Fall fishing: Don't let great fishing months slip away

Fishing during the rut? What?

Fall fishing is a great time to intercept aggressive fish as they approach spawning seasons. Species like brown trout, lake trout, and brook trout all spawn in the fall, which means some of the largest trout are likely to be the most aggressive and available than in other seasons.

"It's like hunting big bucks during the rut," Koenig said. "Fall may be your best chance to see a trophy brown trout, brook trout or aggressive steelhead."

A well-placed streamer or lure can provoke a savage strike followed by a battle with a trophy fish.

Another fall spawner is whitefish, which school up and seem to love colder temperatures. They can be found feeding in deep runs and pools of larger trout streams and provide some fun fishing action for fly anglers and on light spinning rods.

And don't forget the king of fall fishing

Like stampeding horses, ocean-fresh steelhead are returning to Idaho, and the run peaks in the fall. Steelhead runs have been below-average in recent years, but forecasts and dam counts are showing higher numbers of steelhead coming to Idaho, especially in the Clearwater River.

If enough fish return to Hells Canyon Dam, you can also expect some steelhead to be trucked to Boise River, which typically starts in early November. Stay tuned to Fish and Game's website for details.

Don't overlook panfish and bass

We know, the best part about fishing for those fish is fast action on a warm, sunny day when sunscreen is as important as having the right bait. But crappie, bluegill, perch and bass feed much later in the season than most people realize. In fact, most never stop feeding, and even largemouth bass are occasionally caught by ice anglers. Don't plan your outing around that, but the point is, if you can locate fish in the fall and get a bait, lure or fly in front of them, you stand a reasonable chance of hooking a fish. And any ice angler will confirm, cold water doesn't bother perch.

And now for the fine print

Like all fishing, fall fishing can be unpredictable. While all the above is true, a serious cold snap, a big storm, or a blustery day are all possibilities and can put a damper on fishing. To be fair, that applies to spring as well, but in the fall it can feel much more abrupt when sunny and 70 turns to 30s and 40s and spitting snow and rain. But don't get discouraged by some gray weather. Some of the best fall fishing can happen on those rainy days, when fish feel safer in low, clear water.

Beware of low water, both in rivers and lakes, ponds and reservoirs. That lovely open water you fished in the spring may be much lower, which can make boat ramps problematic and present navigation hazards. Check conditions before you go.

Finally, despite our best efforts to stock fish and supply the best information about fishing for them, fish will be fish. Some days, everything seems to be working in your favor, but the fish just won't cooperate. And that's just fishing, which makes it fun and frustrating, but don't let fall fishing slip away before winter hits and you have to…. go ice fishing?

Sure, why not? But more on that later.

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