fall stream fishing

[tomyv]

I fish a stream in PA from spring to fall every year. Once fall comes around, the fish seem to dissapear. THe stream is shallow, with a few holes that are about 15 ft. deep. I have been focusing on these deep holes for the last month, with no action what so ever. My question is this, where did they go? The stream empties into a river about 6 miles down stream, do you think they make there way all the way down for the winter? And if so I guess they all migrate back up in the spring? Please help!

[HerbB]

I grew up along a small river in central MN and every year used to see Northern Pike migrate down the river in early October. I'd see them just swimming along, heading back to the lake which was about seven or eight miles away. I don't know if that is what is happenning in your stream, but it seems likely the Muskies may have just headed back down to the river for the winter. I would think the area where the stream empties into the river might hold a good number of Muskies because, if memory serves me correctly, the baitfish migrated too.

Actually, there are a number of reasons that predator fish will congregate near feeder stream inlets at this time of year including baitfish, water temp, and increased oxygen levels. So, it might be worth trying the river.

Good luck.

[tomyv]

thanks for the help herb! I think I'm gonna give it a try tomorrow.

[Punch and Judy]

Yes we have the same problem on the creek we fish, this month nothing! I do not think they migrate(at least 20 miles or more) all the way to Lake Erie during the fall witch is where the creek emptys into. The section we fish has some of the deepest holes in the system!
Maybe they shut down faster in rivers and creeks when the temp. starts dropping? Then again with the steel head run in full swing are they just feeding on them? All we know is that seeing 3 to 4 fish a day turned into 0!!!

CPR <*{{{{><
Matt and Judy

[tomyv]

I'm thinking of heading up your way to do some steelhead fishing this weekend. I heard the steelhead are still near the lake because of the low water levels. The strangest thing about it is, that the water levels are so low and clear, you should be able to see a few ski's I would think. The deepest hole in the creek I fish is about 15ft. I don't know what the heck is going on. With the low water levels, if the fish did migrate, they would have had to do it a while ago because the water is so low. I know there not in there shallow summer haunts, so I'm going to put the portable fish finder on the canoe tomorrow or friday and find out if there all in the deeper holes? I guess it's worth another shot. If that doesn't work, they must migrate. But I'm baffled. Another question is if they do migrate all that way in the fall, why bother coming back in the spring? I think maybe they follow the smallies in the stream I fish. WHo KNOWS?

[Punch and Judy]

Hey TomyV,
Steelhead is prime time now a lot of fish in the tribs and moving up! We live on the lake in between two of the hots spots(Walnut and Elk)and a lot of action seems to be going on at the access areas of the creeks and starting to move up stream.

Using your depth finder is a good idea for locating the deep holes where you fish, we use ours for the same, as for trying to locate fish that is tough because of the beam or cone will not pick up the fish because of the depth of the water unless you are right on top of them. Next year we are going to buy a fishing buddy 2 from Bottom Line witch has the side finding mode and run it at the bow of are creek boat witch we will think it is perfect for river or creek fishing.

If you are in the area over the weekend give me a call and we can get together! E-Mail me for my number!!

CPR <*{{{{><
Matt and Judy

[HerbB]

tomyv, I wouldn't under estimate how much stream fish migrate.

Having grown up by a stream, I witnessed fish migrations several times a year. The river came alive in the spring usually a week or two after ice out. Before then, it was totally empty. First, the Northerns and Walleyes would come up to spawn along with some baitfish usually about the first or second week in April. Then, about a week later, the Rockbass would show up and the black/white/striped suckers would arrive to spawn in massive numbers. Then, about the the last week of April or first week of May, the Redhorse suckers would come up to spawn. And all through this mix there were waves of shiners and creek chubs that filled the river during the summer and provided an abundant forage.

Heavy rains that brought the river up significantly at any time during the summer would cause another wave of fish to come up from the lake including Northerns, Walleyes, Rockbass, and, unfortunately loads of carp. It would usually take no more than a day or two after the river had crested to see good numbers of fish and we were about eight miles from the lake. Sure made for some good fishing.:)

So, do fish migrate up and down rivers and streams? Yes. Does it take long for them to travel six or eight miles? No. Maybe a day or two. And they don't need a lot of water either. I used to see ten pound Northerns splashing through inches of water in the rapids between holes making their way downstream in the fall. And there were a few casualties as well when the water just wasn't deep enough.

My best guess is the fish aren't in the stream any more nor are the baitfish they feed on. Things can change quickly in the fall. Also, I'd expect that the Muskies in your stream move quite frequently during the summer as well.

Good luck. Let us know what you learn.

Herb

[tomyv]

Herb, I appreciate the advice, I'm gonna hit it hard on Friday. After giving it thought, the smallies in the stream have dissapeared too. I'll post next week to let you know how I do.

[jlong]

Speaking of Smallies, the local DNR did a study on them in a river nearby (Ambarrass) and found that they travel up to 45 miles downstream through the Wolf River to winter in the Winnebago System. That's some major movement.

Looks like there are plenty of other examples suggesting your skis may have done the same. Figure out their movement, and you may find a gold mine! Good Luck.

jlong

[tomyv]

I'm heading out to give it a whirl at noon, when I bust out of work. Jlong, just got done re-reading your mhm article on color last night, great stuff.

[ChrisN]

A few observations on the topic of migrations:

1. A certain tributary more than 40 miles upstream from the Susquehanna River has a large Corps of Engineers dam on it. In the summertime, this stream is too small to hold even trout for at least 5 or 10 miles downstream. I have seen pictures of fat 45" muskies caught from below the dam in March. These fish had to come from the Susquehanna or at least several miles downstream.

2. One branch of the Susquehanna is stocked with pures, the other is not. However, the density of purebred fish in both branches is similar. Whether these fish are naturally reproduced fish from some stragglers, or fish that have migrated 30 miles up the other branch in their 4 or so years of life is not clear. Either way, they move alot between the two branches.

3. Quebec stocked a lake with pures in the 1980's. Ten years later, a viable population of muskies showed up in a lake in Maine. Enough of these fish migrated a long way (90 miles or so, I think) to establish a new population in that time.

My experiences fishing slightly larger rivers have been the opposite of yours. Spots that had no fish all summer start to show fish in the fall starting in mid-October on, and just seem to get better through December. These spots are generally the textbook river spots such as deeper current breaks near creek mouths and islands. Either these fish are your small-stream fish that moved to the river for the winter, or they are just that much more active.

Chris Nordquist

[HerbB]

ChrisN,

Good post! I believe the size of the stream or river has a big role to play in how fish behave. A larger river seems more like a lake in that it provides a year-around habitat whereas streams are much more seasonal. It seems the smaller rivers and streams have a more fragile biological system that is affected much more by seasonal changes. Water levels, oxygen levels, and temperatures fluctuate much more and likewise, I would think, the availability of food for baitfish does as well. And, of course, the predators will follow the baitfish.

I suppose it depends on what part of North America one is talking about too. Smaller streams in MN often freeze nearly solid in the winter and that has to really mess things up.:)

Its an interesting subject. There aren't to many streams with Muskies here in MN. Here the Muskies are mostly in lakes and thats OK too.

Herb

[tomyv]

I tried where the stream and river meet twice over the long weekend, with no luck. I do think that the fish have moved out of the stream and into the river. Also talked to another guy who fishes the stream, and he has had the same experiences. SO, It's focus on the lakes for me until it's to icy.