By Nick Simonson

While many eyes turn to the uplands or that favorite waterfowl spot this time of year, the openwater fishing can provide some of the very best angling opportunities of the season in fall.  Whether it’s walleyes fished with swimbaits under the October full moon, or voracious stocked trout aggressively targeting spoons burned through the super cool waters of late season, autumn angling presents some great opportunities for these species that turn on this time of year, often right until ice-up.  What follows are just a few reminders to keep in mind for a successful post-summer trip.

The Hunger Games

Like the cornucopias that are beginning to dominate advertisements and seasonal suggestions that Thanksgiving and the bounty of fall’s harvest aren’t far away, the waters are full of what summer has produced for the predators that lurk below.  Young-of-the-year perch, bluegills, and white bass are present along with various minnow species which have developed in the now-receding weedlines from the previous season.  They serve as the forage base for the larger predators looking to fatten up before winter’s lean months set in.

Knowing what prey fish dominate the bottom of the food pyramid in a local water will help with the selection of baits to target those fish in fall.  Utilize bigger baits that match the local forage, as species like walleyes, pike and even smallmouth bass have an autumn appetite for something that will fortify them for the cold-water season.  These larger-profiled lures will give the impression of an easier meal that stands out from the forage, but still matches the hatch enough to not seem out of the ordinary.

A Bite With Conditions

Autumn’s weather is often fickle, those this season so far has been relatively stable with warmer stretches sustaining a late-summer bite past the equinox.  That’s not to say that the north wind won’t blow and cold fronts sill become a more common occurrence.  Watching the weather and planning a trip ahead of those downward shifts in temperature will capitalize on situational feeding binges that fish tend to go on before things get nasty.  Use weather sites to get a good predication of what’s coming and plan an outing before a cold front for the best opportunity. 

After the front, expect things to be a bit tougher an require a slower presentation, noting that as skies clear and the comparative warm-up that occurs are often shorter lived and may require an extra day or two to get things back on track for the autumn bite.  The same rules of summer apply, they’re just a bit more amplified as fall’s weather patterns whipsaw a bit more as the weather pattern gets more unstable as the season shifts.  Plan your adventure accordingly. 

Stay Safe

The chilly waters of fall harken back to the post-ice conditions of late winter and early spring and present an added reminder to wear your life jacket in addition to the extra layers of clothing to stay warm and dry while following the late openwater bite. No matter the bulk, make sure to wear your personal flotation device when plying the chilly waters for your favorite species.  Let other non-anglers know where you’re heading, when you’ll be back, and what the plan is for an autumn outing.  Again, watching the weather is key if snow, ice or other inhospitable conditions may set in. 

Fall provides some of the best fishing opportunities of the year, especially for the biggest fish that are on the feed.  Target them using baits that resemble their preferred food source, but stand out as a bit bigger and focus on those preferred feeding times ahead of shifts in the weather to find the best success.  Stay safe as the weather shifts and in all likelihood, you’ll find this fall to be a great season to be both on the water and in the field.

Simonson is the lead writer and editor of Dakota Edge Outdoors.

Featured Photo: Ring the Dinner Bell – Walleyes will be on the feed as waters cool.  Be ready for them with big baits that match forage and focus on those prefrontal times for best fall fishing.