Stupendous Smallmouth Bass
Shorter days and longer cool nights signal the beginning of my favorite time of year – fall.
Many cottages have been closed up for the season, docks pulled out of the water and BBQ’s stored away in the shed. The lakes are quieter now, the crisp air filled only with the rustle of drying leaves on the trees.
It’s not that I dislike hot summer weather, but there is something magical brewing in cottage country this time of year, and for those anglers who are seeking trophy Smallmouth Bass, put on your game face, it’s about to get real.
The once warm, shallow waters have been drained of their heat by the cold nights and overcast days of fall which in turn, has signalled those big Smallmouth Bass to get eating in preparation for the coming winter. These giant, cold-water loving beasts that have proven to be elusive to most anglers during the heatwaves of summer, now move back into the shallower water and almost overnight become a bit more predictable. Here is a list of some of the things I do to take advantage of this fantastic time of year in the Kawartha’s.
1. Fish the weather – Almost all of the bigger smallmouth I catch in the fall come after a few stable days of sunshine. Shallow rocks absorb the suns rays and that is all it takes to warm up the surrounding area a few degrees. This weather pattern draws baitfish back into the shallows and allows for easy meals. Ideally, I look for large outcroppings of granite particularly those with a lot of surface area above the water line. The numerous rocky islands and shorelines are also key areas. As the water levels start to drop throughout most of the Kawartha lakes due to manipulation of the Trent-Severn Waterway, navigation can be a little trickier so pay attention to your surroundings.
2. Bigger is better – Most of the baitfish tend to run slightly bigger come the fall, so I usually throw larger lures than I do during the Summer. Remember these big fish are getting ready for a long winter ahead. Larger prey provides more nutrition and it makes sense to fish a larger profile lure. Over-sized Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits and Crankbaits are all parts of the fall arsenal. Of course, there will still be those days when cold over-cast conditions dictate downsizing but for the most part, I go big – it’s not a numbers game for me, I am looking for that trophy fish.
3. Don’t forget the Topwaters – I will always have an assortment of Topwater baits with me ready to go in the fall. Walking type baits, as well as Poppers and Buzzbaits are all great producers. Don’t dismiss throwing those heavy cover frogs either. The frog migration is a phenomenon that occurs every fall where literally thousands of frogs are entering the water to hibernate. This hibernation occurs in water deep enough not to freeze and many species of fish take advantage of this valuable food source entering the water; it’s like meals on wheels!
4. Go green – Typically baitfish will still relate to some kind of structure in the fall. Finding areas with some remaining green weed growth is paramount in my success when I fish later in the season. In particular, I concentrate on those areas that may be somewhat sheltered from strong winds that are closer to rocky shorelines or islands.
This fall, when everyone else has packed up and gone home, make the best of your opportunity to catch a fish of a lifetime. Your trophy Smallmouth is waiting!
Good luck and get outside!
Mike Quesnelle, GOAT Angling Adventures
www.goatanglingadventures.ca 705-934-1450
