Thread: Question abou fall patterns

I went to the river for a while Saturday afternoon and searched for shad. They were in my favorite creek. I could see fish scattered in 11 to 16 fow. I spider rigged 4 poles with minnows, 1/2 oz weight with 12 in leader and hook below. I caught a few nice ones in 12 fow right on the bottom. Just like some of you have said. And then I caught the mighty stripper. Yep, he tangled 2 other rods before I could get him in. A 5 pounder. Rigged up again and got back to work. Caught 3 more strippers and broke off 2 more times. Other stripe were flying past the ones I was reeling in.
I thought about you guys talking about those stripper getting in your lines. lol
Here's my question. Are the fish headed to the shallows or back out to deeper water? Or have I just got to keep tracking the shad? Water temp was 68 degrees. Thanks for your replies in advance. Blessings!

Should be headed into shallower waters and will stay their until the water temps get down around 50 just my that’s what they do on my lake anyhow! Then back to the deep until it gets back into the 50s then head to mouth of sloughs to stage before they move on into spawning grounds !

Thanks guys. That is good to hear.
This creek has 20 fow in the channel for a half mile.
Is that deep enough to hold them all winter or will they go out to the main river where it's 45 to 50 fow?

They go deep in winter

This fall has been strange. The fish have been deep and shallow. One day they will bite shallow the next deep and then they want bite at all. I've had better luck on deep brush lately. Even the guy that kill them in fall have had a hard time this year so don't give up.

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Originally Posted by lowe175

This fall has been strange.

It's because I started crappie fishing. It will likely never be the same again.

Yep weird fall


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Fished the Alabama River today - caught fish in water 10’ feet deep at 5’ and caught them in 20’ feet of water at 15’ . Hard to pattern


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Thanks a bunch guys. I am gaining confidence every time I go fishing now because you all share your knowledge and experience. I'm better at vertical jigging and spider rigging now. PP 10/2 hi vis has spoiled me when single poling. lol. That thump is additive. I've learned about line size and types, hook size, jig head weight, jig body shapes and colors. Yes, I believe crappie hold a tube injected with nibbles longer because I was missing fish without it. Spider rigging, 4 poles is all I can keep up with by myself with boat control, hang ups, etc. I'm using 2 small HB 2D units right now but I heard Santa is bring me a Garmin Striker 7sv. I've got Nav Maps on my phone. I like it a lot. SP, if those fish are headed to the shallows, I'll be there waiting every Saturday that I can go. Blessings guys!!