Strategies for Fall Fishing

Its just a few short weeks until the official beginning of autumn. Fall is my favorite season (I'm a Libra) and my preferred fishing season. As lake temperatures drop during the waning days of summer and the ever shortening days and cool nights of autumn, all species of fish begin actively pursuing protein to sustain them through the cool winter months. Some species like white bass and Muskellunge become absolutely frenetic in the months leading up to winter. This makes for an exciting combination.

In fall always watch the wind direction, look for sandy banks or gravel points that are receiving a steady blow. Wind speeds of around 15 mph are preferable, making the boat easier to manipulate with the trolling motor and maintain the right orientation to shore. The steady breeze will force baitfish near the shoreline and often will trigger a feeding frenzy among large schools of white bass. Look for sand banks with a gravel bar or long gradually tapered rocky points. I once followed a steady WSW breeze along an easterly oriented bank for five miles and caught over 100 white bass on an overcast morning, then another 60 fish in the full sun of afternoon. The constant was the unrelenting WSW blow of about 15 mph. The added bonus to this day was I caught two muskies and had several serious strikes. The larger predators were attracted to the schooling white bass and were marauding the feeding hoards.

This is and has always been my fall fishing strategy. Find feeding schools of white bass, have a blast catching large numbers of them but always keep an eye out for larger prey. I usually use a standard silver buzz bait, , with a white skirt, a bleeding hook and no trailing hook. I rig up with 20 # test monofilament line. When I'm feeling frisky and am on a wind blown bank in the back of a cove I'll use a lighter rod, with 10 # test and a small 'spitter pop' lure. I've hooked a lot of muskies this way and lose most of them but often the first vicious strike will miss the lure, then I'll follow with the buzz bait and entice the large fish to attempt another strike. Musky's hate buzz baits.

I also run into many quality black bass in the backs of coves receiving a breeze or along secondary points in large coves. At the end of my cove there's a public boat ramp with three slots, it's located in a little scoop along the north facing bank. When this little inlet receives a NW breeze it inevitably fills up with black bass and makes for some furious fishing.

Other pluses to fall fishing: You don't need to get out on the water at the crack of dawn, just hang out at the house and have breakfast until the day begins to warm. Some claim that nasty overcast cold mornings are preferable for musky hunting but I don't believe it. The fall foliage is likely to be colorful. Critters are likely to be moving around and you may spot deer, fox or bob cats. Late fall is the beginning of eagle season. I once had an adult eagle following my boat around. He noticed I was catching a lot of white bass. He would hover overhead and watch me unhook and throw the fish back into the water. Eventually, I took to throwing each released fish high into the air. It only took the eagle a few looks at the flying fish before he swooped down for his dinner. Smart bird that.