Knapp: Setting expectations for fall fishing as weather, variables continue to fluctuate
Fall fishing brings with it a certain paradox, providing the potential for some of the year’s best action, but also a host of variables that influence things to where the sport can indeed be quite slow.
On the plus side, in general gamefish and panfish respond to the shortening days and cooler water temperatures by an increase in feeding activity. Also, since most popular fish species spawn during the spring — which brings with it rapid changes in fish location and activities that can be challenging to keep up with — fall offers a bit more stability. Chilling water also tends to concentrate fish in certain types of habitats, reducing the options.
This includes weather patterns, water conditions (example: flow) and water clarity are among the host of variables to also consider.
Take for instance recent weather patterns.
The second summer we’ve experienced of late has slowed the process of cooling waters. Though our nights have been cold, including some frost, sunny daytime highs pushing into the 70s have largely countered the effect. Temperatures on our lakes as well as the Allegheny River recently hovered around 58 to 60 degrees, rather warm for late October.
On deeper lakes like Keystone, which stratify in distinct thermal layers during the summer, this is significant as the slowly cooling water stretches out the turnover period, that time when those layers break down. Fall turnover destabilizes the fishes’ environment which leads to poor fishing, with the action picking back up after things settle down.
Late last week I managed a few bass and crappies on Keystone, but the bites were exceedingly light, the fish barely hooked in the lip.
Let’s counter that with a trip my friend Dave Keith and I took to Lake Arthur a day earlier.
Arthur is relatively shallow, and as such doesn’t experience the layering mentioned earlier, the lone exception being the deeper basin near the dam. Dave and I were fishing the upper part of the lake near the Rt. 528 bridge. Whereas the action was slow on Keystone, we managed over 30 crappies on Arthur.
Water clarity is another relevant consideration.
Keystone is clear while Arthur is heavily stained. As such, we were able to catch crappies directly under the boat while hovering over them in 10 to 12 feet of water. By contrast, the fish I took from Keystone were holding in wood cover in depths of around 25 feet.
In flowing water like the Allegheny, fall movements of fish relate to both water temperature and flow.
Bass and walleyes in particular will move from the shallower, current-rich areas of summer to more protected, deeper habitat. Higher flows hasten this relocation as do falling water temperatures. But with flows similar to that of the summer, and water temperatures comparatively warm, I’m still finding smallmouth bass and walleyes in the classic summertime haunts.
I love fall fishing. Many of my biggest fish have come in the late fall, often between Thanksgiving and freeze-up. By then, the lakes have stabilized and the river fish have moved into the classic fall spots.
If past falls are an indication, the best is yet to come.
Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.
