The pre-winter bite is in full effect, and while it takes some work to pull out some walleye, crappie or other fish from a lake or river, they are hungry. The walleye and crappie were hitting on the river a few weeks ago, but since I've been in deer hunting mode, I haven't made it out. Some of the best fishing can be done in the fall, not all of it needs to be on the river. For example, I've had some fantastic luck on lakes during the fall time frames. Like any time of year, figuring out what the fish want is always the key. There are some things that hold true for each species regardless of season. 
For example, walleye like to bite during dawn and dusk timeframes, due to their eyesight advantage in low-light conditions. That's something you can keep in mind year 'round. But one thing that is often forgotten is how aggressive fish are feeding right now. They're filling up for the big winter cooldown and have no problem going after food. Walleye's main forage are young of year crappie, bluegill, etc. Big swimbaits are a hit. A medium retrieve with no stop-and-go has been my main go-to this fall. I doubt I'll get out on open water again, but I hope folks take advantage of the "fall feedbag" time.
It takes a significant investment of time to sit in a tree for hours on end. However, the rewards can be well worth the wait. I can fish for 3 days straight and maybe catch a limit of fish. While that's a good thing, I can hunt for 3 days, shoot a doe and have 10 times the meat in my freezer. Plus, there's more of a challenge with hunting than with fishing, at least in my opinion. The only thing that would keep me from a stand would be insane rain or wind. I have yet to bow hunt in the rain, but I've done so in 40mph gusts on several occasions.Just remember, whatever you do, stay safe and enjoy the outdoors!
No comments:
Post a Comment