Fall Transition: Clear water versus off-colour water
| Off-colour (turnover week) | Clear (after turnover) | |
|---|---|---|
| natural wacky fall | weak: the fish cannot see it and rely on the lateral line | the best presentation of the season: seen from far away |
| line | 12–15 lb fluorocarbon acceptable | 6–8 lb fluorocarbon or thin braid with a long leader |
| casting | short and precise to the cover | long; keep the boat 100 ft (30 m) off the structure |
| colours | black-blue, black-red, dark | green pumpkin, watermelon, smoke, natural |
| vibration | add it: blade bait, bladed jig, rattles | little; natural profiles |
| profile | bigger silhouette | smaller, natural |
| jerkbait | overcast or wind only | low light only; a calm bright day is a wacky day |
← Line and hooks for a slow bite · Reading the evidence labels →
Fall Transition
From the first hard cool-down to the clear water of October: four phases, where the fish sit in each, what the baitfish do, how the weather changes the call, and why a dead-sticked worm beats a minnow bait while the fish are off-colour. Calendar anchored at 44–46°N (eastern Ontario).
- The four phases at a glance
- Phase 1 · The cold-snap shutdown
- Phase 2 · Weeds die in stages
- Phase 3 · Turnover
- Phase 4 · Post-turnover clear water
- What the baitfish do
- Weather adjustments by phase
- Why a dead-sticked worm beats a minnow bait now
- Line and hooks for a slow bite
- Clear water versus off-colour water
- Reading the evidence labels