Photo by Eric Engbretson.

Right now is a peak time to enjoy some great fishing! Plenty of people indulge themselves in spring and summer fishing, but these same folks often miss the great angling opportunities available during the fall. So, don’t put up that fishing gear just because the weather is cooling down. After all, some of the best fishing of the year is yet to come.

Most every angler is thrilled in spring when the weather begins warming and the water temperature starts climbing. Spring means spawning time for many fish species and that usually means great fishing. Who wouldn’t be thrilled then?

However, another peak time is just around the corner. As the heat of summer fades, many things change making fall a great time to catch fish. Oxygen levels increase and fish begin moving more. Most game fish species begin feeding for the long winter to come and are eager to take an angler’s offerings. With some species, the best fishing of the entire year is during fall.

Another advantage to fall fishing is the lack of angling pressure. Most all of the recreational traffic from pleasure boaters and skiers has come to a halt. As mentioned, many anglers have left the waters as well. This leaves those anglers who do fish a much quieter, calmer lake with fish that are not pounded with things to eat every day. Overall, it simply means great fishing.

There are plenty of places around the Hoosier State to get in on the great fall fishing opportunities. We’ve picked out five top locations and fish species to target right now. Take a look!

LAKE WEBSTER
Muskies
Muskie fishing at Lake Webster has become very popular during the last l0 to 15 years, according to District 3 fisheries biologist Jed Pearson. An angler survey in 2005 showed a high percentage of anglers at the lake were targeting muskies. Furthermore, the fall was an extremely popular time for muskie fishing, with 77 percent of anglers seeking these game fish in October and a remarkable 95 percent in November. The lake has enticed so many muskellunge anglers because of the excellent fishery there.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been stocking muskies at Lake Webster since 1981. The DNR tries to stock around 3,800 fish per year or five fish per acre of water. There are many older muskies in the population, as well as most fishermen practice catch-and-release. Pearson said the lake averages about six adult fish per acre, which is much higher than many other muskie lakes.

More evidence of the great muskie fishery there comes directly from the DNR. Lake Webster is used by the DNR to collect broodstock in order to furnish muskies to other lakes. If they didn’t believe the fishery was in excellent shape, they certainly wouldn’t be tapping it as a source for broodstock.

The average muskie caught from Lake Webster will range between 36 and 40 inches long. Big fish will generally top out at around 50 inches. The lake has a 36-inch minimum size limit on harvested fish and there is a one-fish daily creel limit.

Gizzard shad are the main forage for muskies at the lake. While many anglers will throw baits that resemble shad, many different types of baits and fishing methods will also work.

Trolling is a popular method with many anglers. Fishermen will use a variety of plugs and spoons and high-speed troll along varying depth contours as a means of locating fish. According to Pearson, there are about five different spots in the lake where there is much deeper water. Anglers often pick up fish by trolling along the edges of these drops.