Your fall techniques?

[Skunk City]

Though I'm a huge fisherman, I admit I've been a bit of a little girl in the passed in that I've pretty much stopped fishing when fall rolls around. Basically, I haven't had much luck after September rolled around the passed few years and have gotten discouraged...but I'm determined to change that this year.

Looking for some discussion on techniques once the waters cool and the fish switch into their fall/cooler temperature patterns. I'll be predominately fishing for largemouth/smallmouth bass, pike, and probably mix in some walleye and musky trips before things freeze....fishing either from my 10ft. kayak or a buddies 14' v-hull, both equipped with fish finders, which I am slowly learning to use.

[catfishonthelake]

Walleye and hybrids on Hopatcong or any other lakes that have them. Once lakes "turnover," which can vary depending on weather conditions, but usually when the water reaches the lower 60's, there will be more oxygen below the thermocline (or lack thereof a thermocline) and you will be able to target walleye just off the bottom on deep drop-offs on main lake points. This is how I have caught 90-percent of the walleye I have caught in NJ. I have never done so myself, but more than a few "incidental" musky have been hooked this way on Hopatcong. I hardly every fish largemouth in the fall as there are better things to do, but slow-rolling spinnerbaits is a common fall technique. Pike are game-on. Adult pike, by nature, are cold-water fish. Although you can pick away at the ax handles and even land a few bigger fish during the warmer months, pike thrive in water that is colder than 65-degrees. If you're not pike fishing in the early spring and fall, you're missing the best times to catch these fish. Targeting weedbed that have not died (green weeds) with spinnerbaits in lakes that have pike and largemouths can give you a nice mix. There's a lot more that goes into fall fishing, but that's some of my thought.

[JoeLongo]

Fishing for bass and using artificials, SLOW IT DOWN. With drops in the water temps they are more lethargic.

I like to use live bait fished off the bottom depending on the lake i am fishing. Shiners or fat heads to the trick for me.

[AndyS]

Bait and wait.

Go big or go home.

[AndyS]

Okay, seriously, I don't know about techniques but I have some things written down in my fishing journal.

Big rainbows in the ranger cove at RV in October.
Delaware river for walleye (if it ever stops raining)
Penns Creek in PA in November
NY trout streams close Oct. 15th (but you can go North for Steelhead)
Susky for walleye
Lake Hopatcong for walleye in November (if you don't mind sitting in your boat when it's 40* outside)
Don't bother with fall stocked trout, the leaves come down and it's almost impossible to fish. Also, big stockies take about 4 to 6 weeks before they start feeding. Enclosed a photo of some big fall stockies, saw 6 guys casting toward them, nada. Go out in November when the leaves are gone and crush em in the streams, and you have the place to yourself. Better yet, fish for trout during the day, then hit the suds at night, a perfect outing !!
I got big holdover trout in Duke Island Park in November.
Try a deep drop Binsky at MC or RV for big smallmouth.
Lots and lots to do before the ice locks everything up.

[Lard Almighty]

My favorite technique for fall bass is a super shallow-running crankbait fished slow on shallow flats adjacent to deep water. I have had great days on largemouths well into November using this tactic. If the crankbaits fail to produce, then try a small soft-plastic jerkbait in the same areas.

I have also received intel that the larger bass are deep right now (15-20 feet) and are hitting deep cranks.

I will be fishing the fall bite on Lake Champlain this weekend, I will let you know if I learn any new tricks for fall bassin'.

[acabtp]

i don't know why nobody has mentioned crappies yet. they turn on in the fall, and it is my favorite time to restock them in the freezer. fatheads are my favorite for them, but white mr twisters on a small jig head work well too. they like holding in 10 or 15' of water with structure.

[flatcreek]

Great thread, but I need some info on how to get those Hybrids over in Spruce Run this fall. I caught a couple the end of August drifting herring and I think I'm hooked, they are alot of fun and put up a great fight. Probably going to keep drifting herring and maybe a silver ratl trap deep and slow. Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[jmurr711]

do not forget the philly golden salmon start eating all day long!!!!!

[AJFISH13]

i don't know why nobody has mentioned crappies yet. they turn on in the fall, and it is my favorite time to restock them in the freezer. fatheads are my favorite for them, but white mr twisters on a small jig head work well too. they like holding in 10 or 15' of water with structure.

If you can find them, the crappies are the biggest you will find all year. One big tip is fish SHALLOW lakes. Why? Because the fish can't go deep and know that it's either do or die time. They either get fat for the winter or starve. When I mean shallow, under 10 ft. maximum depth. If you want a nice mixed bag, you can troll small rapalas. Although it's by far my favorite method, it can produce a lot of fish. Good time of year to catch everything at it' heaviest point.

[AndyS]

I hate shallow lakes.

My buddy got an 8lb. hybrid deep jigging for walleye in Lake Hopatcong in November. Jig & crawler or jig & shiner combo.

[AJFISH13]

I hate shallow lakes.

My buddy got an 8lb. hybrid deep jigging for walleye in Lake Hopatcong in November. Jig & crawler or jig & shiner combo.

Nice fish. Walleyes and hybrids defintely arent something you can catch on shallow lakes BUT you still can catch bass,pickeral,perch,crappie,and sunfish. Panfish are feeding well and have the biggest fillets on them this time of year. Larger bass sometimes lose their guard this time of year. Id say from now till early November is probaly your 2nd. best time to catch a big bass. I like shallow lakes, there isn't much a depth zone for the fish to range in.

[Wilson]

Trout in the fall, but all fish are fattening up for the winter.
These Trout would not bite nuttin.
Photo credit Wilson.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Delaware river- Walleye now through late december- they are all over the place jigging during the midday is good crank baits as well. Stickbaits, bombers will work through december for eyes. Smallmouth on the 'BIG D' I catch on topwater until the end of october early november midday. If not jig start on the bottom and work your way up, or use a snap jig method. Pike now through december aggressive in my opinion, topwater will work. If not semi-fast retrieve spinner baits inline spinners. Stop n go big shad-raps or long-a bombers rapalas etc. Musky- liveline some creek chubbs or 16 inch suckers, or get your hands on them pesky TROUT and stick a treble hook through there back and liveline them. Trout live or cut is some of the best bait on the 'BIG D'! Other than that just keep chuckin them big expensive musky lures until you cant feel your arms, you'll catch one of dem bastard MUSKY eventually. Also id like to add that if the water goes down on the 'BIG D that the STRIPERS should be feeding pretty good throughout the RIVA. i fish for stripers on the 'D' from bulls island all the way up to narrowsburg. One more thing, Lake Hopatcong, Ive had great days there using jigs n worms and herring and as always stickbaits will work crankbaits will work in low light hours for them walleye n hybrids. You can catch those species from 10 to 55 ft of water in the fall. Monksville south boat launch, walleye right off the ramp anywhere from 10 to 45 ft down jigging, lindy rigged live shiners. Lindy rigged stickbaits trolled off the back of your yak should get you into something. Also the MUSKY in that resevoir really love TROUT so liveline em if you have the chance! Just go fishing and try everything. Go big or go home!!! FISH ON COMIN DOWN!!!!:D These are just a handful of methods I use and trust me I use em all.

[Wilson]

Delaware river- Walleye now through late december- they are all over the place jigging during the midday is good crank baits as well. Stickbaits, bombers will work through december for eyes. Smallmouth on the 'BIG D' I catch on topwater until the end of october early november midday. If not jig start on the bottom and work your way up, or use a snap jig method. Pike now through december aggressive in my opinion, topwater will work. If not semi-fast retrieve spinner baits inline spinners. Stop n go big shad-raps or long-a bombers rapalas etc. Musky- liveline some creek chubbs or 16 inch suckers, or get your hands on them pesky TROUT and stick a treble hook through there back and liveline them. Trout live or cut is some of the best bait on the 'BIG D'! Other than that just keep chuckin them big expensive musky lures until you cant feel your arms, you'll catch one of dem bastard MUSKY eventually. Also id like to add that if the water goes down on the 'BIG D that the STRIPERS should be feeding pretty good throughout the RIVA. i fish for stripers on the 'D' from bulls island all the way up to narrowsburg. One more thing, Lake Hopatcong, Ive had great days there using jigs n worms and herring and as always stickbaits will work crankbaits will work in low light hours for them walleye n hybrids. You can catch those species from 10 to 55 ft of water in the fall. Monksville south boat launch, walleye right off the ramp anywhere from 10 to 45 ft down jigging, lindy rigged live shiners. Lindy rigged stickbaits trolled off the back of your yak should get you into something. Also the MUSKY in that resevoir really love TROUT so liveline em if you have the chance! Just go fishing and try everything. Go big or go home!!! FISH ON COMIN DOWN!!!!:D These are just a handful of methods I use and trust me I use em all.
Well skunk, you asked now what?:D

[Skunk City]

You guys are amazing. This is the reason I come to these forums every single day.

Phenomenal amount of information here. I am still digesting it all and making some hand written notes. Wow lol.