Take Advantage of Fall
When it comes to fishing, I know that we all get in our own little routine and most of us do not like change. We set our alarm for the same time, grab the same three rod and reel setups, stop at the same convenience store and buy the same taco, cup of coffee, and so on. I’m certainly guilty of it myself but here recently I had to add to my routine and that was due to one of life’s simple pleasures. I took off across the water and quickly realized that it is time to start packing a light jacket! Cool mornings are a sure sign that summer is over and that fall and winter are on the way.
It may be a selfish of me by being glad that summer is over but I can assure you that I’m not alone. If you want proof of that claim, just head to your local fishing hole and you will quickly see what I mean. An angler can go all day and will see plenty of happy life. The redfish will be schooled up in the marsh and pushing down shorelines, gorging on shrimp and everything else they can get in their mouths. Once you decide to leave the marsh and enter the main body of Sabine Lake, you will quickly encounter large numbers of trout.
Right now is by far the best time of the year to be on the water. With the water and air temperatures beginning to drop, fish know that winter is quickly approaching and it is time to prepare. They do so by taking advantage of the mass shrimp migration by gorging at every opportunity. Nearly every fish you catch will have remnants or signs showing that is what they have been eating. Catching fish is quite a bit easier right now compared to other seasons but there are a few things you can incorporate with your standard game plan to give you even more success.
I believe that one of the most important things that an angler needs to do at this time of the year is pay attention to the birds. Trout and redfish are not the only ones taking advantage of shrimp migration. Hungry fish will push shrimp to the surface and this makes an easy target for gulls and terns. Usually when this happens, a screech comes from a competing gull and the word gets out quickly. Before you know it there will be a group of seagulls wheeling and diving to catch shrimp – a sure sign for the angler as to where feeding fish can be found. Sometimes, flocks of thirty or more gulls can be common, but don’t overlook the smaller groups of five or even two or three birds. It should also be noted that fish can be staged in the area if seagulls are simply resting on the water. It seems to come and go in waves and the birds will rest during this lull but fish can still be caught underneath them.
One other thing that needs to be taken into consideration when fishing working birds is which way they are moving and which way your boat might be drifting. You have to take into consideration the tide and wind and the direction they will take you. This will save you a lot of trolling motor battery and it will also save you from floating right through the middle of the school. This is one of the worst things an angler can do because it will move the fish and the birds will scatter and move on as well, which will likely leave you wandering aimlessly, hoping to get lucky and bump into another school.
Another bird to pay attention to is the Snowy Egret, which often gets lumped into the generic category of white shorebirds. These little guys will line up along a shoreline and wait for redfish to push shrimp up to them. Their white bodies completely stick out from the green marsh grass and are easy to spot. If you see clusters of them lined up and not moving, that usually indicates that fish are just off the bank and will occasionally move towards them. However, if you see them playing leap frog with each other and moving down the bank, there is a school of redfish pushing down the bank and they are staying in front of it, waiting for their turn. This is a dead giveaway that fish are nearby and feeding.
When it comes to chasing the birds, time of day seems to be a factor. An angler can sometimes find them working all day but the most reliable times seem to be at first light and in evening just before dark. I really am not sure why these times of day seem to be better but they sure enough are. One of my favorite things is being on the south end of Sabine Lake with about 3 or 4 other boats all patiently waiting for the right time. As soon as there is enough light to see, you will hear outboards rev up and scatter across the lake as everyone begins to spot their own group of birds to fish. To me, it is one of life’s simple pleasures.
When it comes down to lure choice for this time of year, it’s not too important. I have come to realize and stay away from throwing topwaters completely. I enjoy watching a fish smack it but I don’t particularly like all the seagulls wanting to eat it as well. That, and dealing with treble hooks in a fast-paced fishing scene can lead to having a hook in the hand. I would just simply rather not. Typically, I stick with throwing a small paddletail plastic, much like a Saltwater Assassin. Pairing this with a 1/4-oz jighead seems to be the best combination to use. You can throw it a little further while having only a single hook to deal with when handling fish. This is pretty much my go-to and I rarely venture away from it during this time of the year.
By now, fishing is great and it is only going to get better. Along with that, the weather is following suit…lots of postcard-perfect days ahead. This is also a wonderful time to bring a kid fishing, or anyone new to the sport. It is usually a guarantee to have fun!