By Tim Moore
I’m sure many have hung up their rod and reel and taking out their hunting equipment, but there is still plenty of fishing to be had for you diehards. If you can stand the weather and cooler temps, especially in the mornings when the fishing seems to be the best, then try your hand at some fall crappie, walleye or northern pike fishing. It is some of the best fishing of the year for these species.
The crappie have been schooled up over basins since early October. The fishing will only get better throughout the month as these and other warm- water fish bulk up for the coming winter. Look for fish to be suspended 10 to15 feet down over 30 feet of water. Once you locate a school, drift over them with a Live Baby Shad from Lake Fork Trophy Lures (www.lftLures. com) on a 1/8 ounce jig head or Maki Plastic Super Jamei (www.makiplastic. com) on a 1/16 ounce jig head and just wait. There is no need to move your jig much at all, just retrieve your fish and repeat.
If being mean and nasty is more up your ally, then try your luck for some northern pike. Almost any setback along the Connecticut River and a handful of other lakes in New Hampshire hold fishable populations of northern. Pike will be spending much of their days feeding and sunning themselves on shallow flats. This is where my signature series Whisperer Lure from Daddy Mac Lures shines (www.daddymaclures.com). Northerns find it absolutely irresistible. Kayaks are the ultimate attack vessel. Fan- cast your way into a flat or setback as you drift silently along so as not to spook them. You can also throw crank baits or large spinners when the fish move deeper during the middle of the day.
Walleye will also be on the chew looking to fatten up for the coming cold months when activity levels are low. Trolling a 2 ounce Northland RockRunner bottom bouncer rig with a floating crawler harness along weed edges is deadly. If you want to be less passive then try casting a 1⁄4 ounce round jig head tipped with crawler or a 3” Gulp! Curlytail grub. Cast it to the edge of a weedline and slowly drag it toward you, but stay in contact with the bottom. Keep your line tight so you can feel it when a walleye picks up your jig and swims toward you.
We will be guiding kayak trips for crappie, walleye, and pike through the entire month of November. Anyone looking for some excellent fishing with little pressure is encouraged to take advantage of the last of the fall fishing.
Although the cold weather is approaching day-by-day, that still doesn’t stop this fishing diehard from reeling.
FORECAST BY: Tim Moore is a nationally recognized professional angler and owner of Tim Moore Outdoors LLC, offering NH kayak fishing charters and Lake Winnipesaukee ice fishing charters. He is a pro staff member for several local and national companies, and the producer of Tim Moore Outdoors TV. Visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.
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