Lake Sampson and Lake Rowell

Fall is a transition time for all fish; changes in temperature and day length can make fish harder to find but more willing to take the bait. In Sampson Lake, crappie are a good fish to target as the water cools; they will get gradually more active as the season progresses. Off-shore drifting and trolling remain the go-to tactics during the fall. Spider-rigging with a minnow-tipped jig is the most effective way to find crappie and learn what depth and jig colors they prefer that day. Bass can be caught against the weed line or offshore this time of year given the time of day and conditions. Weedless soft plastics and topwater frogs will help you fish the thick cover along the shore and the thick vegetation mats on Lake Rowell. In open water, spinnerbaits, chatter baits, crankbaits, or spoons that can get a bass’s attention from a long way off may be the way to get strikes. Select your colors based on the water clarity, as that can change throughout the fall. Panfish can be found anywhere in these two lakes, but Sampson will be easier to access and get around. Live bait like grass shrimp and crickets fished under a bobber are universally effective for panfish.