There's a substantial number of avid sportsmen and women ready to head north to the Oswego area this month to test their skills and tackle on the soon-to-start-running salmon that journey up the rivers from Lake Ontario to spawn. I can't say as I blame those anglers, for hooking into a 20-pound-plus king salmon is an adventure you never forget. But for those who'd rather wet their lines in closer-to-home waters, September is a wonderful time to enjoy some of the best fishing our area has to offer.
For starters, the cooler night-time temperatures allow water temps to cool down from their lofty summer levels, and that triggers increased activity in the fish, from predator species to prey species. Many members of the minnow family are preparing to spawn now, and the egg-laden females offer a high-protein delicacy to hungry pike, walleye, bass and pickerel that are storing up fat for the winter season. Walleye are perhaps the most popular gamefish in our local rivers, with smallmouth bass a close second.
On average, both of these will run larger now than those caught last spring. A walleye that was a barely-legal 15 inches last May will be 17-18 inches now. Smallmouths that were a foot will be a solid 14-15 inches now. It may not sound like much, but in both cases, the fish caught in September have "real shoulders" and it becomes apparent, both in their fighting ability as well as the larger fillets they can offer.
The same can be said of the trout encountered now. Ever since the DEC extended the trout season to October 15, the overall average size of the trout taken in the waning weeks of the season has been larger than those in spring.
• Walleye – Both the Chenango and Unadilla rivers hold excellent numbers of these popular and excellent table-fare fish. Since they are school fish, catch one and there are probably more in the same area or pool. They tend to hug the bottom and prefer shaded, deeper waters, so these are the places to seek them out.
• Smallmouth Bass – Much like walleye, smallmouths are structure-oriented, although will often be found in shallower water than walleyes. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas and also sections that contain cover such as sunken logs, exposed tree roots, etc.
• Northern Pike - Pike are normally weed-oriented but will also use available cover such as sunken trees to lie in wait for prey fish. They'll also inhabit edge cover along the shoreline as long as the water isn't too shallow where the cover ends. Same goes for pickerel, which are more apt to be found in ponds and lakes.
• Trout – September is a great month to fish for native brook trout, the males of which will be in their brilliantly colored spawning coats. Stealth is usually required when fishing for them since the streams they inhabit are often low and gin-clear at this time of the year. Concentrate on the head and tail water areas of pools and along undercut bank areas. Brown trout waters such as the Otselic and Gennegantslet will likewise be low and clear, so keep a low profile and be stealthful when approaching pools and runs.
• Panfish – Panfish such as sunfish and perch begin to drift to deeper waters as fall approaches, so fishing the shallows near shore is usually less effective than it was in summer. Points and bays where weedbed edges extend out to the deeper waters are often the best place to fish for these petite scrappers. Rock bass, however, will tend to hug the rocky shoreline areas they inhabited during the summer months.
• Lures and Baits for September – As mentioned earlier, fish are starting to feed more heavily now to bulk up for the cold season ahead. So when fishing for most any of them, think high protein. For the prey species such as walleye, bass, pike and pickerel, shiners and minnows become a favorite food. So lures that mimic them are the ticket. The important thing is to place the lure right in the fishes' "dining room." That means deep for walleye and close to cover for pike, bass and pickerel.
Smallmouths will also be feeding on crayfish, but it's been my experience that shiners and lures that imitate them produce better at this time of the year. I'm a big fan of jigs, and have great luck using those with plastic bodies (either twistertail or tube type). Black seems to work very well in the Chenango while purple or grape colors seem to be favored by the Unadilla fish. Hair jigs in these colors, tipped with a small minnow or piece of night crawler often produce when bare offerings fail.
Pike and pickerel love silver, so plugs, spoons and spinners in that finish are a great way to start. Silver lures in smaller sizes are also good enticers for fall trout and rock bass. Don't be surprised if you also occasionally hook a walleye or bass on these when on sections of our local rivers that contain a mixture of the species.
Although good fishing can be enjoyed on into October and even November, the problem often is dealing with all the abundant leaves that have fallen into the waters by then and keep snagging on your hooks. So September is often the optimum time to get in not just some of the best fishing of the year, but also what may be the last.
One last note: Today is the anniversary of the 9/11 attack on us. So please pause for a moment and remember that "Freedom isn't Free." God bless America.