For most of the outdoorsmen I know, the start of fall means the end of fishing season and beginning of hunting season. In spring we will get excited for the ice to thaw and bass to begin their annual spawn. Even crappie fishing doesn’t really start until late winter or early spring. Trout fishing may take up some winter months as the water is cool enough for heavy stocking – but fall itself is saved only for hunting.
Deer hunting and the like never appealed as much to me, so I did most of my fishing in fall. Bass and most of the “normal” freshwater species are still biting – in fact even better than summer. But it did get me thinking – what other type of fishing can you do in fall? So I researched it and you won’t believe the amount of fish you can catch in autumn. Let’s get into them below!
Bass & Typical Freshwater Species
Let’s start with your more typical freshwater species and what they’re doing in Fall. Throughout summer, the majority of fish head to deeper waters during the day and only approach the shallows at night to feed. This includes bass, catfish, crappie, and most other species. But as fall approaches, water temperatures start cooling and fish don’t mind staying more shallow during even the middle of the day. This means you can fish even from the bank for almost any species in fall.
Also, most fish spawn in the Spring. By Fall, those fish have grown to be juveniles. This means they are now catchable and for smaller species like shad or bluegill, those fish are great size for larger predatory fish to chase. So throughout fall, you’ll find baitfish moving in shallow to feed for winter and bigger predatory fish like bass behind them looking for big meals before winter.
So really in any type of water, you’re going to have great fishing opportunities for things like bass, panfish, catfish, and carp. Even species that like colder water, like crappie, have returned to their brush piles or bridge pilings in shallower water and are looking to feed. So don’t overlook fall as a great season to fish for even the most popular freshwater species. If you do, check out this article where I talk about the 3 fishing lures you should use in fall for bass.
Salmon & Steelhead
In the smaller tributaries across New York, California, Oregon, and the Great Lakes region you’ll find fall fishing is synonymous with the annual salmon & steelhead run. If you are unaware, salmon have one of the most peculiar life cycles of any fish. They are born in freshwater, live the majority of their life in saltwater, then come back to freshwater to spawn and ultimately die. And fascinating enough – they will spawn in the exact same rivers and creeks they were born in. For a lot of salmon species, this happens in fall. So anglers from all over the United States will travel to the right streams and tributaries for the small chance of catching a migrant salmon or steelhead.
Why? Mostly because it is such a rare and unique opportunity, as a salmon only makes this run once in a lifetime (which can be many years long). But also, salmon can grow extremely large – much larger than trout which are the most closely related species that fisherman can catch more frequently. Also, salmon are some of the tastiest, and healthiest, fish you can eat.
I’ve never been salmon fishing, though since my move to California I have become much more aware of it and plan to do so in the near future. So if you’re like me, looking for a spot to go salmon fishing this fall, take a look at this article that details all the hotspots for salmon fishing activity across the country.
Walleye
Another more unique species that anglers often target in fall is Walleye. Walleye have been introduced to many fisheries throughout the United States, but are native to the Great Lakes regions and are most often fished for in that part of the Midwest. I’ve never actually been, but from pictures like these I think I might have to make a fall fishing trip to Michigan!
The reasons walleye fishermen love fall fishing are numerous. First, the weather in the Midwest cools sharply and takes many of the pleasure boaters off the lakes – leaving more room for fishing opportunities. Additionally, walleye begin feeding up for winter and spawning, so are often the biggest they’ll be throughout a year. Finally, the water cooling seems to locate walleye in specific locations so they are easier to fish for.
If you’re bored this fall and want to try a new fish species, maybe think about walleye fishing. While it’s most popular and the biggest fish are in the Great Lakes region, there are probably some fisheries near you that have a few walleye too!
Sauger
Upon my research I also discovered lots of fishermen targeting Sauger in fall. I was shocked to learn they are a close relative to the walleye, but are a species I hadn’t even heard of before. Looking at them side by side, though, it’s hard to tell them apart. Sauger are smaller on average, have some more discoloration and fin shapes, but ultimately could be easily mistaken for a walleye.
So while walleye are often the prime fall choice, fishing for sauger is a great second option. Because they don’t grow to be nearly as large (the world record Sauger is 8 pounds, the record walleye is 25 pounds), a lot of fishermen overlook them. They’re also more aggressive and sometimes easier to catch. If you’re new to walleye/sauger fishing especially, they might be a good first species to target while you’re learning the ropes since they eat mostly the same baits!
Sheepshead
I don’t want to forget the coastal fishermen from the Gulf region of America. While some of us may be thinking fall means targeting fish that love cool waters, fall down southeast means the temps are just getting bearable to go outside. Sheepshead must agree, as they return to shallower, coastal waters in late fall into winter and lead to some of the best fishing opportunities off the gulf coast.
Sheepshead are unique because they aren’t only tasty, but easy to catch from shore for a saltwater species. They also have a unique coloring that makes them very attractive, but they’re difficult enough to catch that it makes for a fun adventure. They’ll spend most of their time feeding on crustaceans around reefs and rocky structures – so that’s where you’ll be looking to fish with live baits like shrimp or crabs.
Sturgeon
Fishing for dinosaurs in fall sounds fun to me. The sturgeon is actually a prehistoric fish that still inhabits many large waterways in both the West and East coasts of America. Most are listed as endangered or at least threatened under the Endangered Species Act. so regulations on fishing for them are usually quite specific and limit harvesting. For example, in California as of 2023 a fisherman can only harvest one sturgeon per year.
Despite these regulations, the sheer size of sturgeon mixed with their uniqueness as a prehistoric creature makes them a bucket-list catch for most fishermen. If you’re among them, then you should probably plan a trip for sturgeon fishing in fall. Like many species mentioned earlier, they spend much of fall fattening up for winter. And because water cools, they often hold in more specific locations which makes them easier to target.
Conclusion
This is far from an exhaustive list of all fish that can be caught in fall. Many fishermen are still targeting trout, muskie, pike, stripers, and much more in freshwater. For saltwater, there are so many species available they can’t even be listed. But the fish above are just some of the specific species that anglers are targeting especially in fall. Maybe it will convince you that you can try a new kind of fishing this fall and mix your hunting trips with a few fishing excursions as well.
But what’s your favorite fish to target in fall? Especially if I don’t have it listed here, I want to hear your opinions!