What triggers "fall feeding frenzy"

[joedog]

I have never really noticed any type of increased fishing action or success bassed on fish "feeding up in prep for long winter"! So my question is ,is the frenzy based on air temp,water temp,time of year(last 3 days of Sept. for example),or when can someone anticipate or plan for this action to start. Certain things trigger spawn to start I would think the same would be true for the "fall feeding frenzy" Thanks! PS: here in Wi. we just had night temps drop into the mid to high 40's for 3 straight nights water temp is dropping, days are shorter is this treated as a cold front or the start of the frenzy?

[keithdog]

Thats a good question Joe and I don't have the answer. But I have a few ideas. I think everything plays into the pickup of fall fishing. I do think it is probably differrent from various regions of the country. Down south and out west there is open water year round. So it may be a different situation up here where we are facing 4-5 months of frozen water. I know from what I have read that migratory birds are stimulated to begin their migration based on the number of hours of daylight. The shorter daylight hours is a trigger for those birds, and so it may be also for the fish. Weather also no doubt triggers the fall bite. Cooler day time and night time temps along with cold fronts working through lowers the water temps and in turn affects fish behavior. Water that was way above the fishes prefered temp range are now approaching their preferred temp range and in turn causing the fish to become more aggressive when it comes to feeding activity. Thats my take on the issue for what it's worth.

[bamabassman]

very good keith. i would agree with you buddy.

[joedog]

Kieth, Bamabassman, thanks for input! Hey Kiethdog did you see the strom game a couple of days ago/ Hope weather is better!

[keithdog]

Yes I saw it and felt very ill by games end. Talk about giving a game away and doing everything a team can do to shoot themselves in the foot. But yeah, I hope next weeks weather is better! And I hope the games results are FAR better!!!

[Bassboss]

I'm here in WI, right with you. Not sure the "fall patterns" but hope to figure them out since it's my first year fishing a fall here.

But as with most thing, the things that trigger them to transition to fall patterns is a combination of all the thing you mentioned. Water temp probably being the biggest trigger mechanism. And then there's the old adage "the fish go where the food goes." Shad moving out into open water (for lakes that have shad) has to be a big trigger for them as well. Food venerable and out in the open? What more could a bass ask for?

[Marty]

I've had some good fishing in the fall, but I've read a lot more about "fall feeding frenzies" than actually experiencing them. Nevertheless, water temperature has to be a major factor. Length of daylight might be a possibility as well, but that's probably a bigger factor with the birds than fish.

Of course, fish are not unique among animals that do various things in preparation for the winter. Instinctive behavior in animals is not so easy for humans to understand.

[tim4081]

I approach the fall similar to how I approach spring fishing but in reverse. As water temps start to fall, the fish become more active and faster moving baits generally will work well. For example in the right areas I've had tremendous success fishing buzzing type frogs in late September/early October. As the water continues to cool, the fish will become less likely to chase a fast moving bait so I'll start slowing down using slow presentations such as jerkbaits and jigs.

Another factor to consider is that there are a lot fewer people on the water. Pleasure boaters, jet skiers etc start disappearing around here right after Labor Day. Also alot of avid fisherman also hunt so they tend to spend less and less time on the water. Add this to more active, easier to find/get to fish and you have my favorite time of the year to fish.

[WTL]

What triggers the fall feeding frenzy?


Fall.

[joedog]

I KNEW I was making it way to complicated!

[Dogmatic]

Yes, WTL. Dropping water temp. is the primary answer.

[ruffedgrousedog]

on few days before the land freeze ,all the green frog are migreting back to water for the winter, you wand to be there ,ready and fish close to shore, bass and waleye are ready and waiting for the last feast of the season,
75 to 100 bass on a day are common,but it is short, and the water get hard for the next 4 month

[kennethdaysale]

Originally Posted by wtl

what triggers the fall feeding frenzy?


Fall.

+1........

[lilmule]

Well I have a slightly different idea or theory,its more like following their food source around,and that due to changes in temp is to how it effects their food sources food source such as phytoplankton,can have a bloom due to slightly cooler temps,and it as well as a trigger in the fish themselves .
The baitfish follow it and the larger fish prey upon them,coupled with a natural desire to feed up prior to winter.So more than just a biological clock working,amount of available light etc,entire mother nature is,and together they all effect.

[keithdog]

Originally Posted by lilmule

Well I have a slightly different idea or theory,its more like following their food source around,and that due to changes in temp is to how it effects their food sources food source such as phytoplankton,can have a bloom due to slightly cooler temps,and it as well as a trigger in the fish themselves .
The baitfish follow it and the larger fish prey upon them,coupled with a natural desire to feed up prior to winter.So more than just a biological clock working,amount of available light etc,entire mother nature is,and together they all effect.

Very good addition buddy!