It's a natural crossover, and many anglers who love fishing also love to hunt. It makes sense, as the call of the outdoors brings many of us to these pursuits. Spending your time hunting during the fall is great, but you are also missing out on some of the best fishing of the year with much less competition from other anglers.
There are several reasons why spending more time on the water during the fall is a good idea and something to keep in mind this year if you are torn between hunting and fishing. The fishing is great, the weather can be excellent, and the time may be ticking on your fishing season, so get out there while you can. Before you know it, winter will be here.
Capitalize On The Fall Feeding Frenzy
No matter where you live, fishing during the fall can be excellent once the water temperatures start to drop. It spurs baitfish activity and gets bass in a feeding mood. For northern anglers, bass know that winter is coming, and fishing can be the best action of the year. The bass are ready to eat everywhere in the country during the fall, and generally, you can fish quickly with fast-moving baits and get into plenty of fish. It's a fun time to be on the water, and the fish are generally biting well after the tricky transitional period between summer and fall.
For places where the water freezes over, the time until the ice sets in can be some of the best action you will experience if you can withstand the cold temperatures. It is one time when what you wear and how you layer with cold weather clothing can be just as crucial as what baits you use. Being comfortable and warm on the water will let you fish longer and experience great action.
Room To Move Around
Anyone who has fished in a crowded lake knows the feeling. You launch the boat and run to your first spot, only to see two boats fishing in your favorite area. You keep going down the lake and see the same thing repeatedly. It's frustrating and often just part of a day on the lake during prime seasons on popular lakes. The fall months eliminate a lot of that as the weather is different, and you have fewer fair-weather anglers looking for sunshine and a large contingent of anglers who are hunting or inside watching football. Take advantage of this and make the most of fall fishing.
Another benefit to having a pick of spots is that once you are in an area, you can pick apart cover and take your time and not worry about the other boats creeping down the bank and getting closer to your area. It allows you to explore more and find the small details of an area and the sweet spots by fishing around or using your electronics. Fishing without being rushed is a great benefit, and you can often catch a few more fish by fishing an area more thoroughly.
Right Now Is A Great Time To Explore New Waters
It's always fun to try out new bodies of water or explore new spots in your local waters, but fall is a great time and an excellent excuse to try something new. Many of the lakes that are the most crowded in the summer months, whether because they are so popular for recreational boating or because they are close to the city, will be much easier to explore and try out when there are fewer people on the water. Take the time to do it this fall.
Enjoy The Changing Of The Seasons
Taking in the great weather and changing leaves can be done hunting as well, but it's a great excuse to get on the water this fall. Aside from the great fishing, the scenery and calmness this time of year when you are on the water is hard to replicate in other seasons. The fall is a great time to be on the water, and like mentioned above, it could be some of the best fishing you'll experience all year. Capitalize on this great time to be outside while a good portion of fellow bass anglers are focused on hunting. Plus, less pressure on the lake always means the chance to catch more fish.
Go Out On A Good Note
Some parts of the country are warm enough to fish year-round, but others aren't quite as lucky. Those in northern climates know that the time will soon come to put the boat away for a long winter nap. If torn between hunting and fishing, deciding to go out on the water a few more times before the extreme cold sets in should be enough to spend more time fishing instead of hunting.
It's also a good idea to end the season on a good note by catching plenty of fish. If you are stuck inside due to cold weather during the winter, the "cabin fever" will be a little less severe if you fished later into the fall and caught plenty of fish. Spring comes a lot sooner after a good fall fishing season.
The fall is a great time to be an outdoorsman because there are opportunities to do almost everything. Spending time hunting is tremendous and an annual tradition for many, but remember the great fishing that happens every year during the season of change before winter kicks in.
