5 Fall Fishing Myths Debunked!

[@BassManStrikes]

In the fall, the fish do become more active in the afternoon than during the summer, i figured this out awhile ago and never fish the morning during the fall 😁

[@jcriefski4536]

I start monitoring USGS river sites, that have temp gauges, in winter months (as well as start carrying a thermometer for measuring water temps). Warm months I don't bother. Big rivers you will see about a 3degree fluctuation up/down daily. Creeks/streams (skinny water) its a whole different story you may have a 6 degree fluctuation cycle and for winter you typically get the better bass bite in afternoon. Pike it doesn't matter. I tend to look at day by day trends , several days of temp drops your cold month bass bite gets very tough. But you get a string of warmer days the bass bite can turn on may get some surprising crank/jerkbait bites when waters bump from upper 30s to low 40s

[@RivermanTV-]

Totally agree with that observation

[@btmbass8558]

💯 those feeding windows can be hit or miss However, I will continue to tell myself there is no morning bite on those mornings I’m to exhausted to get up 😂

[@shawnwhalen8314]

I always struggle from this time of year on. I'm in Michigan... your neighbor. It seems that the smallmouth just disappear from our shallow rivers in the fall. Rumor has it the go back to the bigger lakes like Huron, Michigan,St.Clair. even on Lake St.Clair I struggle November till spring. I have never been able to nail down a fall pattern. Leaves falling and clogging the water doesn't make it easy either. Usually after leaves fall, I'm done. Always get out a few more times but struggle.

[@RivermanTV-]

They do move large distances and sometimes that means certain sections of river feel pretty much empty. I've experienced it myself and it is frustrating. Unfortunately, it usually takes a number of those outings before you start figuring things out. I always look downstream of where I catch them in the late summer and hit the deepest spots along the way while you work towards any suspected wintering areas.

[@georgetollefsen994]

Great job Thanks for sharing.

[@brianathern9154]

Great stuff here. I've heard and assumed every one of those at some point. Now for me it's length of day and water temps and I throw whatever I like. Blessings brother

[@RivermanTV-]

Same here. Keep it simple and let the fish tell you what they want! Good luck out there.

[@BassManStrikes]

Yes, there are bite windows, the fish get hungry and eat at times that can vary.

[@LoopKnot]

Just found your channel, I fish the upper Niagara river and Delaware river. Always willing to learn. Thanks for the great content.

[@RivermanTV-]

Glad to have you along! I hope you have a successful fall/winter season.

[@JoeNajorFishing]

Always learning from you brother! Great video!

[@RivermanTV-]

Thanks for the support!

[@DaveBudach]

Great video thanks!

[@RivermanTV-]

You're welcome!

[@BassManStrikes]

Its water temp and photo period. Water temp absolutely affects the topwater bite 😮

[@BassManStrikes]

Topwater at 38 air temp is possible if water temp is warm enough, if air and water temp is the same and 50 and below you are not getting any consistent topwater which makes it a futile effort after a point.

[@RivermanTV-]

Coldest we've caught em on top was 43 water temp on a 28 degree morning

[@BassManStrikes]

@@RivermanTV- how many tho? 1 or 2 and how many hours? You can for sure get them but the point is once it gets cold they really do stop looking up with any consistency. There have been cases of Largemouth hitting topwater in 35 degree water but it's just a fluke occurrence :-)

[@RivermanTV-]

@@BassManStrikes all depends on the feeding window. The bigger point wasn't that they eat topwater all day when it's cold. It was that temperature doesn't always dictate what they will eat when they are fired up. That doesn't mean throw topwater all day in the winter.

[@BassManStrikes]

​@@RivermanTV-yep but it's a fact the water temp shuts top water down in late fall....sure if a fish is near the surface and you once in awhile throw a topwater it might trigger a reaction strike but that's a fluke... but don't you agree it's better to concentrate on other presentations once water temps are in the low 50s. Smallmouth get super sluggish in cold water and many times you have to deadstick a Ned or drop shot etc sometimes they won't even look at jerkbaits in 40 degree water. Just saying topwater after a certain time in the fall has extremely diminishing returns. No doubt it's possible but a bad time investment 😁

[@robs9349]

Totally agree that air temp is way over-rated and find the photoperiod argument a good one. I do think WATER temp is underappreciated, esp since we relate and react to air temp. Thanks for sharing.

[@RivermanTV-]

I do reference water temp a lot in the fall, but I try not to let it trap me with certain baits especially if the fish are fired up. But generally, I do find that once the water is consistently below 40, you do have to slow down and recognizing that threshold is important.

[@BassManStrikes]

Ned rig is the key once you find em

[@WorldsOkayestBusDriver]

Beautiful spot

[@AddictedAngler]

U are dead on right on the fall feed window