Opening Cast Oct

Opening Cast: The Fall Crappie Fisherman

There’s a certain kind of fisherman who appears every October. You can spot him pretty easily.

He’s the guy digging through the closet for a jacket he hasn’t worn since last winter. He’s checking the weather forecast three or four times a day. He’s watching the water temperature. He’s wondering whether the crappie have moved yet and, more importantly, whether they’ve moved to his favorite spot.

After spending the summer sweating in the boat, he’s suddenly reminded that fishing can actually be comfortable.

Fall does that to a crappie fisherman.

The good news is that October often gives us plenty of reasons to get back on the water. Cooler temperatures make fishing more enjoyable, and changing conditions can put crappie on the move. The fish are responding to shorter days, cooling water and changing forage, and that can create some exciting opportunities.

Of course, fall fishing isn’t always as simple as showing up at the same place you caught them in August. That’s part of the fun.

The fall crappie fisherman becomes an amateur detective. He studies the weather. He watches the water. He pays attention to baitfish. He moves when the fish aren’t where they’re supposed to be. He changes depths, locations and presentations until he figures out the puzzle.

And when he finally does, there’s that familiar feeling we all know.

There they are.

Maybe that’s what keeps us coming back year after year. Crappie fishing is never exactly the same. The fish don’t read our plans, and they certainly don’t care what worked last weekend. They make us work for it.

But October offers another reward that has nothing to do with catching fish. The lake is quieter. The mornings are cooler. The scenery begins to change. And there’s something special about being on the water when you don’t have to compete with the heat—or half the population of the county—to enjoy it.

So if you’re one of those fishermen who starts thinking about putting the boat away when summer ends, don’t be in such a hurry. Grab a jacket, charge the batteries and make another trip.

The fall crappie fisherman is just getting started.

Keith Sutton, Editor
CrappieNOW