Fishing Information

Fall is almost here, which means that some of the year's best fishing is just around the corner. Cold winds and cooling water temperatures are another reality of autumn fishing. Most anglers I know are well-versed in the ABCs of staying warm through proper layering practices, dressing with technical garments, and wearing quality outerwear/rain gear. This is a good thing.

Last week, during a couple consecutive guide trips targeting smallmouth bass on northwestern Pennsylvania's Allegheny River, I was reminded about the difference a day can make.

If you're new to fishing, knowing how to find structure and understanding how fish relate to it will dramatically improve your ability to find and catch fish.

September is often the time of year when baitfish transition from deep to shallow water and bass often follow and so should you.

Clumps of baitfish can be located by sonar. Look for pieces of isolated shallow cover with baitfish nearby; these areas will often hold bass. Exactly how shallow depends on the lake; 15 feet is often a good depth, but that’s not a firm rule either.

In the United States alone, 1,154 native fish species can be found. This being said, many anglers tend to focus all of their fishing attention on one or two species, often forgetting about what their local lakes and reservoirs have to offer. In the Southern part of the U.S., bass fishing is definitely king, with crappie fishing a close second.

So, I learned a valuable lesson while fishing, and here is how it went. I met up with my fishing partner at about 5:30 a.m. for a day on Trail Creek, in LaPorte County, Indiana. When we launched our boat, it was still prett dark outside, so seeing anything was very difficult.

For the past 10 years, my increasing angling focus on Alaska and Canada was fueled by the quest to fish for salmon. Whether by river, stream, or open ocean, I was happy to pursue pink, coho, and the mighty Chinook.

Talk to most hard-core anglers, successful tournament pros or fishing guides and they'll tell you that fishing memories is a common mistake.

1. Crappies

When fishing slows on your local lake because of hot weather, here’s some options.