Fall River Fishing Bounty: Chasing Fish in Consolidation Hotspots
The Magic of Fall: A Time of Abundance
River Fishing as the crisp air of fall sets in, anglers are faced with an exciting dilemma — where to fish first. The cooling temperatures signal one of the best times of the year to get out on the water, as rivers become magnets for fish of all kinds. On this outing, seasoned angler Jeremy Smith is joined by his good friend Dan Quinn for a day of fishing centered around one key concept: fall consolidation.
During this season, large numbers of fish migrate to deep river holes in search of warmer water and plentiful baitfish, primarily shad. These “wintering holes” become bustling ecosystems, packed with species such as bass, catfish, white bass, and even buffalo — both smallmouth and bigmouth. The result? A day where nearly every cast produces something different. 
River Roulette: Hooked on the Unknown
Kicking things off with a bit of vertical jigging for crappie, the duo quickly finds themselves in the midst of a multi-species frenzy. Jeremy hooks into what turns out to be a buffalo — not the massive bigmouth variety, but a smaller, equally sporty version. Native to the region, these buffalo are typically caught by bowfishing rather than on hard baits, which makes the catch even more exciting.
Buffalo species can be tricky to distinguish. While bigmouth buffalo feature a terminal mouth, the smallmouth and black varieties — which are prized for food — display the classic downturned “sucker” mouth. Despite their commonality in local waters, seeing them take hard baits like jigging raps is highly unusual and a true thrill for any angler.
Unlikely Fighters: Buffalo on the Bite
The surprises keep coming. Jeremy hooks into another buffalo, this time a confirmed bigmouth, while vertically jigging just a couple feet off the bottom. These fish are powerful and can grow to staggering sizes — the Wisconsin state record is a whopping 76 pounds. While the day’s catches are more modest in size, the potential is always there, and that mystery keeps things exciting.
The vertical jigging approach continues to pay dividends, with buffalo hammering the bait just a foot or two off the bottom. It’s a rare and exhilarating bite window, as these elusive fish rarely strike artificial lures, let alone aggressively. For anglers who typically hear of buffalo being caught only on accident — or by arrow — this represents a unique and rewarding experience.
River Systems: Powerhouses of Biodiversity
Big rivers like the Mississippi are unmatched in their diversity. Though narrower than some lakes or reservoirs, their immense length — over 2,300 miles — allows them to host incredible numbers of fish. In fact, around 25% of all North American freshwater fish species live in the Mississippi River. With the arrival of fall and the subsequent drop in water temperature, these fish begin to concentrate in predictable locations.
Prime areas include deep holes with moderate current, often found near points or underwater structure. On this trip, Jeremy highlights a classic setup: a large upstream point with deep holes on either side. Thanks to sonar and down imaging, it’s easy to see the massive schools of shad that are attracting the predators. With such high bait density, even advanced electronics struggle to penetrate the screen clutter.
Gear and Tactics: The Fall Jigging Formula
When it comes to gear, both Jeremy and Dan rely on medium-power rods between 6’8” and 7’ in length, equipped with fast or extra-fast tips. This setup ensures solid hooksets when jigging in deeper water. While some anglers may prefer braided line, Jeremy favors monofilament for its stretch and performance in snap-jigging presentations. Specifically, he uses Sufix Advance in 6-pound test — a tough, abrasion-resistant mono that performs like braid in many ways.
This line is paired with a smooth-drag Daiwa Ballistic spinning reel, making it more than capable of handling the day’s bruisers — even potential 50-pound buffalo. The result is a lightweight, sensitive combo that offers both power and finesse.
The Beauty of Cold Water Fishing
Cold water — both in spring and fall — concentrates fish in ways few other seasons do. Pre-spawn periods in spring draw fish shallow, while in fall, dropping temperatures push them into deep river basins. It’s an equally electrifying time to be on the water.
Fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water with Jigging Raps, the pair targets every species willing to strike. From white bass to walleyes, catfish, and even muskies, this lure continues to prove its versatility. While no bait is universal, few others can match the jigging rap’s effectiveness during cold water consolidations.
Reaction Bites: Why the Jigging Rap Outscores Live Bait
When river holes are literally black with shad, predators don’t need to “hunt” so much as open their mouths. To stand out in that buffet, you need shock value. Heavy, fast-dropping baits like the Rapala Jigging Rap plummet straight through the bait clouds, dart, glide, and crash against bottom—an irresistible target that fish must pin down.
Jeremy and Dan proved it again and again. Side-by-side with anglers dragging live bait, the Jigging Rap routinely caught ten times as many fish. Even in mid-summer doldrums or post-cold-front blues, a sudden slash of lead and treble hooks can yank a walleye, buffalo, or cat out of its funk and make it strike on reflex.
Patterns That Persist: Trust Your Wintering Holes
Rivers intimidate many anglers because they fluctuate—water level, color, speed—yet autumn “wintering” spots behave like clockwork. Whether you’re chasing walleyes, muskies, smallmouth, buffalo, or channel cats, moderate-depth holes with moderate current near bends, points, islands, or man-made barriers refill every year as soon as water temperatures slide into the 50s °F.
Spend time with side-imaging or down-scan to verify life, but don’t hesitate to fish an area that “looks right.” In smaller rivers you may have to probe by feel alone; the effort is worth it, because once you mark a hotspot it pays dividends season after season.
Gear Snapshot
| Component | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 6′ 8″–7′ medium, fast/extra-fast spinning rod | Punches hooks in 20–30 ft and maintains feel. |
| 6 lb Sufix Advance mono | Stretch dampens surges yet fishes almost like braid; survives buffalo and carp to 50 lb. |
| Quality reel with buttery drag (e.g., Daiwa Ballistic) | Protects light line during long runs from carp, cats, or sturgeon. |
| Rapala Jigging Rap (size 7–9) | Heavy enough to drop fast; glides and snaps erratically to trigger reactions. |
The Jigging Rap Story: From Ice Shacks to Tournament Podiums
Originally an ice-fishing staple 50 years ago, the Jigging Rap leapt into open-water fame after Al Lindner refined a snap-jigging method for walleyes. Today it wins summer and fall walleye tournaments nationwide and—if this day on the river is any proof—catches almost everything that swims. Its evolution from frozen-water “secret” to year-round workhorse is a testament to simple design and angler ingenuity.
Multi-Species Mayhem: Carp, Cats, and Possible Sturgeon
The finale delivered a string of surprises:
- Common carp inhaled the lure mid-column—evidence that even traditionally “unlureable” species fall for a well-placed reaction bait.
- A bulldozing mystery fish (likely a sturgeon) pushed Jeremy’s tackle to the limit, reminding us that any cast could connect with a true river giant.
- Channel catfish displayed their underrated muscle, reinforcing why light-line anglers praise smooth drags.
Each hook-set felt like spinning the roulette wheel of river biodiversity—and every spin produced another heavy, hard-pulling payoff.
