FIESTY FALL FISH
If you have been fishing for any amount of time, you have heard the saying “Bigger baits catch bigger fish”. And believe it or not, there are times during a fish’s feeding cycle when that statement couldn’t be truer.
Large predator fish such as pike, walleye, bull trout, lake trout, and believe it or not, perch can eat up to 20 percent of their body weight. Take a 40-inch pike for example. When a pike is aggressively feeding it has no problem consuming three or four pounds of fish per day. And many fish species have no qualms about cannibalism.
FALL IS BIG FISH TIME
As we move into fall, instinctively, fish are aware of the tougher living conditions that lay ahead. During the fall months, freshwater fish will begin to bulk up in preparation to spend several months under the ice in low light conditions with low oxygen levels. During the fall, fish are willing to feed on big aggressive baits in preparation for the winter months. Often referred to as the fall feeding frenzy.
START SMALL-FINISH BIG!
Ninety-nine percent of the time when I start fishing on a water body I’ve never fished before or even if I’m starting the day on a familiar water body, I start fishing with a downsized bait. My theory is, it doesn’t matter what feeding mood the fish are in they’re more likely to take a small slow-moving bait over a large fast-moving bait. However, once I catch a few fish I start fine-tuning my bait and presentation to what the fish are telling me. I may experiment with colour, live bait, artificial bait, the speed I present the bait and even the size of the bait.
Over the years I’ve found that many different fish species can be very aggressive feeders, especially during the fall months. During the fall, I’ve also found, if I tie on a larger bait, I often catch both quality and quantity of fish.
UNDERSTANDING THE MOOD OF THE FISH
When fish are in a negative or (none) feeding pattern, it can be very difficult to make them bite. It varies with fish species, but some fish species can go days in-between meals. To try and counteract their negativity, I tie on small slow-moving baits. When a fish is in a negative feeding pattern I turn to the smallest and lightest bait I can get away with and present the bait as slow as possible, often motionless. “Finesse fishing”.
When fish are in a neutral feeding pattern (they could go either way when it comes to feeding), which is the most common feeding pattern for a fish, I tie on small to midsize baits. Fish can slip in and out of a neutral feeding pattern several times a day. Presenting a bait in front of them is still your best option, however, they are willing to chase down a bait for short distances.
When fish are in a positive feeding pattern, (aggressively feeding) they are willing to chase down a bait and they are more than willing to consume baits that are much larger than the natural forage within their water body, often gorging themselves and looking for more. When fish are in a positive feeding pattern if the bait is natural looking an angler can do no wrong.
All three of these feeding patterns happen at least once in most fish species during a 48-hour period and the neutral feeding pattern is the most common.
RECOGNIZE THE HOT BITE!
Anglers that experience fish in a positive feeding pattern often don’t realize how aggressive fish can be. The bite is hot and the angler is consistently catching and releasing fish so there’s no reason to experiment with baits. Many anglers believe you only need to experiment with baits when the fish aren’t biting.
However, when fish are feeding aggressively anglers may be amazed at the size of the bait or lure a fish will try to consume. For example, last fall I was pike fishing on Crawling Valley Reservoir, in southern Alberta. I was throwing and retrieving Len Thompson spoons into 14 feet of water along a rock and weed edge that’s well known to hold pike. However, all I could catch was walleye.
Spoons are not a common walleye bait however; the large gold spoon was more than the positive-feeding walleye could handle and they bit the spoon on almost every cast. The walleye were feeding so aggressively that I believe they pushed the pike out of the area.
TIME TO EXPERIMENT
I began playing around with other baits and found if I throw a smaller spoon or bounced a jig off the bottom I didn’t get a bite. But as soon as I throw a large swimming bait and moved it fast, I had instant hookups.
Northern pike can be very aggressive throughout the year. When pike are in an aggressive feeding pattern it’s an incredible time to be pike fishing. Even if you’re catching pike under 10 pounds it’s amazing to see what they will try to eat. My favourite time of the year to fish for aggressive feeding pike is June or during mid-September and into November.
During the fall months, pike will feed with all the aggression of a great white shark and consume large portions of food. Last September, a good friend of mine who owns Lloyd Lake Lodge in northern Saskatchewan sent me a picture of a 26-pound pike that one of his clients caught. What was unique about the pike is it had a full-size mallard in its belly that it snatched from the surface only moments before it took the angler’s lure. A true indication of how aggressive fish will become leading into the fall months.
FALL TROUT FUN
It’s not just the northern pike. I’ve also witnessed aggressive feeding patterns in the trout species and many saltwater species. A friend and I were standing on the shore of the Bow River casting flies to the feeding rainbow and brown trout. Both trout species were hitting the flies consistently. I brought a spinning rod and reel along and threw out a small minnow pattern crankbait and started retrieving it against the current. Instantly I felt the weight of a fish. As I brought my rainbow trout into the shallow water next to me, I was surprised to see another rainbow trout trying to bite the crankbait that was in the trout’s mouth. What also surprised me, was my movement didn’t seem to bother the second rainbow trout.
The fall months are an incredible time of the year to be on our Canadian water bodies. Especially when the fish are feeding aggressively to bulk up for the tougher living conditions that lie ahead. This fall don’t be afraid to try a larger bait or lure. You may be amazed at what may come from the depths to eat it.