Rush Hour

My wife looked across the kitchen at me with a rather confused expression as I lifted the page on the calendar and broke into my best rendition of the classic children’s song, “If you’re happy and you know it,” as I pointed to the month of October. This is easily one of my favorite times of the year as it seems like just about every conceivable pattern a fisherman could imagine comes into play and it’s nearly impossible to make a bad choice. Couple all this enthusiasm about fishing with the fact that hunting season is right around the corner. Hundred-degree days are in the rear-view mirror as the first decent cool front makes an appearance and it all makes sense why the excitement levels are so high.

With this increased level of excitement also comes a dramatically increased level of traffic on the water as seemingly everyone with a boat tries to take advantage of the perfect conditions. Extra helpings of patience and common sense are a must as fishermen of all skill levels converge on the water. I enjoy seeing some of the different groups of anglers that suddenly show up in October. Perhaps my favorite group are the “dyed in the wool” freshwater guys with their shiny NASCAR-looking boats decked out with enough sonar and GPS screens to land a space shuttle. These are the same guys who vow to never put their boats in saltwater until they finally go saltwater fishing and see what it’s like to actually have a fish pull some drag.

Once October passes the crowds begin to thin out as cooler temps will discourage most of the fair-weather folks, while many others will turn their attention to hunting season. The folks left on the water at that time are the true diehards who will reap the rewards of their efforts as the fishing hits high gear. There are few feelings like scanning the open lake and seeing multiple sets of birds working over hungry fish with not another boat in sight; it’s one of those rare occurrences that few get to experience.

Now if you want to navigate October, there are plenty of options to choose from and none of them are bad. Obviously chasing schooling fish under the birds is at the top of the list for most folks because it’s easy and fast paced. Soft plastics on jigheads is the standard weapon of choice for those looking for sheer numbers of fish. The single hook approach makes releasing fish much easier and allows you an opportunity to get back to fishing quicker than dealing with treble hooks that seemingly find anything and everything possible to hang on. The single also makes for a much safer environment in the boat when the chaos gets cranked up. Nothing puts a screeching halt to a good day on the water like burying a treble hook in your hand or pinning one to the back of your fishing partner’s head.

If you are looking for bigger fish under the birds you can always tie on a topwater and look for a better bite. The smaller fish will peck at the plug, sometimes bouncing it into the air like a volleyball until a better fish comes along and finishes the job. Another method for locating better fish is to go to a heavier jighead and get below the schoolies, where the bigger fish are cleaning up the mess. It always amazes me how you can catch small trout cast after cast near the surface, but once you allow that lure to get down towards the bottom and use a slower retrieve the bigger fish, especially redfish, magically appear.

If chasing the birds and dealing with the crowds seems less than appealing, don’t worry, there are plenty of other options to choose from. The flounder should begin to stack up in preparation for their annual spawning migration to the gulf, so taking advantage of that opportunity is high on many anglers lists. Still other folks will take advantage of the deep water bite in the rivers and along the channels as fish become increasingly more active with the cooler water temperatures. Live shad or mullet fished on a Carolina rig along the breaks will produce some great fish at this time of the year. Oversized reds and quality trout, along with an occasional shark or jack crevalle, have been known to show up for the folks who fish live bait during fall, so be prepared for the potential of a really big bite. So far this year I have seen some mammoth-sized jacks in the lake and I can only imagine what’s going to be prowling around in the deeper water this month.

Another pattern that seems to be a constant for us here on Sabine and Calcasieu in October is chasing the big schools of redfish that gather up during the middle of the day. If you happen to catch one of those light wind days and are willing to burn a little gas, you can find these fish blowing holes in the water while herding shrimp or pogies. These big schools seem to be out in the middle of the lake where there is little traffic and plenty of opportunity. Many times there may be only one or two lone gulls shadowing the school so don’t be quick to pass up one bird that looks like its interested in something because you may pass up an entire school of fish. The great thing about finding these schools out in the middle of the lake with only a few birds or none at all is that you won’t attract any attention from other anglers fishing the “bent pole” pattern. These schools, once they start feeding, tend to stay up for long periods of time, so it’s not uncommon to stick with them for an hour or more if you are lucky. Keep your binoculars handy and don’t be afraid to go check out anything that looks fishy.

October is a great month with plenty of promise and one that I personally look forward to. Everything seems to come together during this time of the year and it really makes getting outdoors a much more pleasant experience. Both the variety and quantity of fishing opportunities makes this a perfect month to share the sport with a new angler, especially kids, because there is always something biting.