Fishing Report September 24 2016 Massachusetts

Fall time is one of the prime times for fishing, spring is as well, for being able to catch numbers of fish, but more importantly, bigger fish. This time of year the fish, especially crappies, start schooling together and finding the schools that have the better sizes is key. As the waters cool, their tendencies are to school up and start roaming the basins of the lake. Reading your electronics is key to finding these schools and once you do, following them keeps you in the action. Water temperatures are key as well since if they are still in the low 70’s, these schools are still fairly small and scattered. Once the waters get into the 60’s to 50’s, this is when the schools increase in size and are somewhat easier to find. Our waters right now are still in the 70 degree range so they are schooling up some, but these schools are smaller, but what I am finding is that these schools are smaller fish. The larger fish are in much smaller concentrations, but they are off to the sides of the bigger school. You are able to see the schools on your electronics and if you keep looking, you can see where the bigger fish are laying. To target these bigger fish I have been using the Clam Outdoors Rattlin Blade Spoon and also the Pyscho Shad. By using these larger baits, this keeps the smaller fish away and you can definitely tell when setting the hook. Matching these baits with 3 pound line and a St.Croix Rods UL Panfish Series rod makes for a very fun outing. One other thing is that when you do find these schools, putting out a buoy is a great reference point especially this will keep you in the area as you try and follow these fish.