Freshwater Fishing: Fall Madness
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Freshwater Fishing: Fall Madness |
I love freshwater fishing in the fall because in a lot of ways I am
similar to the fish. I eat more in anticipation of the cold winter.
Football was my #1 sport, and the cooler temperatures made me more
aggressive. And there is a shot at catching a big fish, which resembles
me after I pack on some extra pounds. Some fall fishing tips to catch
more fish when the leaves start to change:
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Go big. Trout in rivers
know they need extra calories, so they'll find them in high-fat bugs
and in big mouthfuls. Hoppers along a field work well as do big
streamers in a pool and big stoneflies around the rocks.
-
Move around. Ponds and lakes
are turning over so finding the right strata when fishing in the fall
is critical to success. Probe the water column until you find their
level. Knowing exactly where to fish in the fall takes practice
so...start practicing.
-
Rig up.
Fall fish hit hard, so the same small diameter monofilament that you
used during clear, low-water levels in the summer won't work now. You'll
pop fish off, so increase your leader's strength to put more fish in
the net.
-
Bouncing barometers. Winds shift back and forth from the South to
the North, and they can gust pretty good. When fishing in fall, match
the wind and current directions to find the edges where the fish will
hold.
-
Noreasters bring rain, and they fill up the rivers that feed into ponds and lakes. After a good, soaking rain, head to the inflows and outflows to find concentrations of fish.
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Bring a camera. Fall fish change colors and they'll be among the
prettiest of the year. A few pictures taken while fishing in the fall
will carry you through the winter, and you can stare at them when you're
in a shanty on the ice.
If you've had a tough time catching 'em this summer then get after it by
fishing in fall. The fish will be less spooky and easier to catch, and
you'll end your freshwater fall fishing season on a high note