Expert Fishing Advice for the Fall Season

Like the summers and spring, fall is also one of the suitable seasons to go fishing – something most people don’t realize. When the cool breeze of fall starts to hit, anglers take a long break. As a result, they are missing out on the most amazing fishing time of the year. 

If you were one of them and were about to winterize your fishing boat and equipment, then stop yourself and set off for fishing. Since it is another season of the year, so the fishing experience would be different. Like always, we got your back and brought some fall expert fishermen tips to help you have a successful fishing trip this season.

Top 7 Tips for Successful Fishing in Fall 

1. Choose a Suitable Location First

As the cold wind of autumn starts to dig in, fishing jackets would be helpful and the fishes start to change their destination. The location where you fish successfully in summer might not be the same for fall. The fishes begin to linger in shallow water to look for as much food as possible before winter arrives. The baitfish are found mainly in open water and many yards away from a structure. You have to study the location you want to go fishing for successful fishing in the fall.   

2. Timing Matters in Fall Fishing

You cannot make every hour on the water count while fishing in the fall, and you have to accept it. As the water temperature starts to drop by October, the fishes are always looking for warm water. They are often harder to search for in the early morning and when the sun starts to go down. In other words, fish sun-soak themselves on the swallow waterbody when it becomes warm. Therefore in fall, hop on fishing in the middle of the day when the sun and weather temperature are the highest.  

3. Be Generous With Offerings

It is probably one of the most common sayings you have heard as a fisherman that larger baits catch larger fish. It might not be true for the rest of the year, but fall. Fall means pre-winter, and the fishes know the chilly winters will make it harder for them to find food as their metabolism slows down in cold water. For this, the fishes chase larger meals to fill their energy as much as possible compared to losing their energy chasing small meals. So if you want to have successful fishing this fall, make sure to be generous with fish food. This season calls for larger fishing baits like bulky jigs and spinnerbaits. 

4. Carry Slow-moving Rods

It may sound peculiar to the summer anglers, but fishes lookout for slow-moving walleye fishing rods or, indeed, retrieves in Fall. . As the water temperature starts to drop in October, fishes’ metabolism slows down, so they won’t hunt for faster-moving meals like they do in summer. So, to all the fall fishermen, take a slow, steady retrieve to fish successfully in this season. 

Even before you set off for the trip, make sure you fix up all your walleye fishing rods to prevent any mishap at the fishing spot. Do you know that fishing rod repair is one of the critical tips an expert angler can give? Because a rod is the heart of fishing, and it needs to be perfect.  

5. Have Eyes on the Birds

In fall, when the water is slightly warm during the midday, large fishes like coral, catfish, bass, etc., come to the surface to chase their prey. As a result, the hibernating birds fly in the skydive as soon as they see their winter food floating on the water. Therefore, if you see birds like gulls, kingfishers, or doves diving on the water, throw your retrieve over there to get some fish.  

6. Search for Weeds in the Water

Most species of fish feed on different forms of weeds. So as fall hits, the weeds start to die, so the fishes start to crowd that area to eat up the remaining weed. So if you find weed on the waterbody of your fishing location, it is signaling to you that your hunting ground is right there.  

7. Water Depth Transition Points 

Fishes are constantly changing their place in the fall. At one time, they are on the shallow water, which is especially in the midday, and at other times they are underwater to escape the cold. This indicates they can be at a point where they can travel easily from shallow to deep water, which is the transition point. Therefore, it could be another hunting spot for you.  

Popular Fish Species to look in the Fall

That’s all about the expert tips and tricks, now let’s take a look at some must-catch fishes in the fall. The best part about fall fishing is that you get to come across a variety of fish species. Of Course, not all at a time, but you need to figure out what type of fish your chosen location has for you. Some of the must-have fall fish to go for are:

• Large-mouth Bass: One of the main reasons for fall fishing is to stock up some large-mouth bass for the upcoming winter barbeque nights. In fall, the larger bass can be found in 15 feet depth transitions.

• Perch: You will find these delicious yellow perch fish in shallow water in the fall. They seek for small baitfish to feed on. Perch are mainly attracted to muddy locations on the water. 

• Muskie: Prime place to find muskie is weedless water. They feed on small baitfish, just like perch. And also, muskies love larger, slow-moving baits.

• Crappie: Unlike bass, you will find crappie in shallow water during the cloudy and windy days of fall. Usually, when the sun is bright and warm, crappies are found in depth. 

• Smallmouth Bass: The smallmouth bass is also looking forward to feeding themselves for winter. However, unlike the bigmouth bass, they are found at least 12-13 feet deep in water. So make sure you carry a long rod if you wish to catch smallmouth bass. 

• Blue Gill: During Fall, the prime location to find bluegill is the weeds and rocks in shallow water. Live baits, like flies, are great to catch bluegill.

• Walleye: You will find walleye on shallow water during midday in fall. As the temperature starts to drop and water becomes cold, they go deeper inside.   

Types of Baits for Fall Fishing

Let us look at a few types of baits to fish proactively in the fall. 

• Spinnerbaits: Spinnerbaits will be an ideal choice of bait if you are trying to hunt for predatory fish in the fall, such as bass, perch, pike, etc. 

• Topwater Baits: These types of baits are large and usually work effectively in the fall. The fishes cannot help themselves but chase the bait, which looks like their prey trying to get away. 

• Shallow Jerkbait: Again, such baits are great for aggressive fishes like bass, pike, and walleye, who are desperately seeking food in the fall. You can make the bait jerk and slash on the water to trigger the fish. 

• Crankbaits: Pro fisherman can work well with crankbaits in the fall because these are effective when they match the prey’s color and movement. 

• Bulky Jig Bait: Jig baits are slow-moving, so they are useful to catch bigger fish in the fall. We already know why slow-moving baits are important in fall. 

Mistakes to Avoid When Fishing in Fall

Along with some successful fishing trips, we also want to warn you about some mistakes that you should avoid in fall fishing. 

• Moving too Slow: Yes, we said that fall fishes like slow-moving baits previously, but moving it too slowly will cause the food to mix up with water. You need to cover the water before it turns out cold and all the fish goes back deep inside. 

• Picking the Wrong Bait: Another mistake to avoid is not knowing the baits properly before heading to fish. Certain types of fish feed on certain kinds of bait; therefore, take along the baits according to the type of fish your chosen location has. 

• Look out for the Wind: The fall season will have more winds compared to summer and spring times. Since it’s going to be all windy, you need to prepare for it well. Take large, heavy baits with you so that the wind does not distort it while you fish. 

• Choosing the Same Location Repeatedly: Many fall anglers make this simple mistake of choosing the same location over and over again every fall for fishing. Just because you successfully fish in a particular area the previous year does not mean this year will be the same. Due to changes in oxygen level, water clarity, wind direction, and many other factors, the fishes could have changed location. If you don’t study your location before coming to fish, you may get disappointed.    

Final Thought

Fall is indeed one of the best times of the year to go fishing. The chill and gloomy days with a hint of sunshine are great to catch various fishes preparing for the winters. If you follow our tips, you are bound to have successful fall fishing. So, what are you waiting for? Gear up and set off to enjoy your last fishing trip this year.