Cool Weather Fishing

Iowa DNR
Source: http://www.iowadnr.gov/
Published: Sep. 29, 2009

With the autumn cool down upon us, many anglers are getting set for their 'late' season. Shorter daylight periods and dropping temperatures trigger an instinct in most fish to increase their feeding activity...ahead of the winter weather that will slow down these cold-blooded creatures.

"They're trying to put on winter (fat) reserves and the fishing activity really picks up to a new level," says Joe Larscheid, fisheries bureau chief for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "We get some great fishing opportunities in the fall. I really encourage people to get out there and enjoy them."

Duane Whiting of Ely would prefer spring fishing. However, drizzle and morning temperatures in the 50s didn't stop him from getting out for a few hours of chasing crappies on Lake Macbride. "Today, they were up above," motioned Whiting, as he pulled out his boat near the Macbride dam, west of Solon. "Caught them in about ten feet of water; in the brush."

As temperatures cool that water, anglers should slow down their presentation, usually going with smaller jigs, too; tipped with minnows, leeches, worms or whatever live bait works best on your water. "Your predators; northern pike, muskellunge, walleyes, largemouth and smallmouth bass; they all kick it up a notch," says Larscheid. "They're all hungry, cruising the shoreline on lakes, looking for food."

In the streams, too, fish are looking for lots of meals to head into winter. Stream flow is often lower in the fall; allowing better angler access. On smaller streams, hip boots or even cut off jeans can get you into log hides and pools. "Just simple gear; a sinker and a night crawler and you can catch lots of fish," says Larscheid. He suggests starting upstream and walking down; drifting bait into a log pile....or below rock riffles, where fish are staging for food.

Year-round fishing fans already have their license. More casual anglers might opt for a one-day ($8) or seven day ($12) license, to save a few dollars if they know they're only going to go out a time or two before ice-up. That would save a few bucks and, hopefully, hook them on a year-round license ($17.50) for 2010.

Trout fishing under a canopy of fall color is attractive in northeast Iowa, too. Trout are stocked across nine-northeast Iowa counties. However, after September, stocking is unannounced. That spreads out anglers across the 50 streams which get trout from Iowa's three hatchery/rearing stations. "When it gets colder, there are less food sources hatching," explains Randy Mack, from the Manchester hatchery. "Fly fishermen might throw something that imitates nymphs that are along the bottom. Other anglers tend to use bait when things slow down.

And anglers are encouraged to head north during Iowa's fall trout 'season'. Fewer anglers in the northern counties mean far more 'fish per angler' in the later weeks of the year. Besides a regular fishing license, trout anglers pay an $11 trout fee, as well.

 

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