Autumn Angling
By Guardian Angler
The leaves are changing colors, crisp breezes replace the warm summer air, chilly evenings beckon for bonfires, and for the finally fish begin to leave their deep summer holes to cruise and feed. Fall can reward you with some of the best days of fishing, or the worst. Here are a few tips to get you catching more fish in the some of the best feeding times for most fish.
Find Bait
This tip applies to almost every season, but becomes extremely important in Fall. Shad balls become extremely prominent in most waters, and predators are heavily feeding on them for the fat content and protein in order to prep for the winter slump. In late fall, oxygen levels begin to decrease in the water which causes big die offs of those shad. All predatory fish are going to hang on those bait balls to scoop up easy meals without expending unnecessary energy. I've seen bass and musky actually hold to these bait balls like cover, so fishing them becomes a big tactic for me. Also make sure to identify what kind of bait ball is below you; the better you match your presentation, the more fish you will get to bite.
Upsize
Fish begin to feed heavily to fatten up before winter. They become more aggressive, and in most cases, prefer chasing larger prey. Throwing larger presentations can become extremely rewarding for that reason. Think about it, if someone offers you a single scoop of ice cream, or a double scoop, which are you going to take?
Follow The Sun
As water temps cool, fish are going to push towards the warmest water. Usually that is going to be sunny, shallow sections that are relative to deep water. As the sun rises and sets, follow the sunny sections of the water. Fishing the northeast sides of bodies of water is usually going to have you in the warmest areas, and as the sun lowers you can push further west. This piece of advice is often not taken too seriously, but it truly can make the difference between a good or bad day on the water.
Use Your Senses
During this time period, it becomes common to find fish in big schools pushing bait. Always be on your toes, using your eyes and ears to locate schools going into feeding frenzies. Fish every section of the water column when you find one, and hold your rod tight. You're bound to get bit.
Look For Inflows
After such a dry time, fall often brings in perception. When inflows bring rainfall into a body of water, predators will often sit in wait nearby. Alongside the rain being brought in is oxygen, insects, baitfish and all kinds of other goodies that fish like. Even the stirred up silt gives the predators better ambush opportunities! Be sure to look for these on your fall outings, and when you find one, enjoy the rewards!
Throw The Tacklbox
Autumn can be a bit frustrating. It will go from extremes for one end to the other with a bite pattern. Today might be excellent for topwater, but tomorrow might yield only catches off a ned rig. Don't be afraid to throw anything and everything you own at these fish. You never know what presentation they will want.
As pumpkin spice lattes come back, and hot apple cider becomes a craving you find again, be sure to hit the water. These fish are going to be fat and hungry in this season. Winters beckoning call pressures these fish to eat. If your after a fat healthy fish, this is the time for you. Sometimes it's nice to kick back and root on your favorite football team, you just don't want to fumble the chance of your next personal best. Take these tips with you on the water, and I’m sure you'll find yourself a good one on the water.
