With a myriad of hunting seasons opening as we enter October, and the woods turning beautiful colors on hiking trails that are cool in more than one way, it might be easy to forget that fall is a great time for fishing, too.
Shorter days and colder water temperatures are signals to the fish that the dormant days of winter will be arriving soon. The feeding frenzy may not match their springtime appetites, but they are anxious eaters knowing that a cold and sleepy season is coming.
Cooler water also holds more oxygen and helps make all aquatic species more active as smaller fish and invertebrates feed on microorganisms and become food themselves higher up the chain of nature’s buffet.
Water clarity is usually more stable in the fall than in the spring. While occasional rain and thundershowers may scour run-off into your favorite body of water, they are not as likely to turn those waters the color of chocolate milk, like you can see in the spring.
The same is true for creeks and rivers. In most years, like this one, river levels are low by the end of summer, so rain that falls in autumn rarely does more than freshen the stream, wash in food and excite the bite.
One of the best things about angling in the fall is that fish have been growing all summer. Those that didn’t get caught or were released by someone else are bigger than they were.
That brings me to one of the best fishing tips for this time of year. Just as the predator fish are getting bigger, so are the smaller ones they eat. Now is a good time to try larger baits as you work your way around the water. Small lures can catch large fish, but the big boys are not afraid to get filled up on one bite.
Because of the increased activity in the water, fish could be anywhere, but it is always best to begin looking for them in familiar places. Find underwater structures that range from big rocks and brush piles on the bottom to places where the water gets deep quickly as the lake or riverbank slopes into the stream.
The benefits of fall fishing extend beyond the water, too. Those color-changing leaves will be spectacular along an Ozark creek or surrounding a pond in a forested valley. The outside air temperature and shining sun are also much more pleasant for the angler sitting on the bank or in a boat this time of year.
To help introduce anglers to the sport, the state Department of Conservation and Kirkwood Parks and Recreation are teaming up for a family-fun event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 30.
With beginners as the target audience, instructions will include how to bait a hook, tie fishing knots, cast a rod and reel, and identify the fish you catch. The activity will focus on families fishing together at Kirkwood Park, 111 South Geyer Road. All participants from ages 16 through 64 who plan to try their luck will need to have a Missouri fishing permit. No reservations are required. For more information, call the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center at 314-301-1500.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and is the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.