How late into the season is still “good”?

[Hollada]

One of my best days last fall for smallies on St Clair was Nov 9, with around 30-40 fish for 24 lbs.  Water temp was 48.  Big storm and winds moved in the next week.  Boat went into storage on Nov 20.  Buddy caught 25 in the same area on Nov 20 lol.

[Mr. Aquarium]

On 10/9/2022 at 7:40 PM, MassBass said:

First week of November was pretty bleak in New Hampshire last year, I won't bank on repeating a trip at that time.

I know of some guys who do well in Maine and NH around that time on blade baits 

[MassBass]

7 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

I know of some guys who do well in Maine and NH around that time on blade baits 

Yeah, blade baits are in my box and arsenal now after that expedition. Did get a nice largemouth on a chatterbait (first cast first day) and had something huge show for a glide bait in the back of a marina. Bank fishing, hopping around in a rental car. 

[Munkin]

On 10/5/2022 at 8:59 AM, gimruis said:

Ya but they're like reeling in a wet shoe when its that cold.  Its completely dead weight.  So then its essentially like walleye fishing lol

 

The most accurate description of catching a Walleye ever! Hit like a Freight Train them it just feels like you snagged a wet shirt.

 

Smallmouth bulldog and dive but yeah they do not fight as hard in freezing water.

 

Latest I have caught a Riversmallie is December 27th and the earliest is January 1st. Coldest water temp was 34 degrees and I managed one on a hair jig. February is the worst month IMO?

 

Allen

[The Baron]

Update:  I had a decent outing on a small lake in late September, but I’ve been out 3x in October with extremely little success.  I’ve tried every depth, top to bottom in as deep as 40ft. of water.  Caught a few small ones second last trip, for several hours or trying.  Yesterday I fished for 4 hours and caught one small pike on a lipless crankbait.  Toward evening, I saw a couple fish surface and paddles over.  Threw a popper, fluke and jerkbait with no bites.  Surface temp is 54 here now.

 

I came home and watched a few more YouTube videos about how awesome the fall bite is - I’m starting to think it’s all a lie. lol

 

I’m trying a different small-ish lake today with a buddy.  Unless it’s a good day, I’m going to pack my gear away for the year and accept that I just don’t get fall fishing. ?

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, The Baron said:

Update:  I had a decent outing on a small lake in late September, but I’ve been out 3x in October with extremely little success.  I’ve tried every depth, top to bottom in as deep as 40ft. of water.  Caught a few small ones second last trip, for several hours or trying.  Yesterday I fished for 4 hours and caught one small pike on a lipless crankbait.  Toward evening, I saw a couple fish surface and paddles over.  Threw a popper, fluke and jerkbait with no bites.  Surface temp is 54 here now.

 

I came home and watched a few more YouTube videos about how awesome the fall bite is - I’m starting to think it’s all a lie. lol

 

I’m trying a different small-ish lake today with a buddy.  Unless it’s a good day, I’m going to pack my gear away for the year and accept that I just don’t get fall fishing. ?

54 degrees should be prime! Try a small fluke or damiki armor shad on a jig head maybe 

[roadwarrior]

Rage Menace, Structure Bug and Baby Craw.

[The Baron]

Well, yesterday was a beautiful weather day.  We caught a few largemouth (including a 5lb. 10oz - which is BIG for up here) on jig and dropshot in one spot with some rock/sand transition in 16-18ft. of water.  But, zero smallmouth.  I did see several fish on my cheap fishfinder that I believe were smallmouth, most were suspended at 20-25ft. in 30-35ft of water.  We also saw a couple surface so sat over that spot (we're in a canoe) and when not moving saw lots of streaking up and down on the ff which I actually think were smallmouth feeding.  Dropshot, jig and topwater spook turned up nothing.  I need to learn how to fish the middle of the water column - I should have tied on a lipless crank or maybe a deep crank but I was into my last 15 min of fishing to make it home for Sunday dinner.  I learned a lot yesterday - such as, get better electronics and learn how to catch suspended fish. lol

[TnRiver46]

25 minutes ago, The Baron said:

Well, yesterday was a beautiful weather day.  We caught a few largemouth (including a 5lb. 10oz - which is BIG for up here) on jig and dropshot in one spot with some rock/sand transition in 16-18ft. of water.  But, zero smallmouth.  I did see several fish on my cheap fishfinder that I believe were smallmouth, most were suspended at 20-25ft. in 30-35ft of water.  We also saw a couple surface so sat over that spot (we're in a canoe) and when not moving saw lots of streaking up and down on the ff which I actually think were smallmouth feeding.  Dropshot, jig and topwater spook turned up nothing.  I need to learn how to fish the middle of the water column - I should have tied on a lipless crank or maybe a deep crank but I was into my last 15 min of fishing to make it home for Sunday dinner.  I learned a lot yesterday - such as, get better electronics and learn how to catch suspended fish. lol

Fluke or gulp minnow on a jig head. Or a light 1/16 oz or so inside a tube slow falling and yo yo 

 

when the big tourneys come during cold smallmouth fishing it’s always dominated by damiki. Drop shot for some reason isn’t as effective in colder temps (regionally speaking)

[hpbcrillo]

I went out a couple days ago and smoked the smallmouth (and saugeye) on flukes in fast water on the river.  18"+ smallie, 22" Saugeye.  Water 4' depth, 54 deg water temp.  Plan to keep crushing them into Dec (hopefully)

[Motoboss]

Was on the river today and got skunked. Pretty nice weather, warmish water but just low. Had two blow ups on a too water clacker but nothing else. Still fun!

[DogBone_384]

I'll fish for smallies year round, as long as the ponds don't freeze over.  Blade baits are the trick.