(Area) Fishing has shifted into a fall pattern which is welcome news for anglers.
As water temperatures drop fish start to bulk up for the winter ahead according to DNR Fisheries Biologist Bryan Hayes. He says the fall can be a great time to fish and puts Lake Anita first on his list. “We would call this a model lake. If we were building more lakes in the state we would build them a lot like Lake Anita. It’s kind of a bread and butter it just has an all around good fish population. It tends to be a consistent producer which makes it kind of a model for other lakes.”
Viking Lake in Montgomery County is highly recommended. “It’s got a really good crappie population. Maybe the best crappie population around can be found at Viking Lake. Expect a good crappie bite. With the draw down a lot of the brush piles are easy to find with sticks sticking up out of the water. Look for those crappies around those brush piles as the water temperatures cool off.”
Hayes says Viking Lake has a strong bass population as well. Another suggestion is Prairie Rose in Shelby County. “Bluegills in there are quality size. Don’t be surprised to see some over nine inches pushing up against that ten inch trophy size range. The crappie population has improved in there the last few years.”
Other good fall options include, but aren’t limited to Lake Orient, Meadow Lake, Mormon Trail, Greenfield City Reservoir, and Nodaway.
