Looking Forward To Fall

[Mobasser]

After sweating it out in the heat and humidity, by this time of year, I'm ready for fall.                                     I love fishing on those light jacket days. I've had some good fall days over the years, but like all fishing, it can be tough also.                 Fall has some added benefits. For one, many guys have put away they're fishing tackle, gearing up for hunting season. Secondly, the fall scenery around the lakes is always good.                                               If I catch some fish, of course that's good. But, if not, I'll still enjoy my fall trips, just being out there, and taking in the cooler air, and the changing colors. Is anyone else ready for fall? ?

[TnRiver46]

I’m ready for fall, mainly because that means winter is closer (and it’s pretty )

[Bass Rutten]

Amen, for me labor day marks the last hurrah for the scourge of the waters aka skiers, pontooners, and pleasure boaters, woohoo!

[TnRiver46]

11 minutes ago, Bassjam2000 said:

Amen, for me labor day marks the last hurrah for the scourge of the waters aka skiers, pontooners, and pleasure boaters, woohoo!

I wish! We have water skiiers in Santa hats on Christmas 

[A-Jay]

 

So here it is, the first week of September.    

For those of us that are eventually heading to hard water, this last few months or so of open water seems to really fly by.   These next several 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 a little better with seasonal overnight & day time air temps (but might be wet) 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 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.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[GreenPig]

I really look forward to Fall every year as our Summers are just like a Evil Hateful Suana. I get to finally wash and put up my neon green fishing thong and put some real clothes on which makes everybody around here happier.? Once I get thru September it's amazing fishing til the Suana returns. Bring on the freezing guides, coveralls, cold water, cold wind, jigs, jerkbaits, and spoons.

[LrgmouthShad]

The way fish have been biting this weekend so far, fall fishing is close here in NY. Have found completely different patterns for catching them this weekend. Look forward to returning to the water soon this weekend. I agree with the beauty and clothing comfort of fall!

[Tatsu Dave]

Be glad you don't have to stop end of this month AJay! I'll still be seeing pics of you catching giant SM ? it is what it is  Dave

[T-Billy]

39 minutes ago, Tatsu Dave said:

Be glad you don't have to stop end of this month AJay! I'll still be seeing pics of you catching giant SM ? it is what it is  Dave

Man that sucks for y'all. Like your winters aren't long enough up there without shut'n ya down early. 

[Sphynx]

I am constantly going back and forth over whether or not autumn or spring is my favorite time of the year, but the case I make for fall is that more often than not the weather is more agreeable, the scenery is beautiful, at least until towards the end, the pipe tobacco is more flavorful for some reason, there are often less people on the water, (both fishing and other forms of recreation) and the general focus of fish on frenzied feeding for the winter means that you can catch some huge numbers and size of fish...now there are plenty of days where it isn't such great fishing, but because they mostly school up and corral bait it means that the days where you locate them you have some unforgettable experiences especially with regards to numbers, I remember days that I could throw 6 different presentations and it didn't matter at all, they bit every last one of them, jigs, topwaters, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, worms, jerkbaits, paddletails, whatever, they were simply mad with the need to feed, inevitably you end up with some impressive sized fish too, which is also fun. I can definitely say that while it may not be my favorite season with no chancefor debate, it's definitely up there in the top 2.

[gim]

Fall is my favorite time of year. Most specifically, the months of October and November. I like football and I like to hunt.

 

September isn’t bad either but still has hints of summer-type humidity. Night time lows are cooler and I don’t have to blast the AC all the time anymore at least.

 

As for fishing, 50 degrees is the mark for me. Once it drops below that, it’s time to hang it up. That temperature usually comes around the second half of October.

 

Hoping for a gradual cool down the next couple months. A good frost would kill a lot of bugs.

[king fisher]

Fall here means afternoon thunder showers Flooded grass buzz baits frogs and big bass rain stops in November then the fishing gets even better.  I hope to be able to start fishing about the time the rain stops.

[padon]

28 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Fall is my favorite time of year. Most specifically, the months of October and November. I like football and I like to hunt.

 

September isn’t bad either but still has hints of summer-type humidity. Night time lows are cooler and I don’t have to blast the AC all the time anymore at least.

 

As for fishing, 50 degrees is the mark for me. Once it drops below that, it’s time to hang it up. That temperature usually comes around the second half of October.

 

Hoping for a gradual cool down the next couple months. A good frost would kill a lot of bugs.

thats funny ecause right around 50 around here is when the bite can get crazy. early fall september and half of october can be tough around here. when the water gets close to 60 the bites gets pretty good. but when it hits 55 things can get real interesting. problem for me is i like to bow hunt also. Like used to live for it. those cold nights and crisp days with turned leaves really pull me to get in the woods. but i know  the bite can be great. ive lost most of my good farms over the years and am limited to 2 properties so that makes it easier to stary on the lake.

[gim]

50 minutes ago, padon said:

thats funny ecause right around 50 around here is when the bite can get crazy. early fall september and half of october can be tough around here. when the water gets close to 60 the bites gets pretty good. but when it hits 55 things can get real interesting. problem for me is i like to bow hunt also. Like used to live for it. those cold nights and crisp days with turned leaves really pull me to get in the woods. but i know  the bite can be great. ive lost most of my good farms over the years and am limited to 2 properties so that makes it easier to stary on the lake.

Some people still target bass lower than 50. I don’t. I’ve tried before and although it can be done, it’s mostly futile. Up here in the far north, we all know what’s coming beyond fall anyways. I love to fish but hunting season has a short window of opportunity and I need to take advantage of it.

 

I’ve had some really good fall fishing when the water temp is about 52-55 degrees. Last year that occurred around the 12th of October.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I love to fish but hunting season has a short window of opportunity and I need to take advantage of it.

I miss grouse season - main bummer of losing my 'shooting eye'...sold my old Savage 775 once I finally admitted that I couldn't shoot worth a darn off-hand. (sighs)

[TnRiver46]

20 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Some people still target bass lower than 50. I don’t. I’ve tried before and although it can be done, it’s mostly futile. Up here in the far north, we all know what’s coming beyond fall anyways. I love to fish but hunting season has a short window of opportunity and I need to take advantage of it.

 

I’ve had some really good fall fishing when the water temp is about 52-55 degrees. Last year that occurred around the 12th of October.

47-49 is my all time favorite water temp for fishing by a landslide. What’s funny is I didn’t know you could even catch a single bass in winter until I was about 25 years old. Before that I wasted all my cold water efforts on trout, now I know better. We tried the stupid float n fly for several days because bassmaster always had articles about how well it worked below 50 degrees. I have still never caught a bass with float n fly. Somewhere we heard that spoons and silver buddies work, and one day it just clicked. Now I just use tube or worm with confidence 

[padon]

21 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Some people still target bass lower than 50. I don’t. I’ve tried before and although it can be done, it’s mostly futile. Up here in the far north, we all know what’s coming beyond fall anyways. I love to fish but hunting season has a short window of opportunity and I need to take advantage of it.

 

I’ve had some really good fall fishing when the water temp is about 52-55 degrees. Last year that occurred around the 12th of October.

funny how fish act a little differently in different parts of the country. our fish seem to start to bite later in the spring water temp wise than northern fish. i have a hell of a time in spring til the water gets about 55 to 58. i have some friends up north who catch them really good at 50

[huZZah]

I enjoy fishing the most when the water cools down. I don’t mind hot weather at all, but it’s nice being alone at every lake. No one else wants to stand in the cold. 
 

And I’ve caught some awesome fish when they are supposedly “lethargic.” And for bank fishing it tends to bring them closer for warmth. 

[Koz]

I'm definitely looking forward to the cooler weather so the fishing picks up again. The water temperature has been pushing 90 for over the past month, but we've now had three straight nights where the air temperature is in the low 60's so things should start cooling down.

 

For the next week, daytime air temperatures will be lucky to see 90 and all of the nighttime temperatures are in the 60's. I've fished only a few times in the past month because the fishing has been so lousy even the guides are lamenting the slower than slow bite. But hopefully this week the water temperature drops enough that the LMB and stripers are moving again.

[Bankbeater]

I'm looking forward to fall coming.  There are small lakes and ponds around here that fish better in the spring and fall, and some that fish better in the summer. Plus with the vegetation starting to die off it will be easier to fish from the bank.

[basscrusher]

I know I'm in the minority here,  but I'll say it anyway.  I love summer.  I like the heat and humidity.   95 degrees and 90 percent humidity doesn't bother me.  And besides,  when bass fishing gets slow in the dog days,  there's usually something biting in the saltwater. 

[TnRiver46]

24 minutes ago, basscrusher said:

I know I'm in the minority here,  but I'll say it anyway.  I love summer.  I like the heat and humidity.   95 degrees and 90 percent humidity doesn't bother me.  And besides,  when bass fishing gets slow in the dog days,  there's usually something biting in the saltwater. 

I’m right there with ya on that too! I like miserable hot because most people say it’s too hot to fish . More space for me. Sure it’s hot but I’m in shorts and flip flops and can jump into the water. Beats the heck out of boots and jeans and ladders and roofs all day 

[dovii]

what do you guys throw in fall? I get frustrated when it’s cold as I can’t catch anything and give up. Usually happens in September. It’s quite sad because I don’t get to fish again till may next year.

[T-Billy]

21 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I miss grouse season - main bummer of losing my 'shooting eye'...sold my old Savage 775 once I finally admitted that I couldn't shoot worth a darn off-hand. (sighs)

Me too. Not many left around here due to habitat loss. Not much old growth left. Sorry to hear about your eye.

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Sorry to hear about your eye.

Thanks, but I've had time to get use to it...6-1/2 years now.