Fish in Transition?

[Guest avid]

I've been noticing that the fishing reports recently have been mediocre to poor.  I think it's very valuable that people folks their lousy outings as well as their successful ones.

It really appears that the bass are in transition.  they are adjusting to cooling temps and shorter days.  I have a hunch things are going to open up reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal soon  

[fourbizz]

i'll second that!

[Bassinfreak2]

Oh yeah! I agree! Have been fishing an hr or two daily untill the bite picks up. Once that happens I will hit the water sunrise to sunset!  

[Siebert Outdoors]

the temp swings from high 60's to high 80's are really sucking.  I dont think the fish have a clue what they really want to do.  One week the water is in the 60's the next its in the 70's then back to 60's.  Just madness

[fishbear]

I totally agree.  Here in Georgia, been in the mid to low 70s.  Then we get 3 or so days of 85 degree weather, now it is dropping back into the low 70s for the weekend....  Fish are more confused than I am about how to catch them!!!!   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Murray]

i hope so

[Matt Fly]

Transition and lake turnover has started.     Smell gives it away, if you nose isn't sensitive, the brown stain and brown foam bubbles gives it away.

Should pickup soon.    Shad have started to migrate to the backs of deeper creeks on most east Tx resorvoirs.

Cranks would be ideal to target the suspended fish during turnover.

Hookem

Matt.

[nboucher]

Transition? Ha. Here in New England it's jig season. Today the air temp was 55 and the water temps were in the low 60s. Gusty wind, too. Managed a 3-pounder on a jig and a couple of smaller ones. Now I'm sipping hot coffee. Brrrr.

[CJ]

The fish here in Ky. have gotten over their transition and it has become smallmouth haven.Lots of good reports of brown fish and largemouths are doing great in the shallows.I will be glad to get this tournament over so I can get back home and catch a new PB smallie.

I know what you mean Avid,we had a couple of weeks of transition and turnover.It really sucked.

[Jall65]

Here on Lake Guntersville the bass was starting to hit top water around the mil-foil but the little warm front pushed them back deep again.. But this cold front that came throught today should concvince them back up. The Bream is starting to show up around the dying mil foil and the bass is starting to chase them. Thats a start . I want top water bite again  8-)

[5bass]

During the summer to fall transition I will start at the mouth of a major creek that is a little off-colored.I'll fish there an hour,then move to the mid-creek section for an hour,then to the back of the creek for an hour.

Last time I went out the fish were around the mouth and just into the creek.I boated 2 pretty quick,then went a good little while with no bites,so I moved to the mid-creek section.....no bites and nothing pushing the shad around.Went back to the mouth after an hour and noticed the shad were closer to the bank than they were earlier so I pounded the laydowns with my spinnerbait.It paid off.The bass had moved into the brush waiting to ambush any shad coming by.I caught several bass in about a 45 minute window by fishing the laydowns and making as much contact with the wood as I could......anytime my spinnerbait hit wood,I killed it and let it flutter down.Thats when I got the bites.

During fall transition with fluctuating temps you really have to be patient and stick it out.....it's a very slow time interrupted by short-lived feeding frenzy's.Once the transition completes,the fishing gets easier.If you stick it out long enough to catch a few when it's slow,you'll know exactly where they are and what to do when they do go on the feeding binge.

[dink]

I have also noticed the surface temps fluctuating a bit, yet acouple of feet down there is not much change.  I have been having very productive days when it is 65 or 85 outside with a spinnerbait.  Granted, it is a little cooler up here (St. Louis area), but I have stuck with my bladed baits regardless of the weather.  Blade and/or skirt modifications, different weights and unique presentations have equalled success for me so far this Fall... and it's not even the "prime time" yet.  Have a 'hawg-filled Fall' everyone!

[Valascus]

the temp swings from high 60's to high 80's are really sucking. I dont think the fish have a clue what they really want to do. One week the water is in the 60's the next its in the 70's then back to 60's. Just madness

Ain't that the truth  ...I have also had a hard time locating them. I have just ben sticking with shallower water techniques for now. They will be there eventually. One day I am just expecting things to explode.

[womanangler1971]

I ditto EVERYONE.....here where I live in Maryland (harford county) it's crazy, the weather and everything..today it's 50 and tomorrow it's suppose to be 70 and sunny.  Who knows, my bites have been little to none.  I"m in the HORRIBLE slump for sure.  Only pulling out stupid little fish sticks like less than quarter pounders......what can I say.  I'll be out tomorrow for sure and I better pull out something worth taking a picture for..............I wanna cry :'(

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Wake me up when the fishing gets better.  The past two weeks I have been out (including today) it has been painfully slow.  Last weekend I was trying to catch some suspenders with not much luck.  Today I left the sonar head unit in the garage .... .  Yeah, it was a tough day to say the least.

[Guest avid]

Only pulling out stupid little fish sticks like less than quarter pounders

Is your lake named "Mrs. Paul's"  ;D

[Gatorbassman]

Excuses are like armpits. Everybody has them and they all stink. Go fishing and stop complaining.

[BassKing813]

I ditto EVERYONE.....here where I live in Maryland (harford county) it's crazy, the weather and everything..today it's 50 and tomorrow it's suppose to be 70 and sunny. Who knows, my bites have been little to none. I"m in the HORRIBLE slump for sure. Only pulling out stupid little fish sticks like less than quarter pounders......what can I say. I'll be out tomorrow for sure and I better pull out something worth taking a picture for..............I wanna cry :'(

At least your catching some. I haven't caught a bass since July.

[Syfer420]

Since July!!!??? your doing somthing wrong brother

[BD]

It's on right now too

We went saturday, and found them sitting right by grass banks, but there was always 'deeper' water nearby. the wind was blowing shad into the bank, and they would come up and murder them. we stop counting how many we caught, and caught 3 3lber's by 2pm using trixie shads and dominators in bad shad colors.

[Valascus]

I have noticed that the shallow bite has started to pick up a bit. I did alright on the local parks pond fishing a 3/8 oz. Jig-X in Pumpkin Pepper Green with a NetBaits Paca Craw trailer in Alabama Craw. Best of that day was a 2lb 4oz. fish that hit the jig shallow...and I mean shallow. Less than a foot of water and less than a foot from the bank. Shot out from under a partially submerged log and hammered it just as I was getting ready to pull it from the water. Big fish for that little pond. They hit the jig pretty good for the time I had it tied on. They were hanging out pretty close to wood in shallow water. Had to be a pretty precise cast to get 'em to whack it. But once you got it close enough to 'em...BAM..fish on!

[GAMEOVER]

Yeah they usually hit in Michigan when the Salmon come to shore. My wifes sisters husband and I are going to Lake Huron tomorrow night all night to get some Salmon action then hitting some other bodies of water when the sun sets for some Small and Largemouth action.