  I grabbed a rod I had not used today, it had a football jig head with a Berkley Pit Boss on it - I felt like I would give it about 6 casts and then head in - on the 5th cast I caught a 15 inch LMB (pictured) - quite literally my only bite of the day ! - I might go out tomorrow if the wind is reasonable (the forecast says 20 mph plus gusts, so we shall see) - it warms up this week into the 50's, but I have work each day and with DST change I would not have time to get on the water -- next weekend looks like 30's and sleet/rain - so I will either go out tomorrow and winterize the boat during the week or if it is too windy I will just winterize tomorrow (Sunday)

 

Went out today (Sunday) for 4 hours - wind was strong and limited where I could get to and stay without getting tossed around too much - temps were good (high 40's) - water temp was 48.4 degrees - for the third day in a row I did not see any fish or any bait fish - I followed a few otters to see if they would show me where the fish were - in the end I had one big bite (whatever it was took both claws off the craw bait) and that was it - I tried a variety of lures (slow, fast, shallow, deep, hard plastic, soft plastic) but nothing came of it - It was only the second time this year that I was skunked - My heart says "Go out again and end the year with a catch" but my mind says "The temps are going to be in the low 20's starting on Friday and you don't want water freezing in the motor" - so I will most likely winterize the boat this week  

 

Lucky enough to get out today. Fish were a little more aggressive than I expected. Caught quite a few on moving baits!

 

 

When to Minnetonka for a couple of hours today.  Water temperature is about 49 degrees.  End up catching 2 largemouth. 1 was 10 or 12 inches and the other was 17 or so.  they were in about 8 feet of water. 

I forgot my snow pants so only lasted about 2 hours.  I think this will be the last trip out in the bout this year.

@BassinBrett might be the winner.

 

I am seeing possibly 55 degrees or so later this week.  Who's gonna brave the elements?

I'm thinking about getting out Wednesday. Probably better to just wrap it up since I've been putting off a few hundred projects around the property. 

I am hoping to get out this Saturday for sure.  60 + degrees with light wind.

Got out yesterday for a few. 40F water temp. Bass were tough to find and then the bites were light. Had a near 40" tiger  boatside with my hand under it's gill when it gave one good thrash to set itself free with my jerkbait still in it's face. Felt bad but at least it could still open it's mouth. 

That's a wrap for me. Can't wait till 26!

Hit the Mississippi west of Anoka.    Spend  5 hours fishing.  I did not bring the graph but I am sure the water was cold.  I caught 1 smallmouth o. The 3rd cast.  I thought it was going to be a great day.  Turned out it I got only 1 more bit the whole day!  19.5 inch SB is not so bad though.

Yes, the Lindners are great Minnesota anglers, but R. Green is their equal:

 

 

Always plugging for northern anglers!

If I hadn't winterized my boat already, I'd seriously consider fishing this weekend.  Both days look spectacular for late November.

 

And the bottom looks to drop out by Thanksgiving so the lakes will start to freeze.

 

I'm thinking @BassinBrett will post another final entry here...