Summer’s ending, but good fishing is just starting

Labor Day weekend is the beginning of the end of summer, but not of the fishing season.

Actually, the first weekend of September is the beginning of the end of the hustle and bustle that peaks in July and August and causes many anglers to go into a little self-imposed hibernation. Many boaters and skiers put their toys away after Labor Day, and that signals peace and quiet for the fishing people who took a break to avoid the wavy rockin’ and rollin’ so common at our busy reservoirs around Youngstown.

September also brings the break in the heat that allows water temperatures to drop. As the water cools, the walleyes, bass, crappies and other popular species resume more aggressive feeding behaviors that make them easier for anglers to locate and catch.

So, while Labor Day is the beginning of the end of summer, it’s also the beginning of some of the year’s best fishing.

Shorter days and cooler waters combine to stir up the fish populations. Mid- to late September and all of October often produce some of the fattest fish of the year.

The reasons are many, but chief among them are the facts that the water is cooler, the hours of sunlight are shorter, and the lakes are just a lot more hospitable once the boat traffic subsides.

The constant churn of wakes against clay and mud banks dirties our reservoirs and creates cloudy water that interferes with many species’ feeding habits.

Easier targets

As the water cools, the primary forage fish in this area — shad — migrate into places that make them easier prey for walleyes, bass, crappies, muskies, catfish and the other fish-eating species. Anglers are better able to locate the game fish, and catching them is not to difficult once you find them.

Walleye anglers soon will be pounding the long, tapering points at Berlin, Milton and West Branch. Mosquito’s lake-rimming weed beds also will be key targets for walleye anglers.

Jigs, tipped with leeches and minnows, and shad-colored crankbaits are popular choices for September and October walleye anglers.

Smallmouth bass action typically kicks into high gear in mid-September at Berlin, Milton, Shenango and West Branch. Big smallies also are possible this time of the year at nearby Conneaut Lake and western New York’s Chautauqua Lake.

Topwater walking baits are excellent for teasing September smallmouth in the dim light of morning, while crankbaits and jigs are good choices once the surface action slows.

Other easy marks

Largemouth bass also smash topwaters, cranks and spinnerbaits when they are roaming loose off the cover. Once the sun brightens, anglers can pluck them from shallow wood and vegetation with Texas-rigged soft plastics and jigs.

The crappie schools that roamed the open water throughout the heat of summer soon will start gravitating back to the shallow brush, docks and weed lines. Many expert crappie anglers score big on September and October crappies with tiny jigs on ultra-light tackle, as well as minnow-and-bobber rigs.

So, all in all, the end of summer is a positive development for anglers. The yachts are being put away and the fish are getting busy. That’s your cue to get back out on the water and catch up with your favorite fish.

jwwollitz@aol.com