Who's Happy About This Weather?

[ollie]

I love the summer for smallies and the winter for trout. I'm not ready for this weather however. I would still prefer the heat, but that's just me.

[ozark trout fisher]

I LOVE IT probably more than most. Unfortunately I need July and August, but that doesn't mean I like it. Just got done planting a few food plots, may bow hunt tomorrow, went dove hunting last week, may teal hunt later in the week, probably fish today, tomorrow and the next. When will I have time to clean cabins and bathrooms, it can wait!

I'm also looking forward to the hunting aspect of fall. The next few fishing trips to the Ozarks will probably be combined with deer scouting, as I tend to do most of my hunting in the Current River hills where I also tend to do most of my trout fishing. It's a good coincidence that leads to several very nice outings most every fall. Of course the downside to hunting in the Current River country is that I almost never get a deer. But that's just a small matter.

[E Green]

My wife and I moved here in March of 2010 from Milwaukee, WI so yeah, the humidity in june-end of august has been one of the hardest transitions for us. One the other hand, it was WONDERFUL to not have to get up 40 minutes early every winter morning to do the whole ice/snow routine before work.

How long into the fall can you still fish for smallmouth, sunfish, goggle eye etc with some success? Is it just the trout that keep biting in the colder climate/waters?

[ozark trout fisher]

My wife and I moved here in March of 2010 from Milwaukee, WI so yeah, the humidity in june-end of august has been one of the hardest transitions for us. One the other hand, it was WONDERFUL to not have to get up 40 minutes early every winter morning to do the whole ice/snow routine before work.

How long into the fall can you still fish for smallmouth, sunfish, goggle eye etc with some success? Is it just the trout that keep biting in the colder climate/waters?

Oh I'm afraid you'll get back to the ice and snow routine here soon enough if last winter here was any indication... Not to be negative or anything, but just so you know what you're in for. At least at my home there were periods of three weeks to a month last winter when the snow never went melted, and it was on the ground a considerable majority of the time from Christmas to the second week of February or so. That is not normal here in Missouri though. We will have a good long fall before that though, and we usually don't start getting much in the way of accumulating snow until somewhere around the second week of December.

You can pretty reliably catch bass and panfish here usually until about the end of October. The really good fishing can end sooner or later depending on the weather. Usually when the nightime temps are dropping into the 30s most every night and the day temps aren't getting much about 65 or so, that is about the end of the good bass fishing. Some crazy souls have perfected the art of catching bass throughout the winter; I am not one of them.

Our trout streams fish well twelve months a year. WInter may be my favorite time of year for trout fishing here.

[Kayser]

The best River fishing is from now through the end of October, in my opinion. The best lake and pond fishing runs through December. Just remember- fish slow. Also, 1/16oz white/hot pink marabou crappie jigs (with or without minnows) are one of the best baits. I don't get why more people don't enjoy the cold weather fishing- the panfish can stack up. For example- 100 8-9" bluegill on a Nov afternoon, 75 11-13" crappie on another, and close to 20 2-4lb bass. Usually get one of each trips like this to a local 8acre pond each year. I also remember a late October trip on a "fishless" river near STL, where close to 70 keeper bass were caught.

This is the perfect time of year.

Rob

[kevthebassman]

I'm just glad that the great unwashed masses are now glued to the TV set watching men in tight pants chase a ball around. A guy can get out on the river and have a little elbow room this time of year. It's nice to be able to wade without being run down by drunks in jet boats, rafts, and canoes.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm just glad that the great unwashed masses are now glued to the TV set watching men in tight pants chase a ball around. A guy can get out on the river and have a little elbow room this time of year. It's nice to be able to wade without being run down by drunks in jet boats, rafts, and canoes.

That's a fact!

[Wormser]

Don't like the heat, but love the smallmouth fishing during the heat. From mid-September to late October it's great to be floating a river, but the fishing is the most inconsistent it will be all year. I've had a lot of REALLY bad fishing days in early to mid-autumn. In fact, it's one reason that we've decided to spend September and October in Montana; the fishing is great out here, mid-September to mid-October is the height of fall colors, the animals are prime in Yellowstone Park and the crowds have thinned. We will be coming back to MO in mid-October this year, just in time for the height of fall colors and the improvement in the fishing.

It's in the mid-50s out here today...first really cool day we've had.

Interesting. My best and most consistent Smallie fishing has been in Fall and early spring. And summer has been hit and miss for me the past couple years. I don't think anything can beat topwater river fishing well after dark in mid summer, though.