Expect More Active Fish as Fall Arrives
Autumn is upon us. Where did this year go? Even here in the deep south, we have had two cold fronts pass through already. The temperatures are getting nice enough to fish all day long. Fishing should be good, as these sliding temps bring the pre-winter feed.
Most fish and animals put on the feed bags in the fall. The warm waters during the summer have helped photo plankton to multiply and grow—feeding the minnows, crawfish, shad, etc.—the basis of the food chain for the catfish and other predators.
Watching the channel catfish in my pond, before and during the cold front rains, reveal that they were very active. The falling barometer prompted them to search and eat. Once the clear blue skies and crisp, cool winds arrive, activity slows down. This is normally when the barometer rises and stays high.
During the summer, the fish will find areas in deeper water where the water temps and oxygen are the best that they can find. With the fresh, cool water from the rains, water temperatures drop and are enriched with oxygen. This enhances the catfish’s oxygen supply and they become more mobile.
Knowing this allows you to target areas based on where they reside in the summer and where they will roam for a meal, especially if they are big fish. Ledges and flats near the ledges with water grasses and wood structures holding bluegill, shad, and other food are prime areas in the fall. I like to target them in lakes and rivers around these ledges.
In my pond, I like to fish in and around my Moss Back Fish Habitat placed near the subtle ledges. Sue and I have caught up to 30 catfish in a couple of hours on these structures in the fall.
As the weather gets colder, the feeding periods will shorten, especially for the bigger fish.
Good luck fishing this fall! Let us know how your fall fishing is progressing by sharing posts to our CatfishNOW social media pages.
God Bless and Good Fishing!
