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.”