As a Minnesota fisherman, I’m at my happiest in April when the snow is just about melted and you can feel the sun’s warmth getting stronger. My mouth waters with anticipation for the coming season as I plan trips, work on tackle and rig the boat. Weeks later the black crappies slowly make their way to the shallows, followed in sequential order by bass and then bull bluegills. Once I’m sick of skinny water, I can head offshore where the walleyes are chomping. Pure bliss. In May and early June I spend just about every free second I have on the water.
To the contrary, October can be a downright depressing month. Although the temperatures are presently nice and warm, we Minnesotans know it won’t last. If this fall is anything like last, there will be snow on the ground within a month. The sun sets earlier and earlier every day to the point where it’s already dark after the workday. And although I won’t officially put the boat away until after Halloween, just the thought of it makes me sick. That reminds me, I need to get my trolling motor looked at.
I know October and November can provide some big-fish opportunities for bass, walleyes and muskies, but oftentimes those fish are scattered. For most outdoorsmen, this time of year is reserved for hunting whitetail deer. Try calling a bass pro in the next few weeks for an interview. If you’re lucky enough to get an answer, odds are they will respond in their “whisper voice” from a stand. There was a time when I tried to join the masses and become a hunter, but my mind always strayed towards fishing.
So for the next few months, I’ll be in a personal funk. It’s nothing major – more of a transition of sorts, much like the fish. This is what die-hard anglers call the dead zone because we’re essentially stuck between seasons. Southern states don’t have to deal with this. In Minnesota, it can lead to depression and/or serious bouts of cabin fever.
For those with true seasonal affective disorder (SAD), I feel for you. I struggle with the lesser SFD – seasonal fishing disorder. Thankfully, it can be cured in the near future with an ice auger and a jigging stick. And I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder – maybe that’s why Minnesotans love to fish so much.
