FALL GROUND POUNDING GREAT EXPERIENCE

An excellent adjunct to the fall hunting seasons is fall fishing. Anglers do not have to have boats and all that goes with them to enjoy some great fishing action.

The key factor is finding an area with abundant shoreline. Scout the area for clues as to the location of fish. Natural vegetation, man-made structures and natural structure can be tips as to the location of good fish habitats.

Most bodies of water have a forage fish. It can be minnows, shad, shiners or a number of other small fish and crustaceans. The big predator fish movement is determined by the aquatic forage. In early fall, they tend to move into the shallows and coves to find warmer water. The predators follow them. The action seems to move near the shore.

Good locations include such areas as may be windblown and those areas near the entrance to bays and coves. A good location is one made for an ambush.

Veteran ground pounders obtain maps of areas they plan to fish. On the maps they mark the location on structure, vegetation and depths of water. They also search out natural conditions such as overhanging branches, fallen trees, submerged timber and flooded brush.

Man-made structures also provide fish habitats. This includes marinas, docks, diving platforms, rip rap, spillways and dams. One angler of my acquaintance has an old refrigerator marked on his map. He claims to have taken some big bass off that appliance.

Areas where streams and rivers enter or exit lakes and ponds attract predator fish. They use the adjacent structure for concealment and then move to the fast water to feed. Eddies in rivers and streams serve a similar purpose.

Before embarking on a fishing trip along one of these shorelines, be sure to have the landowner’s permission. Assure him that you will respect his property, close gates and not break fences. Also, be sure to take all your trash out with you. It helps to carry a plastic garbage bag for this purpose and to pick up any other litter you might encounter. Leave the land better than you found it, and you will be welcomed back the next time.

As for tackle, it is important to rig equipment to match the targeted fish species. However, ground pounders should use a rod stiff enough and line heavy enough to control the cast in the shoreline environment.

A variety of jigs, spoons, crankbaits, topwater lures and live bait rigs will cover most situations. A small tackle box is recommended to maintain the ability to be mobile. A selection of baits smaller than 1/4 ounce is recommended. Light colored jigs are good as they are representative a number of bait species.

Chest waders are recommended for the ground pounders. Using waders allows one more flexibility as to where he can go along the shoreline. Shore anglers are usually most successful if they can quietly and efficiently cast to key areas for feeding fish. These areas may not always be available from land.

Patience is important to the ground pounder. He must wait for the fish to come to him. The good thing about fall fishing is that the fish are hungry and one does not have to wait long to be in feeding fish.

                                                          Don Gasaway - The Ground Pounder