Fall fishing: Don't let great fishing months slip away

Yeah, we get it. You’ve been fishing for months, and hopefully, you’re having a great time and catching some fish. Then fall comes along, the guns come out, and the rods get stashed. Considering hunting seasons tend to be relatively short compared to fishing season, it makes sense. 

But if you’re not a hunter, or you can squeeze a fishing trip into your fall, it’s not only worth your time, it could be some of the best fishing of the year.  

Don’t let the cooler air temps fool you

Martin Koenig, Idaho Fish and Game’s Sportfishing Program Coordinator, points out that while we’re grabbing our sweatshirts and jackets, there’s a lag time before fish feel that cooler weather due to “thermal momentum,” which essentially means it takes longer to cool water than air. 

Also, cooler water will do many fish some good after the summer heat made them lethargic and slower to feed. Many bodies of water, whether still water or rivers and streams, are coming back into prime temperatures for fish to get active again. 

Koenig also noted that fish behavior is heavily influenced by both water temperatures and the amount of daylight. As the water cools and days become shorter, fish know winter is coming and food will be soon be in short supply, so they start feeding aggressively in preparation for the long winter. 

The stocking trucks return

Fish and Game stocks catchable trout year round, but hatchery managers shift their stocking efforts away from lower elevation ponds and reservoirs during summer months when temperatures are too hot for trout. 

When that water cools, the trucks return, so a fall fishing trip might be as close a neighborhood pond or local lake or reservoir. Many local ponds are back on the stocking rotation and offer a great fall opportunity close to home. Check Fish and Game’s fish stocking webpage to get current information. 

Different seasons, different addresses

Before you grab your rod and run off to where you were smacking fish in the spring or summer, remember fish are migratory, particularly those in larger lakes and reservoirs. Cooling weather will push many bass and panfish offshore, and you’ll need to adjust your tactics to where they are, not where they used to be.

“They’re found in different places, and that’s the biggest thing for anglers to remember,” Koenig said.

For bass and panfish, a quick rule of thumb is deeper and in more open water, not along those convenient shorelines, bays, coves, etc. This is where good electronics can pay big dividends. 

But cooling water also means trout will come up more shallow, so bank anglers and trollers alike will see more success fishing closer to the surface than during the heat of summer. 

Different locations also include fish in rivers. Many trout streams are low and clear, which means trout may be spooky and lurking in deeper, or more protected waters. Even though you’re fishing, be a hunter. Be on the lookout for prime water and be stealthy so you don’t spook fish before your first cast. If the fish aren’t there, or not biting, move on to the next spot. 

Fishing during the rut? What? 

Fall fishing is a great time to intercept aggressive fish as they approach spawning seasons. Species like brown trout, lake trout, and brook trout all spawn in the fall, which means some of the largest trout are likely to be the most aggressive and available than in other seasons. 

"It's like hunting big bucks during the rut," Koenig said. “Fall may be your best chance to see a trophy brown trout, brook trout or aggressive steelhead.” 

A well-placed streamer or lure can provoke a savage strike followed by a battle with a trophy fish. 

Another fall spawner is whitefish, which school up and seem to love colder temperatures. They can be found feeding in deep runs and pools of larger trout streams and provide some fun fishing action for fly anglers and on light spinning rods. 

And don’t forget the king of fall fishing

Like stampeding horses, ocean-fresh steelhead are returning to Idaho, and the run peaks in the fall. Steelhead runs have been below-average in recent years, but forecasts and dam counts are showing higher numbers of steelhead coming to Idaho, especially in the Clearwater River.  

If enough fish return to Hells Canyon Dam, you can also expect some steelhead to be trucked to the Boise River, which typically starts in early November. Stay tuned to Fish and Game’s website for details. 

Don’t overlook panfish and bass

We know, the best part of fishing for those fish is fast action on a warm, sunny day when sunscreen is as important as having the right bait. But crappie, bluegill, perch and bass feed much later in the season than most people realize. In fact, most never stop feeding, and even largemouth bass are occasionally caught by ice anglers. Don’t plan your outing around that, but the point is, if you can locate fish in the fall and get a bait, lure or fly in front of them, you stand a reasonable chance of hooking a fish. And as any ice angler will confirm, cold water doesn’t bother perch. 

And now for the fine print

Like all fishing, fall fishing can be unpredictable. While all the above is true, a serious cold snap, a big storm, or a blustery day are all possibilities and can put a damper on fishing. To be fair, that applies to spring as well, but in the fall it can feel much more abrupt when sunny and 70 turns to 30s and 40s and spitting snow and rain. But don’t get discouraged by some gray weather. Some of the best fall fishing can happen on those rainy days, when fish feel safer in low, clear water. 

Beware of low water, both in rivers and lakes, ponds and reservoirs. That lovely open water you fished in the spring may be much lower, which can make boat ramps problematic and present navigation hazards. Check conditions before you go. 

Finally, despite our best efforts to stock fish and supply the best information about fishing for them, fish will be fish. Some days, everything seems to be working in your favor, but the fish just won’t cooperate. And that’s just fishing, which makes it fun and frustrating, but don’t let fall fishing slip away before winter hits and you have to…. go ice fishing? 

Sure, why not? But more on that later.