The fall feed has finally hit here in Colorado for trout, pike, musky, and walleye! October is notorious for gauging when the fall feed is going to occur in Colorado. If you thought the fast paced action of summer fishing has gone until ice season, you might be mistaken. Fall is one of the best times for good action fishing and adds the bonus of the Big Fish possibilities!
Fall marks the time of the year when the air cools, water temps start to drop, and daylight hours noticeable decrease. The perfect ingredients to trigger fish to feed, especially Big Fish, and last chance for the fish to put on some weight to help them last through the winter when food can be sparse. This Fall Feed also means fish generally carry more weight on them, which is why fall fishing is notorious for producing some true Giants.
Now just because fish are on the move to fill their bellies don't think they're always looking for an aggressive presentation. Often some of my best fishing and usually biggest fish, regardless of fish species, come on a slow presentation. Whether its casting jerkbaits for walleye and pike, pitching tube jigs for pike and trout, or stripping woolly-buggers and leaches on the fly rod, often when I slow the bait down is when that infamous Tick occurs followed by a swoop and a Hook-up!
If you're wondering how to start off your presentation I usually start aggressive and fast to target the feeders and cover water to find fish. Slow down from there is the next step. Once I'm confident I've found good fish, if an aggressive presentation isn't doing the trick then I start slowing it down by increments. Often I find it's just a hair difference in speed of my presentation that makes all the difference between casting in the wind and fighting fish!
Also stay on the move, if you see no signs of fish or fish food (small feeder fish like shad or bug life) then move! No reason to grind out a spot trying a bunch of different presentations and lures if the fish just aren't there. On the other hand if the fish signs are there meaning you are graphing fish or visually see them in the water, then time to grind it out! Sometimes you have to make a choice between chasing smaller more active fish or grinding out tactics on larger fish. We only have so much time on the water, Use It Wisely!!
Thanks for Reading!
DJ
Fall marks the time of the year when the air cools, water temps start to drop, and daylight hours noticeable decrease. The perfect ingredients to trigger fish to feed, especially Big Fish, and last chance for the fish to put on some weight to help them last through the winter when food can be sparse. This Fall Feed also means fish generally carry more weight on them, which is why fall fishing is notorious for producing some true Giants.
Now just because fish are on the move to fill their bellies don't think they're always looking for an aggressive presentation. Often some of my best fishing and usually biggest fish, regardless of fish species, come on a slow presentation. Whether its casting jerkbaits for walleye and pike, pitching tube jigs for pike and trout, or stripping woolly-buggers and leaches on the fly rod, often when I slow the bait down is when that infamous Tick occurs followed by a swoop and a Hook-up!
If you're wondering how to start off your presentation I usually start aggressive and fast to target the feeders and cover water to find fish. Slow down from there is the next step. Once I'm confident I've found good fish, if an aggressive presentation isn't doing the trick then I start slowing it down by increments. Often I find it's just a hair difference in speed of my presentation that makes all the difference between casting in the wind and fighting fish!
Also stay on the move, if you see no signs of fish or fish food (small feeder fish like shad or bug life) then move! No reason to grind out a spot trying a bunch of different presentations and lures if the fish just aren't there. On the other hand if the fish signs are there meaning you are graphing fish or visually see them in the water, then time to grind it out! Sometimes you have to make a choice between chasing smaller more active fish or grinding out tactics on larger fish. We only have so much time on the water, Use It Wisely!!
Thanks for Reading!
DJ
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