Although the official first day of autumn is still three weeks away, the Labor Day weekend represents the traditional beginning of fall activities for many folks. Some hunting seasons are, in fact already underway with the opening of the dove and early goose seasons on September 1 and squirrel season begins next Saturday, September 9. I’m still trying to adjust to the change in recent years of starting the squirrel season to mid-September. Something about all the green foliage and the many summerlike days this time of year just doesn’t say small-game hunting to me. Hopefully, the younger generations of hunters will embrace this new hunting tradition in Pennsylvania.

Some anglers will put away their tackle after Labor Day, but doing so is usually a mistake. September often serves up some of the most pleasant and productive fishing opportunities of the year. Fishing pressure has already declined from the seasonal peaks of the spring and summer and will continue to fall off as many more anglers convert to spectators of the football season and other fall diversions. Because of that, you will often have prime fishing spots all to yourself on most days during the fall.As water temperatures begin to cool down, the larger gamefish start to become more active during the middle of the day rather than mostly the early morning or late evening that was typical during hot weather.

By late summer and early fall, most young-of-the-year baitfish and minnows are about full grown and plentiful. And bass are well aware of that situation as they begin their fall feeding spree. Exploiting that predatory tendency is usually part of my fall fishing strategy. My favorite soft-plastic lure for that work is the Bass Pro Shops 3¢-inch. They are available in nine colors, but I find myself using Baitfish or Houdini most of the time with good success. I rig them Texas-style on a size 1 or 1/0 offset shank worm hook in the conventional “J” style, not the wide-gap style. Split Tail Stik-Os are impregnated with salt so they sink readily and cast well with light line on spinning tackle. Allow them to sink slowly in still water or drift naturally in river current, punctuated with occasional twitches of the rod tip. Don’t overdo it; less is more. Crankbaits are also effective lures for bass marauding schools of minnows and provide the opportunity to cover lots of water to find fish when necessary.

Bass in the fall can be extremely fickle from one day to the next, probably because bass are more sensitive to the changing weather patterns and fluctuating water temps that frequently occur during fall. One day can seem like there isn’t a fish left in the lake or the river, and a few days later, you can’t keep them off your line. Don’t let one slow day make you believe the fishing is over until next spring. Be willing to try new spots and different lures and techniques, and enjoy some great bass action this fall.

Fly-fishing for trout can be rewarding autumn approaches. Although hatches tend to be sporadic in the fall, dry-fly fishing is often productive, especially if the water is low and clear. Be prepared to fish small flies, often size 18 or smaller, but on occasion, larger attractor-type flies like Stimulators, Wulffs and Humpies will often take fish quite well during the fall. Caddisflies tend to be the most important bugs in our local streams during the fall for dry-fly fans. A tan or brown Elk-Hair Caddis in size 14 or 16 usually will tempt plenty of trout to the surface during the fall. Another important dry to carry would be some Blue-Winged Olives in sizes 18 to 22.

Fishing subsurface with nymphs and wet flies will almost always take some fish in the fall. General purpose nymph patterns such as the Pheasant Tail, Walt’s Worm, Hare’s Ear or Prince Nymph are all good choices. And just like dry flies, go with smaller sizes when the water is low and clear. Brown and brook trout are fall spawners, so egg patterns like Glo bugs or Sucker Spawn can be effective flieslater in the fall.

A trout stream is a wondrous place to be anytime of the year, but the scenery and the solitude of autumn make trout fishing a special experience. Be sure to take advantage of this fleeting opportunity. Remember, however, that the extended trout season in now in effect, so the daily limit of trout is reduced from five to three. The extended season applies only to Stocked Trout Waters and some special regulation areas, so no trout may be killed on wild trout streams. For complete information about specific regulations on various waterways, consult the Pennsylvania Fishing Summary booklet.