New England Fall Fishing Heats Up as Waters Cool

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photos by Wayne G. Barber

The dropping temperatures and shorter days of fall bring some of the year’s hottest fishing action on New England's lakes, ponds, and streams, according to Wayne G. Barber, host of the Outdoor Scene.. 

 

“As water temperatures cool off, many different fish species begin to feed heavily,” said Wayne, some warm water species such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, perch, and walleye, to cold water species like trout and salmon, fish feeding activity really picks up and creates exceptional fishing conditions for anglers.”   Hit your Cape Cod kettle ponds for big bronzebacks in the day and the evening a Rapala Brokenback in shallow waters for the biggest Brown Trout of the year.

 

While the hot temperatures of summer can sometimes make fishing slow, the autumn months represent a transition time when fish become more active and easier to catch.  This increase in feeding activity can be attributed to fish boosting their reserves of essential nutrients in order to sustain themselves during winter when their metabolism slows and they feed less. 

 

Fishing pressure on New England waters also decreases significantly as the seasons change, so there is less competition from other anglers.

Lake Dunmore in Vermont gave me some nice pike action when the Green Moutain campground traffic slowed down. About 30 fett of water in front of a weedline with big Mooselook Wobblers in Bronze color.

 

“Fall is one of the absolute best times to be on the water in New England – regardless of what species you want to target or where you want to fish,” said Barber'.  “Some of the best days I’ve had on the water have come late in the fall when many other anglers have already put their rods away for the winter.  It’s an amazing time of year to be on the water, and you’ll likely have your favorite fishing holes all to yourself.”

 

One enhanced fall angling opportunity is bass fishing, whether it be on world-renowned Lake Champlain, Wallum Lake and the diverse Connecticut River or one of New England’s many smaller lakes and ponds. 

 

"Fall makes the great bass fisheries of New England even greater,” said Barber.  “Cooler air temperatures bring comfortable fishing weather and less boat traffic, and the bass also know to take advantage of cooling water temperatures by feeding more in shallow water.  More bass in shallow water means more exciting bass opportunities for anglers.”

 

“Massachusetts has near equally abundant smallmouth and largemouth populations,” said Barber. “You can try different fishing strategies for the two bass species during other seasons, but I've found largemouth and smallmouth bass mix together more in the fall when temperatures cool.  This makes fall bass fishing even more fun."

“For bass and pike, fishing locations and lure selection is pretty straight forward at this time of year when these species are feeding aggressively.  In any lake or pond, focus on fishing around the outside edges of dying weedbeds and shorelines that change from shallow to deep water.  If you can find 6 to 8 feet of water along the edge of a thinning weedbed, that’s a great place to start.  As the weeds thin out and break down in the colder water, baitfish are left without dense cover to hide in, and predators like bass and pike take advantage of that.”

Nature is constant change...

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photo by Jessie Seltzer

I crashed through familiar knotweed and splashed into a familiar riffle, my headlamp illuminating a pale patch on the flood water in front of me. Good so far. But rounding the bend, the large fallen sycamore that had been there this spring, marking the upward limit of brook trout ( speckled trout) migration, was no more. New logs were here, dispersed in strange directions, rooted firmly in stream gravel as though they'd always been there. But they hadn't been. These half-trees had just "shown up" here within the last 6 months. Already, deep scour holes had been washed out below them, creating new patterns for fish and fishermen alike to learn. It was not gradual metamorphosis over time but was drastic change. The homes of many of last year's aquatic animals were gone. New ones abounded.We've been too often lured by tales of nature's constancy but nature is nothing but change and the streams are nothing but change. We mesh better with nature and fish better too when we learn to welcome this change. The next pool had a new family of mink to raise and a female kingfisher to show me the next spot to cast my 4.6 ultralight with 4 pound test for the only native trout in our state.

My grandson Cody Spink working a pool for native trout or a salmon in Maine

Brewster Residents Request More Bow Hunting...

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BREWSTER – Brewster resident Gary Kaser and others proposed to the Conservation Commission recently that more town land be opened up for the use of bow hunting.

However, other residents brought up concerns over safety for those who want to use the town land as well.

“I’ve lived in the same place for 57 years and I’ve never seen as many deer as we have around now,” said Kaser.

Kaser cited 155 deer hit by cars in Brewster over the past 3 years as evidence of their overabundance in the area.

“I have a small farm and I’ve seen as many as ten deer. They’ve been wiping out a lot of the stuff that I’ve been growing.”

The specific land in question is the Punkhorn Parklands, bought by the Town of Brewster several decades ago which then put restrictions on hunting in the area.

Kaser and David Stainbrook, a deer and moose biologist with the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife argued that the deer population is beginning to become too much for the local environment to support, and that intervention now would alleviate problems later.

He and other hunters that support him say bow hunting is a safer alternative to hunting with firearms in the area, as the ranges are shorter and most—if not all—shots are taken from elevated chairs in the trees so missed arrows land in the ground rather than flying wide.

Other residents still raised concerns over the prospect, worrying that their lives and the lives of their pets may be in danger every time they go for a walk in Punkorn Parklands.

Source: CapeCod.com Media Press Release

Fish & Wildlife to Host Deer Processing Seminar Oct. 27 in Rutland, Vermont

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

RUTLAND, Vt. – Learn how to process your deer for your grill or freezer on Sunday, October 27 in Rutland.  Vermont State Game Wardens Abigail Serra and Jeffrey Whipple will conduct a free, hands-on seminar on deer processing from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife office, 271 N. Main Street #215. 

 

The wardens will show how to process a deer they will bring with them, and each participant will be able to cut up part of the deer and take home some deer meat.  There is only room for 18 participants, so sign up now on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website at this link:  https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/150622. Source: John Hall Media Press Release and Photo

Report your sightings of Eastern Spotted Skunk!

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The Outdoor Scene is asking for the public’s help in gathering information on the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). Anyone who sees the unique species is asked to report the sighting to waynewnri@yahoo.com. The sightings can be from roadkill, game cameras or inadvertent catch from fur trapping, according to the agency’s press release.

“At one time, the eastern spotted skunk was much more abundant than it is now,” said  biologist Jennifer Hogue-Manuel. “We’re hoping that the public can assist us by reporting any sightings of this species.’’

The eastern spotted skunk is about the size of a large eastern gray squirrel, and physical appearance is characterized by an upside down triangle pattern on its forehead and narrow white stripe beneath its eyes. Four distinct stripes run down its back which are broken in pattern, giving a "spotted" appearance. Broken stripes also run diagonal across the hip with a few white spots on its rear end. The tail is bushy and comparable, albeit smaller, to that of the more common striped skunks.

They are much more active than any other type of skunk, while also sharing in most of the same predators as their striped cousins, which include bobcats, hawks, and others. The great horned owl is considered a primary predator of skunks, with the animal's odor not seeming to deter depredation. Up to eight skunks may share an underground den in the winter.

The Eastern Spotted species is unique as it can also climb and take shelter in trees, and has been known to use home attics for den locations Thank You, Wayne

Wayne G. Barber Musings...

Posted by Wayne G. Barber and Photo by Wayne G. Barber

Wayne G. Barber Musings....

This morning, as I was enjoying my breakfast of a piping hot maxell house coffee, oatmeal, local honey and some local blackberries with a couple of chicadees and a nuthatch, a starling dropped by, took one look at my eating my oatmeal, and flew up and away to who knows where. I didn't take it personally. I was just delighted that at least some of what I refer to as "my winter birds" are gradually returning to the bird feeder outside my new office window.

Cats, glass windows and pesticides have all taken their toll on birds along with the loss of essential habitat. Earlier this month, it was shocking to read the latest news published in the jounal "Science" about the decline in bird populations. The number of birds are reported to have dropped by 29 percent, a loss of 2.9 Billion fewer birds in North America than there were 50 years ago.(Radar data since 2007 also showed a steep decline in birds migrating at night.)

 In our new home in Connecticut we have some good news that include the increase in bald eagles and the majestic osprey.

 As the weeks go by, will more of my winter birds join me for breakfast ? No dive bombing, please. But I would like to dine with a dark-eyed junco, a tufted titmouse or even a downy woodpecker or two on the suet block.