By Wendell Wilson
The shorter days and longer nights of fall bring cooler surface temperatures to our lakes. The morning air is crisp and cool and makes for a very enjoyable time on the water. The opportunities for a wide variety of species exist. You can choose to pursue crappie, yellow perch, white perch, bass, or striper.
Bass – Bass are holding on points in the larger creeks. Look for them to be around schools of threadfin shad in 12-20 feet of water. Small crankbaits or drop-shot will be the lures of choice. Also, the chance for topwater action increases with the cooling temperatures.
Crappie – Look for the crappie to be biting small minnows fished over brush piles and sometimes on the bottom on the lip of a creek channel. The best depth is 15-25 feet.
Perch – The yellow perch and white perch sometimes school together. Other times they don’t but the pattern remains the same. Fish minnows on a drop-shot rig or jig a metal spoon on deep flats in 30-40 feet of water. Expect to catch a few bass mixed in.
Striper – This is not my favorite time of year to target stripers on Lake Russell. There are a few fish still hanging in the summer pattern but most of theme have scattered because the comfortable water temperatures allow them to roam. Fishing for stripers will get easier when a true winter pattern develops.
Wendell Wilson is the owner of Wilson’s Guide Service and can be reached at 706-283-3336.