september edition

“Fall Transition – Protect the Waters We Share”

September brings cooler mornings, shorter days, and the beginning of the fall transition. As bass and baitfish begin changing their patterns, anglers are also spending more time moving between creeks, rivers, and lakes in search of active fish.

🐟 1. Keep Fish Care a Priority

Summer may be ending, but water temperatures can still remain warm throughout September.

Minimize the amount of time fish spend out of the water.
Wet your hands before handling fish.
Support larger bass horizontally whenever possible.
Get your pictures and measurements quickly.
Make sure fish are strong and ready before releasing them.

For tournament anglers, continue monitoring your livewell throughout the entire day.

🌿 2. Protect Healthy Vegetation

Grass and aquatic vegetation provide important habitat for bass, baitfish, and other aquatic life.

Avoid unnecessarily running your outboard through shallow vegetation.
Don't intentionally remove or damage healthy aquatic plants.
Be especially careful around shoreline vegetation and shallow habitat.

Healthy habitat means healthier fisheries.

🚤 3. Clean, Drain & Dry

Fall fishing often means traveling between different bodies of water.

Before leaving the ramp:

CLEAN vegetation and debris from your boat and trailer.
DRAIN livewells, bilges, coolers, and other compartments that hold water.
DRY your equipment before launching somewhere else.

These simple steps can help prevent the spread of invasive species.

🧵 4. Don't Leave Fishing Line Behind

Discarded fishing line can become dangerous to birds, turtles, fish, and other wildlife.

Keep a small container in your boat for:

Used fishing line
Damaged hooks
Torn soft plastics
Other small pieces of tackle

If you find discarded line at the ramp or shoreline, take a few seconds to pick it up.

💡 This Month’s Challenge

On your next trip:

✅ Pick up 10 pieces of trash at the boat ramp or shoreline.
✅ Properly dispose of all used fishing line and soft plastics.
✅ Help another angler with a safe fish release or share a conservation tip.
✅ Leave every fishing spot cleaner than you found it.