A Few Tips For the Fall Fisherman

Ahhhh...  Fall in Florida - the mercury has already started to drop. Isn't it the perfect time to head outside and bask in the cooler Fall weather? Of course it is! When considering your Autumnal adventures in the Great Outdoors, be sure to add fishing to the top of your list. You can bet the fish are hungry and just waiting to take a bite of your bait. 

It seems that the avid angler prefers to center their Fall fishing adventures around the mighty bass. This sought-after game fish is either elusive in its ways or as easy to catch as (pardon the pun) shooting fish in a barrel. Their popularity has a lot to do with numbers. They live in lakes, rivers, and the ocean.

Fall is actually a great time of year for bass fishing, for both the fisherman and well.... Unless you’re “catching and releasing”, I guess it’s not so great for the fish. 

I’ll start with the obvious. For most, Fall is a reprieve from the Summer heat. Also, less bugs. Anyone is more likely to enjoy sitting on the water for a few hours when they’re not constantly sweating and swatting at stinging pests. Sounds like an amazing time whether you’re casting a reel or not, huh?

Onto the bass fishing... 

The temperature of the water becomes cooler, which makes the fish more active. Just like humans, when we’re more active, we burn more calories. As a result, we get hungry and eat. The same goes with fish. In a somewhat frenzied state of hunger, they’ll bite just about anything!

There were a few different suggestions as to how to find the bass. Just get to know your body of water. The spots you frequent in the Spring are the same spots you should revisit in the Fall. 

Naturally, you should go where their food is hanging around. Bass will eat just about anything. If they can fit it in their mouth, they will eat it. They have been known to eat anything from tiny minnows to lizards to small mammals. If motivated properly, they will even eat another bass! More than likely though, schools of small fish are a good indicator that bass may be lurking. 

Natural foliage is another food group for our fine, finned friends. There is another advantage for Autumnal angling! Fallen leaves, especially under the cover or shade of the tree, will attract your target. 

Bass are also known to congregate around “cover”. Cover is an object that sticks up from the bottom of a lake or river. It can be a tree stump, piling, a dock, or a log. 

There are conflicting points regarding water temperature which makes my last point a good rule of thumb. Go to an area of shallow water that is near a deep area. The bass will hang around the shallow area foraging for food but will head to the deeper water when the temperature changes too rapidly. The temperature in deep water usually stays consistent while the shallow water increases and decreases quickly. 

Don’t just take my word for it. Heck, I’m still learning myself! Click below for a couple of helpful and informative websites. 

Now that you’re in the fishing frame of mind, why not take a look at some new fishing boats? Gift-giving season isn’t too far away! (hint hint) 

Discover Boating
Take Me Fishing

Apparently, Fall isn’t your last chance of the year until Spring to chase bass. If you’re game enough to brave the tundra, give ice-fishing a try! 

Bringing the family? Read Fishing Is Fun For the Whole Family for some tips.

Fishing is Fun - For the Whole Family

Fishing has been a favorite sport for many generations. You could say that fishing has been one of the very first activities that a father and his child have enjoyed together – and what better bonding time than in the outdoors fishing? Fishing can be fun and beneficial for both children and adults, and has created a lifetime of traditions and memories. Not to mention all of the other benefits it holds!

There are many different types of fishing, but fishing in general is good for your health. While you may look like a bump on a log at certain points throughout your fishing day, you’re gaining a great amount of Vitamin D from the sun, which is a major vitamin deficiency in most people’s daily nutritional intake since our main source of Vitamin D only comes from UV rays. Be sure to wear sun block though. Vitamin D isn’t necessarily a good thing when your skin is burnt!  Another health benefit is the simple active nature of fishing. It takes a lot of muscle groups in your body to reel a fish in. From your forearms to your thighs, you may be working more muscles than you realized. While fishing may not help you lose a noticeable amount of weight, it can help you tone your muscles. This is also a good way to get your family active while having fun!

I often remember my grandfather coming home in the evenings from doing a little fishing. When he’d get home, well after dark, we were always intrigued to hear about ‘the one that got away’ or the ones that didn’t. But quite differently, as children, we misunderstood his still happy face when coming home after catching absolutely nothing. What’s the point of fishing if you don’t catch anything? As an adult, I can now fully understand. Fishing isn’t always about catching fish. Being on a boat with a line in the water is one of the most rewarding activities. It’s unexplainable, but fishing is relaxing. Maybe it’s the silence. Maybe it’s feeling the water swaying back and forth under your feet with the expectation that at any moment, that pole might bend. Maybe it’s being one with nature, or maybe it’s because, in most cases, fishing requires little thinking and allows your mind to wander. Either way, it’s worth the relaxation, even if you don’t catch the ‘big one’.

Fresh clean fish are tasty, that’s a given. Fishing is often used to put food on family’s tables, especially during the spring and summer months. Providing fish for your family is a great benefit to fishing. While most anglers enjoy catching and releasing fish, many people still enjoy what the sport was originally created for …food! You’ll of course need to check with your state to see if there are any special requirements on length and types of fish that you can keep. You’ll need to make sure your fishing license is up to date as well, whether you plan on keeping a fish or not.

Whether walking in the river, standing on the shoreline, or sitting in a boat, fishing is fun for the entire family – even mom! Introducing your children to nature at an early age not only improves sensory skills and lures them away from the television, but it also offers a fun learning experience about water, safety, and teaching them patience and independence. Growing a strong bond with your family is also another benefit. Families that enjoy the simple activities in life together, including fishing, are more relaxed, bonded, and overall, happier. Take this time of doing something you already love doing to bond with your family and enjoy teaching them about leadership skills, nature, fishing, and life. Involve every member of your family. Every family member, old or young, will learn more when they sense the feeling of being involved and having their family involved. You are showing true leadership skills when you take the time to first apply these skills to your family, patiently. Fishing is an amazing leadership and independence builder. These simple skills will help your child feel more confident and able in everyday life at school or with their friends.  Your family will feel comfortable in having conversations with one another, especially when there is a common bond. When you and your family can completely enjoy something together, a lifetime bond begins to form.

There’s nothing like watching the face of your child when they catch their first fish – or their second, or their eighth! Make sure you have all of the necessary “kid friendly” fishing tools before you set off on your fishing adventure. Things such as bobbers, a small child size fishing pole, and live bait can enhance the experience for everyone. A word of advice, keep your camera handy. You’re guaranteed to catch more than just fun slimy fish during the day! Laughing – just one more key benefit to fishing with your family.

So now that we know that fishing is relaxing, good for your health, and a great bonding experience – you may be wondering “where does the ‘fun’ for the kids come in?” There are so many great tools on the web for you to enhance your child’s fishing experience, but nothing is better than actually getting out there and getting their little beginner angler hands dirty. Before you go fishing, let your child pick out a fishing pole that’s just their size. Whether it’s a Disney fishing pole or simply satin black, it’s always fun when you have something of your own that you got to pick out all by yourself. Next – the bait. Live bait is always fun when fishing with your family. But if it’s not accessible, that’s fine too. Have your children search for worms and critters under rocks and in the yard or along the river bank.  Give them mason jars or other types of clear containers so that they can see what they’ve collected. If you have more than one child, turn it into a game! See who can collect the most bait.

When you’re fishing with the entire family, make a day of it! Don’t just narrow your day to fishing. Take a cooler full of food and drinks, maybe even a blanket to sit on when you’re on shore. Go exploring on shore or on a beach, play some games, go swimming. There are so many things you can do to make the most of your time with the ones you love.

The most important part to making fishing fun for your family is to sit back, relax, and don’t force it. If you find that your family is getting bored (especially if the fish aren’t biting), let them take a break. Let them go swimming or set the poles down and let them enjoy a snack, read a book, or play a game while waiting. The fish will always be there, but quality time with their parent(s) won’t be. Take this time to talk to them about their week, toys, school, events, or for the older kids….what they want to do with their lives. You see, fishing is more than just throwing a hook and line into the water; it’s about involving and showing your family that you’re taking the time to be with them. It’s about showing them that you care, and that no matter what, you’re always there. It’s about generations of families following traditions and making new memories. And if you catch fish, that’s pretty cool too.