September river fishing

Its a great month to fish, as the water gets colder, the fish feed more. There may be long areas of no fish that may normally hold some, as they are lookin for winter over areas. Find those places and its golden. As the baitfish start hiding and get scarce, the fish get anxious and become super aggressive...WF..usually deeper, protected water and on the edges of those places is where they feed.

Nothing like fishing the rivers and creeks of PA. during late summer/early fall. French Creek is my go to water for this time of the year but, the Allegheny is never out of the question. Regardless of the water, I target the tailout of the slower moving eddies especially where a narrow trough exist. The trough is where I want my bait to end up no matter what the bait. I work the area from different angles throwing surface baits, spinners, and jigs. Rapalas (of course) are my surface lures followed by CP Swings (a fantastic all around spinner) and then the jigs (tipped with 'twister tails').

Water clarity will dictate my choice in spinner flash as well as my choice in twister tails (the clearer the water; the darker the bait). The surface baits are chosen by both the water clarity and color of the sky. ie. Clear water under a sky having white clouds will call for a smaller bait having a white (or light colored) belly.

I also consider the time of day when choosing which bait to try first and how long I spend at a given area.

However, given the choice of having only one bait, that choice will be the jig and twister tail. A quarter ounce tipped with a black two and half inch 'tail'. You can swim it at various depths, you can bounce it on the bottom (risky) or, you can drag it (even riskier). Short of having the exact bait, the 'tails' mimic leeches and/or helgramites.

Plan on losing some jigs but, thats the price to pay.

One other thing, I fish using no more then eight pound test line.

Hope you find something here useful and happy fishing. Remember, a bad day fishing still beats a great day at work.

Even nicer; you are not fishing shoulder to shoulder and, landing some nice walleye certainly is not out of the question.

I've noticed the leaves becoming darker for a couple of weeks now. Sumac in my north field is beginning to glow red and my neighbors chestnut trees are showing signs of the approaching fall. Cherry leaves in the windrow along my southern boundary are fast becoming yellow and dropping with the slightest breeze. Won't be too much longer; Mother Nature will lighting up the maples, followed by the oaks, in Penns Woods. Hope there's no early freeze this year so we can enjoy the leaves longer.

Funny, just the other day I was wondering why I liked late season fishing so much. Maybe someday I'll figure it out. :-P

Never forget; Safety First!!

PS. Nut, by chance, is there a electrician in the family??

I caught a few little smallies in the yough yesterday. Didn't start hitting til dusk when we were getting ready to leave.

KJN
I have to say, I'm surprised of these replies.   I guess I need to get out there and figure it out.  

Surprised?? What's to figure?

BTDT, THANKS. SIDE NOTE, I LIED, i don,t think i can wait 4 weeks to hit the streams. you guys got me too worked up to wait. dang. anyway, looks to be shaping up for an early fall, so goooood fishing may start earlier. later, wire.

Got the FishHawk gassed and the DieHards are fully charged.
Just waitin' for the BluBird sky to cloud over. Fishing under that open sky and blazing sun get's brutal. I rarely fish from the banks of lakes or ponds but, give me French Creek and I'll be, in the shade, along her banks somewhere.

Appreciate the 'heads-up' on the lake fishing. I'll be there!

@Jester2...........

Ever hit Poe Valley State Park for trout; where it's fishing and not catching?

Those that go fishing in the fall; to solely catch a fish, "can't see the forest for the trees".

SMT said that......