Why it Matters: While many, including many of us at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, are spending their fall chasing pheasants, sitting in deer stands, or calling ducks in, there is still plenty of time to hit the open waters for fishing. With lakes in the upper part of the Great Plains region likely freezing soon, anglers should take advantage of the open, often less busy, lakes and rivers. The cooler water temperatures provide anglers with a great opportunity to catch fish that thrive in cooler water, like trout and muskie.
Highlights:
- Throughout the Great Plains Region, many state fish and wildlife agencies are stocking lakes, streams, and rivers with trout.
- In Iowa, the fall trout spawn is in full swing, and thanks to continuous conservation efforts, brown trout populations are self-sustaining and breeding naturally.
- Anglers may have to change their approach as the colder water may change fish behavior.
The fall season offers sportsmen and women plenty of opportunities to hit the field and enjoy our time-honored traditions. While there are several great hunting seasons open during the fall, it is also a great time for anglers to hit the lakes and rivers before they freeze over. Fall water temperatures offer great opportunities for anglers to target cold-water fish, such as trout.
In Iowa, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is continuing their efforts to collect rainbow trout eggs so they can continue to stock streams in the Hawkeye State. This fall, they are not collecting brown trout eggs as they are now a self-sustaining, naturally reproducing population. Through the continued conservation efforts of the DNR, nearly all public trout streams contain brown trout. These conservation efforts not only help fish populations but also provide anglers with more opportunities to catch different fish in different bodies of water.
Whether anglers are fishing from a boat or the bank, they may have to switch from their summer approach to catch fish that may be behaving differently due to colder water temperatures. As the water temperatures lower, fish tend to change their feeding behaviors. Like many other animals, fish will likely be trying to “fatten up” for the winter, leading them to be more aggressive; however, anglers may have to slow their bait presentation down as the fish may be slower to react.
