Due to low and clear water, it was a challenge to fish the Shenandoah River in October. We had a few cold fronts come through the area and bass were being caught during those times. You always want to fish right before a front.
November is absolutely the best month of the year if you are an outdoorsman. Hunters are taking to the woods and the fish are biting. November is one of my favorite months to fish. Bigger bass will be feeding heavily preparing for the winter months ahead. With hunting season in full swing fishing pressure will be trending down, so you should have plenty of water to fish. The first few weeks of the month will be a good time to be on the water. Water temperatures will fall below 60 degrees, and fish will continue to feed aggressively at times. Continue to throw crankbaits, spinnerbaits, chatter baits, and do not rule out top water lures. They can still produce strikes, even in cooler water. Remember as the water cools fish will still be shallow, but they will always be near deeper water.
Toward the end of the month bass will transition back to their wintering holes. That is when a jig with a trailer and a jerk bait will come into play. Fishing the jig tight into cover such as wood or rocks should produce some bites. Start shallow and work your jig into deeper water where there is structure. When fishing jerk baits try different sizes and running depths, and very your retrieve speed until you find what they want. The jerk bait is best fished on fluorocarbon fishing line. It will get your jerk bait down a little deeper.
Good luck fishing in November. Watch out for each other, be safe, and wear that life jacket in the cooler months.
As we go into the season of Thanksgiving, we all have so much to be thankful for. But there are a lot of people hurting and struggling. God says not to judge but to help them. So let us choose random acts of kindness to those in need during this season and not think about ourselves so much. Psalms 100 tells Gods people to be glad, joyful, and thankful, for “He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (vs 3), for in the worst of times we can remember Christ’s love and sacrifice for us. Take time this season to express your gratitude to God.
God bless you all!
Mike
