The Final Push ~

[A-Jay]

 So here it is, the first week of October.    

For those of us that are eventually heading to hard water, this last two months or so of open water seems to really fly by.   These next few weeks can be so Good both for numbers and size, which seems to add a serious layer of intensity to the whole deal.

 

   Accordingly, I’m trying to be on the water every chance I get for as long as I can stay.  And as the Autumn season goes in to full swing, along with the brilliant colors and the falling air & water temps, there’s almost always some very stiff wind.  Here it’s usually coming from somewhere near the North Pole, at least that’s what it feels like.   A little is OK and for the most part even desirable.  Beyond that, There’s sadness & disappointment in A-Jay World.

 

When I’m not on the water, especially this time of year, I’m checking & re-checking the local weather forecast ~ several times a day.  This meteorological report seems to drive my very existence as I hope for at the very least, reasonable conditions to get out on the water those last few times.  

 

This weekend has been a total wash out with excessive wind & big fat rain.  The upcoming week does look much better with seasonal overnight & day time air temps and most importantly, light to only perhaps moderate winds.   Of course that can all change in an instant, but I’m going to remain optimistic.

 

Finally, if your home waters do not freeze and you’re able to fish open water year round, you may not be able to totally comprehend or relate to the text above.   I’m OK with that. 

 And in a few weeks when the world freezes over up here, I'll still enjoy reading about and seeing pictures / videos of the great bass you'll no doubt catch.    But if you would, just please don't remind me about it.   Not here & Not now.

A-Jay

 

 

[Jaderose]

Yeah...about that wind.  Dead calm here today and I was excited to see glass when I went out the morning.  Boy was that a mistake.  That glass made for a tough tough bite all day.  Could NOT find any pattern to save my butt.  One of those day that I would up with or so different plastics and jigs and spinners in my "save it for later" tray.  I USUALLY have about 3.

[Gundog]

I know what you're talking about A-Jay. Weather at this time of year can be totally unpredictable. I've had the last 4 days off from work and heard that the big smallies were biting at Lake Wallenpaupack. We had serious rain storms rolling through, not to mention a huge low front sit over top of us. Storms so bad I was stuck indoors thursday & friday. So when I did finally get a chance saturday to get to the lake the fish had lockjaw and nothing would get them to bite. Finally gave up and headed to the river. Caught a couple nice ones to salvage the day. I'm not looking forward to winter coming. I know its just 2 months away but I'm not giving up that easy.

["hamma"]

  If there is open waters on the cape, and favorable conditions, you can come fish a day with me A-Jay,.. it's only about an hour away.

   Im praying for a mild winter to keep the boats motor from being winterized to facilitate such ventures. But you know the weather over here ,.so we'll see

[Catt]

I guess you want sympathy too!

[Fiske]

No sympathy from me A-Jay,,,but oh so much empathy,

When I finally fade into the sun,,,
I hope it's a summer sun and I'm fishing for bass.

ashes over water
only mourners see
summer's dawn

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

I guess you want sympathy too!

Nope ~

As some of my more recent reports have shown, there's been a few decent days for me so far this fall. 

So I don't have anything to really complain about or expect sympathy for.

I'm simply hoping that the next few weeks include a few more warm southern wind fishing days and less Cranking from a Northerly direction wind fishing days. 

For both of us my friend.

A-Jay

 

 

[NYWayfarer]

The wind and rain in the northeast this weekend made fishing undesirable. I was able to get the canoe on the water for an hour and a half on Saturday for some paddling exercise with my son. We forgot the poles at home though!

Next weekend looks crummy so I am taking a vacation day either Wednesday or Thursday to get out on the water. Sad to say but that will most likely be my last outing until next spring. After Columbus Day we start getting ready for winter and the toys have to be put away.

Like A-Jay I will be living vicariously through my southern brothers at Bass Resource.

[GORDO]

I wont be bass fishing this month, maybe a little. Here in Washington state its salmon/steelhead time. In november and december there are a couple ice fishing lakes that have some giant brown and rainbows but for bass, its pretty much over until the lakes thaw  

[Catt]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Nope ~

As some of my more recent reports have shown, there's been a few decent days for me so far this fall. 

So I don't have anything to really complain about or expect sympathy for.

I'm simply hoping that the next few weeks include a few more warm southern wind fishing days and less Cranking from a Northerly direction wind fishing days. 

For both of us my friend.

A-Jay

 

 

It's OK!

[shimmy]

A-Jay, are you headhunting this fall for a personal record smallie or anything? Staying on familiar waters or hitting some big fish waters? In 2 weeks I get to try and entice 6 pounders and possibly considering maybe thinking about entertaining the notion of pondering the idea of a  Minnesota 7 lber... I will unfortunately sacrifice lakes with many 4s and a some 5s for the lakes with low numbers and 6s and 7s. 

Any particluar arrow in your quiver you feel lucky with? Mine will be the jig, but I am secretly hoping the jerkbait calls them up.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, shimmy said:

A-Jay, are you headhunting this fall for a personal record smallie or anything? Staying on familiar waters or hitting some big fish waters? In 2 weeks I get to try and entice 6 pounders and possibly considering maybe thinking about entertaining the notion of pondering the idea of a  Minnesota 7 lber... I will unfortunately sacrifice lakes with many 4s and a some 5s for the lakes with low numbers and 6s and 7s. 

Any particluar arrow in your quiver you feel lucky with? Mine will be the jig, but I am secretly hoping the jerkbait calls them up.

I certainly am Shimmy.     My personal Quest for a Home State Six Pound Plus Smallie continues. 

 Sadly, I think I actually had her on & up to the boat 2nd week of September, only to have her come unpinned boatside & break my heart.  Did offer optimism that they are there and showed me where she at least visited to eat occasionally.

As for my favorite Quiver - (good word btw) It changes as the water temps continue to drop.  A Tube, A Blade Bait & maybe even a U-Rig.  Honorable mention may go to a spybait and a small swimbait. 

The next 3 or 4 weeks are going to see me fishing hard but regardless of the results - enjoying every minute of it.

A-Jay

[DubyaDee]

It was last year this time that a 9.32 was caught on Hubbard lake on a split shot chartreuse grub. A month ago we heard about the 9.98 caught on a night crawler. This time of year produces giants, especially the waters that you're fishing. 

I'll be lucky to get our 3 times this fall, and I can't pick and choose my days to get out. I'm always envious of your reports, so thank you and keep them coming. Good luck this fall!

[Onvacation]

Winter is coming here as well.  That's why I just booked a trip to Toho in February.   

[fishwizzard]

I have access to brackish rivers, so I can fish for pickerel right up until everything freezes up. 

Even then, last year I got so sick of waiting I went out to a local pond when it was about 35-37 out one day, just hoping for some open water.  I got there and it was frozen solid.  I threw a jig across the ice a few times and then walked back to my car.  On the way I saw a large rock.  I picked it up and chucked it as far out into the pond as I could.  To my surprise it flew about 20' out and broke a hole.  I cast until I got my jig into the hole, then propped my rod against a tree, lit a cigar, and hung out until it was finished.  I shook the rod a few times during, then reeled my lure in and went home.

It still counted as fishing in my book. 

 

[papajoe222]

Many of the lakes in my area close to fishing at the end of the month, so I will also be hitting the water every chance I get.  Although my favorite southern Wisconsin lake does not, I plan on hitting it before the water temps drop below 50.  If I hit the lottery, I do plan on contacting Jeff about a trip to Mexico after the holidays. If not, it'll be another long winter with that pesky monkey.

[shimmy]

2 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Many of the lakes in my area close to fishing at the end of the month, so I will also be hitting the water every chance I get.  Although my favorite southern Wisconsin lake does not, I plan on hitting it before the water temps drop below 50.  If I hit the lottery, I do plan on contacting Jeff about a trip to Mexico after the holidays. If not, it'll be another long winter with that pesky monkey.

Why stop when the temps get below 50? Had two days in a row fishing Minnesota last year in 48-49 degree water temps where I had over 27 pound limits. I think the high 40s is still a big player for big fish. 

I am 112 miles north of Delavan lake. I keep trying to convince myself to go there and get lucky with one of the Giants they grow in there

[KDW96]

I will be fishin until mother nature shuts the door with ice. I dont care how cold it is. I literally will feeze, slowly workin that jig an pork trailer. 

 

The ride home, will be a gratefull one,because i could go. But if its my last time for winter, it always a long ride home. I never take the time to fish for granted as my time is limited.

But know this, all you bass remember, I WILL BE BACK

[WIGuide]

I'll be fishing as long as I can. I've fished in the snow a few times before, I've fished with temps in the mid 30's with 25-30 mph winds. The last few years I've fished right up to the weekend before hunting season. I wish I could get out after at some point, but that late in the year, waiting 3 weeks to get back out it's going to be over before I get the chance. I definitely can relate to all these feelings as the season comes to an end. I hate it...every single year, but I still make sure I enjoy every trip.

[Mainebass1984]

 I will continue to fish until I can not break through the ice with my boat anymore. When the water is cold and the fishing pressure is light the fishing can be fantastic. I have caught some of my biggest bass in the late fall and early winter. It is big bass time for both Smallmouth and Largemouth. It is my favorite time to fish.

[TnRiver46]

reading all this makes me thankful to live in Tennessee where the river rarely freeZes 

[bagofdonuts]

7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

reading all this makes me thankful to live in Tennessee where the river rarely freeZes 

me too. here in arkansas fishing is year round hobby just fewer people on the water once deer and duck season starts.

[Paul Roberts]

Yes, it's happening here too. Just had our first snow up here (8500ft) with cold rain down at my ponds. Water temps yesterday were in the upper 50's. Two days in a row I got blown out by wind.

Plenty of fishing yet to be had, but my "fall" is disappearing fast.

 

[UPSmallie]

I hear ya A-Jay.  Living in the U.P. everything is wrapping up and beginning to transition into the worst months of fishing (In MI's Upper Peninsula).  The salmon runs are almost done.  I've been fortunate to catch numbers of Pink Salmon as this was the good year, and even struck the jackpot with a rare King Salmon.  All the rest of my efforts right now are going towards the last remaining Kings.  Many follow-ups, but nothing to show, yet.  These next few months will all be going towards prepping my tip-ups, working on my ice-fishing rods, and rebuffing my ice lures.  Sadly hardwater, even up here, will reach us around late December to early January with the way the weather has been warmer just in general this year.  Fish can still be caught during this time, no-doubt, but obviously numbers drop significantly.  Best of luck.

[Goose52]

A-Jay - I know you will keep at it until your bait bounces off the hard water ... 

Good luck up there 

It's nice that we have mild winters here in Tennessee...

Edited October 7, 2016 by Goose52