Fall Fishing is Fabulous

Decades of doing this fishing thing have taught me in the spring fish want to eat…in the fall, they HAVE to eat. Regardless of the length of the winter lay over bass and other fish emerge during the spring warm up ready to eat and begin to seek out spawning areas. Pre spawn can be a great time to find and catch fish. We’re full time fishing addicts and kayakers and with a lake in our backyard we take advantage to angling opportunities year-round. Because of the volatility of the early year weather you can zero one day and load the boat the next. Here’s what makes the last quarter of the year magical:
Less pressure from recreational boaters in the fall. In our area jet skis, wakeboard boats and sailboats are under covers, stored or winterized and parked until late spring or the unofficial beginning of boating season, Memorial Day. The minimal disruption probably has the fish calming down and perfect targets for the kayak anglers willing to venture out.

It’s a message from nature to everything wild that with shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures that change of season is imminent. For much of the country September is truly the transitional month by the calendar and by the natural influences.

If you’re fishing for fun or stocking the freezer late September and all of October is prime time. Crappie, bluegill, catfish and other species are on the move and feeding on available forage. Years ago, I coined the phrase, “everything eats in October.” In the woods in the water wild creatures know feeding opportunities will dwindle soon.

The shad that spawned in mid-summer will now move toward the back of the feeder creeks or into river systems. This is a bonanza for the bass fishermen. Spinnerbaits in light colors, crankbait and swim jigs all can be used to imitate the look and movement of the most abundant food source, the shad. I rely on the altered single willowleaf 3/8th ounce spinner and a blade change to a #7 Indiana blade on other similar spinnerbaits. Season after season bass have crushed these to lures. *upsize your bait profiles in order to have them more visible to the fish and not “blend in” with schools of two-inch shad.

Coming off what I consider the toughest bite, the summer, eventually bass will migrate to more predictable shallow places. When you locate schools of feeding fish it’s almost eerie how you can follow the food source and consistently find the fish in smaller areas. They will move a few feet deeper or a few feet shallower. Bait choices and presentations can produce several days in a row again because the fish have “the need to feed.”
As previously mentioned, the migration toward the back of the creeks on lakes as well a large flat just off the main lake and steeper banks in the general vicinity all deserve a try. Some of the biggest bass will come from what I describe as “one fish spots.” A double draw (two or more fish holding factors) where there’s a fallen tree, green vegetation, where two creek channels intersect, a long point or boulder rocks will create the possibility for a huge fish but likely just the one.

As the fall continues with shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures you may want to concentrate on places with gravel, big rock, concrete launch ramps or bridge pilings. These each will radiate the heat from the sun and pull baitfish into the vicinity. It’s also been my experience that late year fishing seems to produce a better afternoon bite in what is normally warmest part of the day. Always check the Northwest side of the lake. This side gets the maximum amount of sun and can be a degree or two warmer, critical when the fish are prowling looking for food and comfort.
Moon phases, especially the fall full moons can intensify the bite. If possible be on the water a few days before, on or a few days following the major moon phases, new and full.

From an equipment standpoint there is some wisdom to a little equipment maintenance now. Any component that could fail should be checked, reels with monofilament respooled, hooks sharpened, skirts on jigs, spinners and buzzbaits inspected and replaced as needed and a small coat of spray lube on external moving reel parts is highly recommended. Usually upon making my first cast I check my reels drag to make sure it will slip under the weight of a big bass. (Optimistic, you bet)

The fall /winter bass tackle box should include a few spinnerbaits, buzzbaits for when the surface water temperatures are above 55 degrees, light colored crankbaits in the squarebill, lipless and medium diver categories and a few suspending jerkbaits. Soft plastic craws, finesse worms and of course a few jigs, my preference year-round is a 3/8ths ounce natural crawfish colored model. Submerged wood stays all the time and the last of the green aquatic vegetation can be a fish magnet.

I believe in layering my clothes for comfort and the warmth needed to allow me to stay as long as I’m interested in being on the water. My bare feet now have appropriate shoes on a pair of boots (Boundary boots from NRS are ideal) and a cool weather head covering. My dry box has my phone, keys and a pair of the small “Hot Hands” for the weather extremes. I believe in life jackets 100% of the time!

If you want to catch a trophy bass any time of the year considered buying my new book, Strictly BIG bass (available on Amazon) There’s years of proven big bass information and photos of monster fish caught (and released) over several decades.

Fall fishing can be fabulous, big fish of all varieties are storing up for winter and willing to bite, you just have to be there throwing the right thing at the right time.