Fall Foliage Fishing

[nate01001]

I do a lot of fishing in the southern New Hampshire lakes and western mass small ponds, anyone have any idea on whats best to toss out in the cooler days before the winter?

[riverbasser13]

Colder water means slower moving bass and bait, right? Once the water starts to really cool off I try use baits that looks as natural as possible and that I can fish slow or reaally slow. I also seem to get most of my bites when my lure is on the fall. Things like tubes, small jigs and trailer, senko type worms and curly tail worms worked with a lift and drop retrieve are where I start in colder water. A clear pop r with a few seconds in between pops is my topwater choice. If you can time it to where you catch the sun warming up the pond or section of lake your fishing that also is worth a try. I'm in upstate SC so it's a lot different but late November thru February that's how I change my game plan for colder water.

[J Francho]

 

Colder water means slower moving bass and bait, right?

 

Not at all.  It may be true some days, but for the most part, it's moving bait time, and power fishing. 

[Mainebass1984]

Once the water temperature drops under 50 degrees I fish very slow and deep

[J Francho]

I agree, but below 50* water temps is closer to winter than fall.  The OP wasn't really specific about temps.

[Mainebass1984]

In 2 weeks the water temperature will be pretty close to 50 degrees. Winter fishing to me means ice fishing. I usually break the ice a few times with my boat before I put it away around thanksgiving.  Right now for most places the water temperature is in the low 60's to high 50's around Maine and Vermont. Right now my three best baits are a jig, a square bill and  texas rigged worm. Once the water cools to 50 degrees  I stick with the jig and blade baits like the silver buddy.

[J Francho]

I think you're a little optimistic for an early ice over, lol. Water temps can't fall below average air temps.... NY, NJ, VT, CT, NH, all showing high temps  on the 60s, lows just hitting the 40s for the next week or so.  Another warm front on the way.  I'm still seeing water temps in the mid to low 60s, warming on sunny days.  Gonna be more than a few weeks.  Maybe not in Maine, but most of the NE hasn't been sent into the deep freeze yet.  I will say, that my local lakes are much larger and deeper than most (Finger/Great Lakes), and take a lot longer to cool, so YMMV. We got a little longer yet.

[Mainebass1984]

 It has been a pretty warm September. This past Monday though it was a balmy 26 degrees in the morning. I will be on vacation from Oct 17th-27th. I will for sure be fishing almost every day and will know exactly what the water temperature is. I DO NOT hope for any early ice. I would much rather be in my boat as long as i can. Last year I was ice fishing on thanksgiving just a couple days after being in my boat bass fishing. I really hope it stays warm in the 60s.  If it is in the 50s the last two week of Oct I will be happy. Overcast, light winds and light rain will make me very happy.

[J Francho]

 

I DO NOT hope for any early ice.

 

Me neither!  LOL. Good luck out there.

[newhampshirebass]

For me, lipless cranks in around 10- 15 feet of water= bang bang until the high- mid forties, when all but the finesse jig and drop shot bite shut off

[Scott F]

Water temps in the lake I was fishing for the past were creeping toward 50 but slow was the last thing they wanted. I was burning lipless crankbaits as fast as I could over the top of the weeds. Fishing slow was NOT productive.

[J Francho]

Gonna be in the 80s tomorrow....might have to take a personal day, lol.

[Mainebass1984]

Gonna be in the 80s tomorrow....might have to take a personal day, lol.

 

Id love to take the day off. Tomorrow is going to feel hot. As I sit here and type this it is 28 degrees outside.. Water temperature yesterday was 56 degrees during the warmest time of the day. Lake Champlain has been on fire. Jigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits have been pulling some heavy bags. A local tourney was won with 27.7 lbs of largemouth for 6 fish.

[desmobob]

Id love to take the day off. Tomorrow is going to feel hot. As I sit here and type this it is 28 degrees outside.. Water temperature yesterday was 56 degrees during the warmest time of the day. Lake Champlain has been on fire. Jigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits have been pulling some heavy bags. A local tourney was won with 27.7 lbs of largemouth for 6 fish.

 

The next couple of days here around L. Champlain are supposed to be very warm.  The water temperature in the southern part of the lake was around 56* on Saturday.  I just dropped off my boat at the shop and I have my fingers crossed hoping nothing serious is wrong and I'll have it back by Saturday.  I want to fish!

 

The fall colors are still looking good.  A little sunshine will make for some pleasant fall fishing.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Mainebass1984]

The next couple of days here around L. Champlain are supposed to be very warm.  The water temperature in the southern part of the lake was around 56* on Saturday.  I just dropped off my boat at the shop and I have my fingers crossed hoping nothing serious is wrong and I'll have it back by Saturday.  I want to fish!

 

The fall colors are still looking good.  A little sunshine will make for some pleasant fall fishing.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

I hope your able to get out there. The fishing has been red hot.

[desmobob]

I hope your able to get out there. The fishing has been red hot.

 

Thanks.  I experienced some of that red hot fishing on Friday, only to have engine trouble on Saturday.  I just received an order from Tackle Warehouse today, too.  Talk about torture...  

 

I may end up having to go out fishing in the kayak this weekend, but how the heck can I fish for bass without a half-dozen rigged rods laid out on the deck and two big tackle boxes on the floor? ;-)

 

Tight lines,

Bob