5 Reasons To Go Fishing In The Fall

Everything you need to know to enjoy Ontario's fall fishing for musky, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and northern pike.

Fall is one of the best times of the year to catch a trophy fish, and there are a few things you need to know in order to land that fish of a lifetime!

Fall Fishing

1. Water Safety For Fall Fishing

Fall weather can be, at the very least very intimidating, and with northern winds making their way across Ontario, you had better be prepared for the elements. Make sure if you are going on the water, you wear your life jacket, not in the storage compartment but ON you. With water temps falling, it does not take long for hypothermia to set in if you fall in the water. Make sure you bring layers of clothing, as you can always take it off but you can never put it on if you don’t have it.

Northern Pike

2. Fish Migration

In the fall, most fish will migrate shallow! Salmon and trout like to run the river to spawn, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass like to head to the bank and I have seen big musky and pike head to very shallow. If it is a trophy salmon you are after, start hitting the rivers on the north shore of Lake Ontario about the third week in August and there is a good chance that they are migrating upriver to spawn. You can catch these fish on flies, roe, and even Rapala crankbaits.

Sunset

3. Targeting Largemouth Bass

If it is largemouth bass you are targeting, head shallow on any given lake in Ontario. When the days start getting shorter and the leaves are just starting to change colour, you will want to head to the bank. I like using plastic frogs or buzzbaits also Rapala Skitter V, this is a walk the dog type bait that fish cannot resist. 

Bass Fishing

4. Targeting Smallmouth Bass

If it is smallmouth you are after, try fishing shallow shoals or rocky/sandy shorelines. Smallmouth will focus on smaller bait fish that tend to run in schools this time of year. Throw smaller minnow-type baits or smaller swimbaits like the Rapala Crush City baits.

Northern Pike

5. Musky And Northern Pike

Musky and pike will start moving to the shallow shoals and banks to feed on the fish that we just talked about. Musky at this time of year are looking for big baits, big glide baits, and big plastic baits. Focus your cast on points and weed lines and don’t be afraid to make several casts in one area. Musky and pike are looking to feed maybe once a week so they need a substantial size meal.

In closing, make sure that you get out on the water with the proper clothing, the proper gear and the proper location and you will up your odds on catching a trophy!

About Ron James

Ron has been fishing for over 35 years. He started fishing when he was just a youngster with his father Bill James (God rest his soul). He moved onto tournament fishing as his passion grew. With numerous wins and top finishes, the next step had to be taken. He met Leo, and the unstoppable force of Fish TV "is the best thing that has happened.

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