ENJOY FALL FISHING
By Bob Jensen

Fishing should be a pleasant experience regardless of the season. Not many things compare to a warm spring day on the water. A cool summer morning, just as the sun is coming up is a great time to be in a boat on a lake, river, or pond. And a warm day in February, when you're on the ice in just a sweatshirt, is something special.

However, many anglers will agree that a day on the water in the fall is something they look forward to more than any other fishing experience. There are many reasons why autumn is so greatly anticipated and enjoyed by anglers. The visual aspect of fall fishing is one of the appeals. The sun shining on a shoreline that is home to trees clad with orange, gold, and red leaves is stunning.

Water traffic is much lighter in the fall, which increases the likelihood of wildlife visiting the waters edge. In many areas of the Midwest, it is common to see a variety of wildlife casually wandering along the shoreline. Flocks of ducks and geese are a common site in certain regions of the Midwest this time of year as they wing their way to their winter homes.

Although the scenery and wildlife are nice sideshows for autumn anglers, fall fishing is often the best of the year. Mother Nature has told the residents of the lakes and rivers that they need to start feeding heavier to prepare for the upcoming months, and when fish start feeding heavily, they are easier to catch.

Small, medium, and large fish will all be aggressive in the fall. In fact, many anglers consider this time of year to be the best time to take a trophy. The biggest bass, walleyes, pike and muskies are more accessible to most anglers now than any other time of the year.

Big baits are the way to go in the fall. When the walleyes or smallmouth are in deep water, a Roach Rig tipped with a four to six inch red-tail is very popular and productive.

If largemouth bass are the target, a rubber-legged jig with a plastic trailer will be good. If you're looking for average sized bass, use a medium sized trailer. However, if you're after the biggest bass that swims in the lake you're fishing, tie on a Jungle Jig and add a five-inch Power Hawg. The Power Hawg has lots of bulk and will appeal to the really big fish.

Some days the fish will be shallow, other days they will be deep. For numbers of fish this time of year, I've done really well in the shallows. But for bigger fish, my best action has come from the mid-depths, say fourteen to twenty feet in depth.

Don't forget to try pulling crankbaits for walleyes at night. A Frenzy medium minnow is a walleye killer when they are on the reefs in seven to twelve feet of water. I did great with the shallow version of this bait while wading the shorelines last autumn.

Fishing should always be fun, but this time of the year can provide more elements that add to the fun. Scenery, wildlife, lots of fish and big fish can make for a memorable day on the water. Make your plans now to create a memorable day on the water.