By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Wow, calendar says it is late November already. No doubt we are in the latter stages of fall now. Do not know about you, but I am hoping that ice fishing is just around the corner! Regardless, I am still fishing, open-water for now.
Often I am “swinging for the fences”, fishing for big fish. Big specimens of any species get me going. Those fish are rare, unique, special. Long may they live!
In my opinion, fall, including late fall, is one of the best times of year to catch big predator fish. Big walleyes, muskies, pike, are often my target this time of year. Of course I am not disappointed with bass, wipers some big trout or even a late-season catfish if they come along.
However, I am not ashamed to tell you that this time of year I often put in quite a bit of time for only a few fish caught. That does not bother me in the least as long as they are quality fish!
Reminds me that you gotta earn ’em.
Oh sure, there will always be stories of someone unexpectedly, randomly catching the biggest fish in the “lake”. Truth is, if you want big fish, you gotta fish for them. You make your own “luck”.
I will dust off an old blog post some time that I wrote about big fish strategies. That would be a good one to publish again. For now, as you head out the door for the weekend, just know that they do not fall from the sky!
Have a great weekend. Put in some time on the water and in the field!