November in the Valley is absolutely the best month of the year if you are an outdoorsman. Hunters are taking to the woods and fish are biting. Most boats you see on the road and on the water are avid anglers. April is my favorite month to fish but November is right there with it. Bigger bass will be feeding heavily, preparing for the winter months ahead.
October was a good month to be on the water. Water levels were up due to the rain we received from Heline, and the fish were biting. Our hearts go out to those down south with the flooding. Let’s continue to pray for all those people.
With fishing pressure trending down, November is an excellent time to be on the water. Bass will be in a transition stage early in the month. Mid to late month they will be congregating in their deeper wintering holes. As this is taking place it doesn’t mean fish won’t go shallow. On sunny warm days they will go to shallow water looking for baitfish. If there are rocks around that’s even better.
Target these fish with spinnerbaits and small crankbaits. As we get later in the month the main focus will be jerk-baits and jigs with a chunk trailer. If you know where their wintering holes are, throw the lures just mentioned. Camp out in those areas, bass will stack like firewood. When fishing jerk-baits try different sizes and running depths and vary your retrieve speed until you find what they want. When fishing jigs try different sizes and colors, darker colors for stained water and lighter colors for clearer water. Remember work your jig slow through cover. Most of your bigger bass will be caught on a jig this time of year.
With the water temperatures dropping, the best thing you could do for yourself is wear that lifejacket, and watch out for fellow anglers.
As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, may we not forget those affected by the flooding down south, those in our area going through hard times and the homeless. Let’s join together and pray for all those who are hurting. Through God’s work on the cross he has shown us his goodness and mercy. Don’t let the things going on in this world take away your thankful heart. Thank God for his love, his mercy, and his sacrifice. Psalm 100 tells God’s 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)
Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you all!
Mike
