Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2014 - 43

This late season Walleye was taken on the Juniata River with a live shiner on a jig head.
A large shiner on a ⅛-ounce jig head can be a great late season choice.

in. It can be prime time to catch a true lunker Smallmouth
Bass, Walleye or Muskellunge, and live bait is a great way
to catch them.
While I am a firm believer that the best time to fish is any
time you have the opportunity, I have often found that late
in the season some of the best action happens at mid-day.
When the sun hits the water and the temperature increases
a few degrees, the fish go into active feeding.
My rule for fishing during late fall and early winter is
generally to slow down my presentations. I like to use large
live shiners and Creek Chubs hooked through the lips on
⅛-ounce jig heads. I will go up to ¼-ounce jig heads if it is
windy or if the current is strong, and I am having trouble
contacting the bottom. Some days, the bite will be subtle, a
slight tap on the line indicating the strike. Other days, the
bites are so aggressive that an angler doesn't even need to
set the hook. As for Walleyes, nightcrawlers work late in the
season, but they don't seem as effective after November. Try
them on the downstream side of bridge abutments behind
rigged-on crawler harnesses.
I also like to fish Creek Chubs, Fallfish, large Fathead
Minnows and shiners with a ¼- to ½-ounce slip sinker
above a barrel swivel with about a 2-foot leader tied to a
number 4 or number 2 bait holder hook. I usually hook
the baitfish through the bottom of the mouth and out the
top of the head, but hooking them just below the dorsal
fin can sometimes be more effective. The late fall is one
time when I prefer to fish with large bait. For rod set-up, I
like to use medium to medium-heavy spinning outfits in
the 7-foot range. I like to use fluorocarbon line in 10- or
12-pound-test for my leader because of its low visibility in
the water. If I am fishing in an area where I know there is
a good possibility of encountering a Muskellunge, I may
step up to 20-pound test line.
The fish are often congregated at this time of year, so
where you catch one you can expect others to be close by.
A fishing friend of mine has a simple rule for finding large
late season fish on rivers throughout Pennsylvania, "Just
look for the deeper pools below the rocks, and you will
find the fish." I like areas with large rocks or rock ledges
that lead to deep river pools. The fish aren't generally
cruising the shallows at this time of year but instead
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stack up in deeper water where they don't have to move
far to grab a meal. If I am fishing from the shore, I like to
cast parallel to the pool. If I am fishing from a boat, I like
to position myself toward the head of the pool and cast
upstream, letting the bait tumble down through the hole.
You can expect to lose a few rigs in a day of fishing, but it is
often worth it to keep your baits close to the bottom.
Get your bait from the waters you will be fishing to
prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species. Always
remember to wear your life jacket. It is mandatory at this
time of year. Cold water quickly saps your energy should an
accident occur. Don't let the colder weather deter you though
from some of the best fishing of the season. Late fall and early
winter can be a great time to employ live bait for your biggest
fish of the year, so get out there to find a late season lunker.

STOP AQUATIC
HITCHHIKERS!

TM

Help reduce
the spread of Aquatic
Invasive Species

www.fishandboat.com/AIS.htm
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2014

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