by John Jefferson

 

If I were writing a song parody entitled “Lemme Tell Ya What I Like About Texas’ Autumns” I’d have to start with the weather. Discounting hot days in October and November, and a little rain some years, our falls are delightful.

Cooler weather means rejuvenation. As the sap drains into the tree roots and leaves begin to change color, our blood starts flowing again and we feel alive after another sweltering, seemingly endless summer.

But I’d also have to include Fall Fishing — and even a lot of it extends into what most people call winter.

It all starts as the weather began cooling in late September. The bass come to life, and we do, too. They begin to leave their deep-water summer sanctuary from the heat and move back into shallower water. A variety of lures work then, as do minnows. One fisherman-friend refers to October as “tackle box month,” since he says you can just reach into your tackle box and pick up any lure and expect to catch fish on it.

So, until it gets Really cold AND blustery, I’ll be out there fishing. Some of our most pleasant weather occurs during the Indian summer days with which we’re blessed each October into January. I had a nice bass break off on a wonderful, shirt-sleeve afternoon in mid-December. And I was with fishing guide, Mike Hastings, that same time another year when he caught a 22-pound striper on a Jumping Minnow, a large topwater lure, while bass fishing.

The topwater bite has slowed down and I will employ lures now that will get down deep. A weighted hook with a wacky worm is a good choice here. The wacky-hooked plastic worm falls in a slow, fluttery motion that probably seems natural to the bass and passes down through the water column slowly enough to give suspended bass a chance to strike as it sinks to bass further down.

By now, the water temperatures have begun to drop, and bass will be heading out of the creeks and back into deeper water in the lakes. They also seem to lose their appetites in colder weather. Some say they have lockjaw during the winter. A more probable cause is that they just don’t want to waste energy during the winter and won’t chase a lure racing back to the boat. Bass don’t move as much, then.

The key now is to fish slowly. When you think you’re reeling slowly enough, slow down a little more!

Seven of Texas’ top 50 largemouths were caught in January, including the long-lasting state record 18.18-pound sow caught by Barry St. Clair late one January.

And I always receive a few reports of white bass running near Colorado Bend State Park on the Colorado during sunny spells. But when the weather turns winter again, stripers are at their best in most lakes, especially Lake Texoma.

So, don’t store your fishing gear just because the calendar says it’s winter. There’s still good fishing in Texas!

JJ