In my opinion that is the fall is best time to fish the French. Our annual trip is usually the weekend after Thanksgiving... We make the run from Dry Pine Bay, up the main channel about 20kms each day. 30+ fish days are normal, and we've had a few 50+ fish days... smallmouth are everywhere, same with the pike... all on the feedbag. Weather is hit or miss, but for us it didn't matter if it was sunny or raining, the fishing was great. Didn't see a 'ski the entire weekend, there are monsters in there, but they are few and far between...
If muskie is your target, I'd hit the Wolseley Bay area....