I can understand why so many people consider spring to be the season of new beginnings. The weather starts warming up in spring, nature starts to blossom, a new tournament season kicks off and yadda, yadda, yadda.
But what about fall? That poor season gets painted as the end of all the summer fun, when the boats get winterized and everyone gets all hopped up on pumpkin spice to hide their sadness about summer ending. Bleck.
Even the name of the season — “the fall” — unfairly carries a tinge of negativity, as if we all need to be reminded about our pending descent into the seasonal depression of winter.
Well, I’m here to remind you of the truth: Fall is not the end, nor even the beginning of the end, of all the fun. More awesome outdoor opportunities kick off in fall than any other time of year, making it the real season of new beginnings.
There’s so much to prepare for right now that it’s borderline overwhelming. In fact, don’t let my boss see this, but I have a hard enough time paying attention to my work when the only thing going on in the outdoors is a good ChatterBait bite. In fall, I’ve got to try to stay focused knowing that new seasons and new bites are kicking off every single day.
Wish me luck …
I’m already thinking about giant Lake Erie walleye making their way back west. Soon, they’ll slide up into nearshore areas where I can catch them just a short boat ride from the ramp.
I’m also daydreaming about my all-time favorite fall smallmouth bite (read more about catching big fall smallies in Bassmaster Magazine September/October 2026). It’s not on Erie, nor any of the Great Lakes. My favorite destination for autumn bronze is the far upper pools of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota.
In my head, I see a perfect day. The leaves are changing. Wood ducks are cruising up and down the river. Reeds are waving in a gentle breeze. And ripsnorting river smallies are piledriving a red crankbait fished along rocky shorelines. I’ve experienced it twice, and I wish I could go do it again right now.
Fishing isn’t the only thing on my mind, either. Every few weeks over the next several months, new hunting seasons will open. September sharp-tails. October ruffed grouse. November pheasants.
The German shorthaired pointer snoozing behind me as I write this has no idea how much fun is in front of him, but I hope that’s what he’s dreaming of, too.
And that’s just the beginning of the new beginnings. There’s also fall gardening, camping in my favorite Michigan state forest campgrounds, hiking with the kids, the frog bite, steelhead (a new one for me this year), deer hunting and so much more.
So yeah, spring is pretty great. Summer is awesome too. But if you’re one of those people who’s bummed that summer has ended, I think you need to shift your perspective.
Forget about what’s behind us. It’s September, and we’re entering the greatest time of year to be outside. There are so many new beginnings in front of us that your toughest task right now is just deciding where to start.
The good news is, you can’t go wrong, just as long as you go.