By Steve Graf    

No matter what lake you’re on, it’s almost impossible to get away from other anglers even during hunting season. No longer can you go to your favorite lake in the middle of the week without waiting in line to launch your boat. So how can you as a bass fisherman avoid frustration and maintain your focus while fishing behind other anglers?

First, does anybody work any more? It seems that no matter what day of the week it is, boat ramps are full — every single day! One thing you need to do is to be aware of what events are being held on your lake of choice.

This time of year, most tournament trails have their end-of-season two-day championships, therefore increasing fishing pressure on certain lakes in September and early October. Facebook is a place that can be a good source of information in terms of what’s happening on area lakes.

Overcrowding issues can be a little lighter later in the fall as many anglers are in the woods hunting or just taking a break from fishing. The problem today versus 10 years ago is that there are more tournament trails, not just for the weekend warriors, but also with high school and college organizations.

Another issue anglers must deal with on certain lakes is drawdowns. This has been an issue in Northwest Louisiana for several years as state wildlife officials attempt to eradicate salvinia, an invasive species of vegetation that has taken over certain waterways in our region.

These drawdowns help to shrink the size of the lake which allows officials to reduce the amount of acreage they must spray. Some lakes will be pulled down four feet or more depending on the lake and the severity of the salvinia.

Lakes that go through this drawdown period allow anglers to catch more fish as the process reduces the size of the lake and makes fish more accessible. Some anglers hate this and feel that it hurts the lake in terms of the quality of the fishery, as some anglers take advantage by catching and taking out huge limits of fish.

The biggest issue is that bass fishing is more popular today than ever before! The influx of young anglers today is due to the popularity of high school and college bass fishing. More anglers equate to more people on the water, plus more pressure on the fish.

Even during the fall season, a lot of anglers continue to fish. There was a time when you could go to a boat ramp in October and November and be the only boat and trailer in the parking lot. Not any more!

For me personally, it’s a great time to try new lures or learn a new technique. It’s also a great time to get better and more efficient with my electronics. One thing is certain; the fishing can be awesome this time of year as bass go through a feeding frenzy fattening up for the winter.

So don’t sit at home this fall. Hook up that boat and head to your favorite body of water and enjoy some of the best fishing of the year. But understand, you might have to wait in line to launch!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com