Autumn can be an awesome time to be on the water in search of walleye--and not just because the fishing can be so fast. One of the best things about fishing the fall months is the solitude you can find on waters that may have hosted throngs of anglers since ice-out or opening day way back in April.

Then there's the autumn scenery, which in most of walleye country reaches its peak just about when the local "moon-eyes" start sniffing around their former spring haunts as the water temperature hits the 50-degree mark.

"It's my favorite walleye fishing time of year for several reasons," explains Harry Stiles, a tournament pro, walleye guide, tackle shop owner, and fanatic fall fisherman for more than 30 years in the St. Paul, Minnesota, area.

"While everybody else's attention has turned to ducks, four-footed game, and football, I concentrate on catching walleye--and I've usually got the water to myself," says the avid angler, who's been guiding fishermen on the Upper Mississippi for more than a decade.

"This time of year, the walleye begin to group tightly, schooling-up to follow the baitfish, which also are tightly packed in anticipation of winter," explains Stiles. "They know it's time to put on the feedbag.

"Where you find one good walleye this time of year, you've usually found a lot."

As with any time of year, finding the fish is the key, and Stiles recommends anglers troll crankbaits or bottom-bouncers trailing worm-tipped spinners to locate active autumn walleye.

"I've definitely switched from aggressive, radically-moving crankbaits that worked so well in the summer, baits like Deep Thundersticks and Hot 'n Tots, to less-aggressive cranks, like floating-diving Rapalas, Thundersticks, and Hellcats," he explained. "The slower wobble of these minnow-imitating baits definitely entices more strikes from walleye in the colder water than do the aggressive baits."

The Stillwater, Minnesota, native also uses spinner-and-worm rigs in the fall, slow-trolled through the depths behind a bottom-bouncer in search of hungry walleye.

Stiles says that many people are surprised at just how deep you might have to drag a bait to get it in front of a feeding walleye in the fall.

"Even here in the river, we have to get a bait down to 40 to 60 feet sometimes to find fish," he said.

To do that, anglers must use leadcore line, bottom-bouncers, or three-way rigs with bell sinkers. Once the fish are located, you can keep trolling the favored bait or stop and start throwing jig and minnow combos, advises Stiles.

"I like the jig and minnow rig once I've found fish, " said Stiles. "You can get right into the walleye with it and if a fish sees that rig, he'll eat it."

Stiles recommends round-headed jigs from 1/4- to 1/2-ounce--whatever's needed to get down to the fish, with the latter weights necessary for the 60-foot depths--and three-inch minnows.

When "finesse" fishing the jigs, Stiles prefers Berkley's TriMax Photochromic, in four- or six-pound test, which he says he can see much easier than regular line, and which offers "a great feel" for what his bait--and hopefully the fish--is doing at the other end.

As for where to start looking for autumn 'eyes, Harry says a good place to begin is "near where you pounded 'em last spring" after the spawn.

"Some walleye make what we call a 'mock' spawning run in late fall, when they visit the places they plan to spawn the following year," Stiles explained.

"Although they won't be nearly as shallow as where you might find them there during the actual spawn, they're usually hanging out nearby in deeper water."

The fish, he says, even in December and late November "are beginning to think 'spawn' and start nosin' around their home turf--even if they don't participate in any mock run."

Trolling with the deep stuff will find those fish, which will not only be more tightly schooled than during any other time of year, but the schools they form as they follow the baitfish can be huge.

"That's the bonus of fishing for walleye this time of year," laughed Stiles. "Once you get one, be prepared for many, many more."