Fall is calling all anglers to wet a line

Temperatures are coming down and more anglers might be tempted to wet a line this fall.

And why not?

Nebraska Game and Parks Fisheries Outreach Program Manager Daryl Bauer says fall is one of his favorite times to be on the water.

“The biggest reason is it is one of the best times of the year to catch big fish in a variety of species,” he said.

Fish have one thing on their minds in the fall, eating, and that’s an opportunity waiting for anglers.

“There is a long winter coming, and they need to get ready by feeding heavily,” Bauer said. “For many species, they are already beginning to develop next season’s eggs and milt, and they need even more energy reserves for that.”

As waters cool in the fall, fish stay relatively active and feed heavily. They’re looking for prey and putting on weight.

Here are some of Bauer’s tips for better fall fishing:

Fish behavior – Fish generally still can be found shallow in the early fall, especially during stable, warm weather. Later, baitfish and larger sport fish start moving deeper. Still, warm afternoons may see some fish moving shallower again.

Where to find them – Structures with areas where shallow water is close to deep water tend to hold many fish. Fast-breaking points, creek channel bends, humps, or any areas where shallow water is near deep water tend to be spots where fish are likely to be found in the fall.

Big fish like big baits – This is especially true in the fall. Not only have baitfish grown throughout the summer, predator fish, with the need to take in as much energy as possible, can gain more of that energy by eating larger prey items.

Fish aquatic vegetation – On waters that have submerged aquatic vegetation, especially small and medium-sized flood-control reservoirs, pits and ponds, and Sandhills lakes, that vegetation is very productive and full of a variety of prey during the summer. It dies back in the fall, exposing small fish, aquatic insects and other organisms to increased predation.

Follow the frogs – Leopard frogs spend much of the summer in wet meadows and marshy habitats, but as the weather cools, they migrate back toward larger, deeper bodies of water. In some places, especially on warm, fall evenings, you may notice frogs along shorelines or beaches adjacent to marshes or wet meadows. If you see even a few frogs hopping along the shoreline, fish it.

Trout stocking – Cutthroat and rainbow trout are being stocked by Game and Parks at urban waters across the state to enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter. Trout fishing is a great way to introduce children to fishing because simple and inexpensive equipment may be used.

Bauer has these suggestions for places to fish this fall:

Irrigation reservoirs – Large reservoirs are best for open-water fish like walleyes, wipers, white bass and others. As baitfish begin to gather in deeper water for the winter, anglers can experience some great fishing for those following and preying on them. In the fall, anglers are successful vertically jigging baits that imitate stressed and dying baitfish on McConaughy, Merritt, Sherman and others.

Pine Ridge trout streams – Located in the canyons and valleys between the Pine Ridge buttes are cold-water streams containing reproducing brown and brook trout. Try both the middle and south fork of Soldier Creek on the Soldier Creek Wilderness area, the White River or Big Bordeaux Creek.

Cooler waters – The cooler waters in northern and western Nebraska offer anglers options such as yellow perch, walleye, northern pike and even some muskellunge. Many spring-fed streams support year-round populations of brown, rainbow and the occasional brook trout. Stocking has provided even more trout, with cutthroat and tiger trout lurking in a few waters. Adventurous anglers can prospect those waters in pursuit of a Trout Slam.

For more information on fishing in Nebraska, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov.