Fall Transition

[joeparishfishing]

When is it the right time to start fishing the fall transitioln? And what is the best bests to throw in the fall?

[scaleface]

There are just too many variables to give an answer. Waters  have different characteristics and climate . I'll say to fish the arms shallow and someone else will say to fish off shore . We will both be right .

 

You just have to go fishing and every move you make and lure you use  make a conscious decision as to why . 

[RoLo]

The fall transition seems to be related more to 'nighttime air temperatures' than daytime water temperatures.

As a result, most are often blindsided by a fall bite that kicks-off earlier than expected.

Even here in Florida, you're liable to encounter a wild crankbait bite during the 2nd week in September.

Our natural lakes have no creek arms, but instead of casting to the weed-line, you'll be firing over open water.

 

Roger

[wytstang]

The only right answer is.......let the fish tell you.

[Jake the Cake]

The fall transition seems to be related more to 'nighttime air temperatures' than daytime water temperatures.

As a result, I'm usually blindsided every year by a fall bite that kicks-off earlier than I expect.

Even here in Florida, you're liable to encounter a wild crankbait bite during the 2nd week in September.

Our natural lakes have no creek arms, but instead of casting to the weed-line, you'll be firing over open water.

 

Roger

 

 

Roger has it right.  The sun can only warm up the water so much.  Fish the north side of the lake or dams or whatever big river feeds into it when you think the night temps are getting cooler.  Then as the fall progresses, start moving down the lake and into little creek arms and coves.  I don't know if this is accurate or scientific, but it's the pattern I always follow.   

[badhatharry]

You don't say where you live. I live near Seattle and I'm starting to think fall right now. What really sets me off is the first frost, then I hit the local smallmouth relentlessly.

[Catt]

Like pre-spawn the fall transition starts before many anglers realize.

As for locations; the bass will follow the same breaks & breaklines on structure to the shallows to feed as they did during pre-spawn.

As for lures; again like pre-spawn pretty much everything!

[the reel ess]

You can usually use bigger baits in the fall because the yearling shad are bigger now. It's starting to feel a little fall-ish 'round here too. I have Monday off. I'm hoping this little bit of cooler weather will turn them on.

[einscodek]

fall transition?  the fish are already in some early form

but itll definitely accelerate within the next 2 weeks or so

[WRB]

It depends on what you call the fall period and how bass behave during the transition between summer and fall, then to the cold water period of winter.

Deep structure lakes the fall transition start to occur when bass change thier migration from horizontal to vertical, meaning they start to move deeper. Deeper is relative to where you fish and what the baitfish are doing. If the bait is still holding tight to cover in shallower water, to me that means it's still summer period to the bass. Bait moving deeper and starting to leave the shallower cover, it's the fall transition period. When most of the bass population is on the move deeper it's fall. Shorter days combined with longer cooler night cools the water column and that has an affect on bass behavior.

Right now our local lakes are still in the summer period, stronge well developed thermocline and warm water due to very warm days keep the bass close to cover along with the baitfish. We usually have deeper structure bass (20' to 30') year around and haven't seen the shallower bass group up with those bass to date.

Lures, everything works depending on the bass activity level.

Tom

[Bpett2552]

Start to fish the fall transition once you notice the baitfish starting to school up. You will also notice bass feeding really hard on these schools. One way to find the baitfish is to look for herons or other similar birds wading in the shallows. Another sign that you should start to fish fall patterns is when the days start to shorten. This can sometimes be a bigger trigger for the bass to start feeding up than a temperature drop. Once you determine that the fall pattern is in full swing a lot of different things can work. Shallow cranks, top waters and lipless cranks are all good options around shallow cover, specifically rocks or green weeds. The biggest rule though is find the bait to find the bass. During this time period bass are completely focused on feeding to prepare for the winter ahead so it is absolutely critical to find the baitfish.

[A-Jay]

I'm in northern Michigan.  The leaves are all still very green, there's NO Color at all yet. 

The day time air temps are still in the 60's & 70's. 

The local water temps are still in the high 60's.

The days are noticeably shorter and the night time air temps are considerably cooler; But Every fish (bass & all others)  caught this past week has been Super FAT !

 

So despite the appearance of the environment not really matching what we typically think of as "Fall" - the fish sure seem to be feeding rather aggressively.

 

There doesn't seem to be may fish up shallow yet but the deep jig bite has been very good.

 

For me this definitely reinforces the notion (already mentioned above) that the fall bite happens before many of us realize.

 

Get out there - so you don't miss it.

 

A-Jay

[Clint C.]

Once the air temp drops below the water temp

 

Don't quote me on that though.

 

I remember Zona saying "Football season means football jigs". I always related that to the start of the transition too.

[einscodek]

I wouldnt wait for the weeds to die to fish fall transition..

if you notice fish changing their patterns from the usual summer patterns and its late summer.. the transition is underway

be cognizant and adjust

 

In my area, the transition is going on

[Catt]

So despite the appearance of the environment not really matching what we typically think of as "Fall" - the fish sure seem to be feeding rather aggressively.

There doesn't seem to be may fish up shallow yet but the deep jig bite has been very good.

For me this definitely reinforces the notion (already mentioned above) that the fall bite happens before many of us realize.

Get out there - so you don't miss it.

A-Jay

Ankles hurt, knees hurt, back hurts, neck hurts, shoulders hurt, elbows hurt, wrists hurt, & fingers hurt; so yes the fall transitions is starting!

Seriously when I notice my deep water jig/t-rig bite drop off considerable I know it's time to move off the main lake & into the creeks.

The exact same thing happens prior to pre-spawn, my deep water winter jig/t-rig bite drops off considerable.

[Robeng]

Here in lower southeastern michigan (43rd parallel), it has begun as well.  Cooler nights, shorter days, cooler air temps, you can see the birds and animals are already starting to feed up and hoard.  A week ago (when air temp was 90F) Lake St Clair, that is fed by Lake Huron, was at 76-80 degrees.  One week later it is at 66-69 degrees and the air temp today is going to be 75.  This is after the last week we dropped from a week of 90F to a week of 60's.

 

Time to look for the schooled up bait and head to the lake arms and tributaries.  Though, there are still many bass out deep.

 

Great time of year.

 

Cheers!

[Mainebass1984]

 The fall bite has begun up here in the northeast. The leaves are changing color. The nights are longer. Water temps have begun to drop and have already dropped 5 degrees from there summertime highs. Typically here fish are deep in the early fall then move shallow as the water cools. Once early winter sets in they are deep again.  The more you fish the more you will be able to figure out. A fishing journal helps in the long run. I can look back in my journal and fish the same spots on the same lakes and do very well. Regional Patterns. Seasonal Patterns. Weather patterns. Patterns within patterns. There is great fishing in the fall if you can figure them out.

[thirtysixit]

_{As soon as the water temp is below 75.....  Hit the creeks. Also, look for the shad in the creeks. If there are schools of shad present then that is where you should start.  I'm having luck on fall patterns right now in central Virginia. Throwing top water sticks and lipless cranks........ Happy hunting.}

[stepchild]

In Eastern Canada, the leaves are just barely starting to turn but the fall bite's been strong for about 2 weeks now. No need to scrape the bottom of the lake with finesse baits and jigs latetly, as they're just crushing any reaction bait in shallow(er) water. Not only that, but once you hook one, I now see 3-5 others swimming alongside it to grab the lure out if its mouth! The fall binging is well underway and I couldn't be happier to have the whole day tomorrow to take advantage of the best time of year 

 

NOTE: we can't fish pre-spawn/spawn periods since the fishing season isn't open then, so this is as good as it gets for us

[*Hootie]

Just reading all these posts gets me fired up.

Hootie

[desmobob]

Fall is here in the Northeast.  The water temps in the southern end of Lake Champlain are already down 10+ degrees from the summertime highs.

 

I am SO psyched to have nine days off to fish, starting Saturday!  

One more day of work to go... 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[bassguytom]

Start to fish the fall transition once you notice the baitfish starting to school up. You will also notice bass feeding really hard on these schools. One way to find the baitfish is to look for herons or other similar birds wading in the shallows. Another sign that you should start to fish fall patterns is when the days start to shorten. This can sometimes be a bigger trigger for the bass to start feeding up than a temperature drop. Once you determine that the fall pattern is in full swing a lot of different things can work. Shallow cranks, top waters and lipless cranks are all good options around shallow cover, specifically rocks or green weeds. The biggest rule though is find the bait to find the bass. During this time period bass are completely focused on feeding to prepare for the winter ahead so it is absolutely critical to find the baitfish.

This is spot on. Find the bait and find the fish in the fall. Sometimes we spend more time looking for bait in the fall then fishing. Because when we find bait it always pays off. Our top producers are lipless cranks and jerkbaits. Usually deep diving jerkbaits. Good luck.