Fall fishing for me starts when the water temperature first starts to fall, usually in late September or early October here in Georgia. It is my favorite time of year for fishing - the mornings are cool, afternoons warm and the air just feels good - crisp and clean. And the fish bite! It continues until the water settles at its winter temperature of about 50 degrees, around the end of December for me.
For over 25 years I have been traveling to Lake Martin in Alabama for early October fishing.


It is full of spotted bass and they tend to feed good when the water hits 70 degrees there. The lake is also a beautiful place that time of year, with very clear water, trees changing color and a pretty band of shoreline setting the two off as the water is usually about 5 feet low.

There are a lot of patterns that work, starting in September when the water first starts cooling. Fishing changes in October and again in November as the water continues to cool. Some of the best fishing of the year for big fish is from Thanksgiving to Christmas. You can catch fish on everything from jigging spoons to spinnerbaits.

One problem during the fall is the turnover our lakes experience. This is a time when the water on top cools and sinks, stirring up the lake and freeing the bass and other fish from the deep water holes they have been in all summer. It can be a frustrating time for fishermen though, with fish biting everywhere one day and nowhere the next.

Fall fishing is great for bass, crappie, hybrids, stripers and just about everything else that swims in my favorite waters.

I have written several articles about fall fishing that may give you some tips. They are listed below as well as with hot links in the text above. Check them out, go fishing and catch some fish. Then let me know how you do!