Fall Fishing

[Big dreams]

I have always heard that fish follow the bait up creeks/cuts when fall comes.  I recently fished a tournament where the water temp was 64.  The lake is a river system.  The wind was blowing 15+ mph almost straight East.  I was surprised to find the fish on the main lake ledges around 8 ft deep.  One of the local pros found them in 18ft of water.  What is that all about.  I thought for sure they would be starting to swim up creek but they were FAR from it.  I am glad I passed one of the pros as it made me think twice about fishing the cuts.  I stayed out on the main lake and ended up placing at least. 

What are your thoughts, shouldn't the be migrating up the creeks for the bait fish?  I did find baitfish 15 feet deep in one spot but another was extremely shallow...

[motocross269]

One thing that has really stood out to me that a pro told me a few years ago...."Fish don't read Fishing magazines"....In other words let the fish tell you what they are doing not always what seems to be the "Right pattern"....

I know a couple of guys that did real well in Tournaments on LSC in 2 FOW in July......I just couldn't bring myself to go that shallow but it goes to show......

[Waterfoul]

I won a tournament yesterday on an impoundment by fishing the flats and weed edges/drops.  Basically I fished a summer pattern and it produced 15 keeper fish.  The water was 60 degrees on the main lake and about 57 in the one creek I did venture into.   Got one bite in there.

As was said... the fish don't read the books and magazines.  Fall is one of my favorite times to fish.  Head north and get on the smallies while they are whacking just about anything you show them.  It's a blast!

[gmetime24]

What lake was that tourney on Waterfoul?  The tournament Big Dreams was talking about was won fishing a similar pattern. Some of the guys said they caught fish that were down 18ft. We caught all our keepers on flats and weed edges around 8 ft. Main lake temps were 64 and back of creeks about 59 degrees

[Waterfoul]

Hamlin Lake.

[BIGSHOW]

I've noticed Hamlin lake goes up and down year to year. Seems to me its on the down right now. Just my opinion. I usually only hit it hard for 1week a year in july though. Haven't heard nothing great though lately. Hard keepin them pike off my bait to.