Monday, 13 August 2018 08:51

A FEW REASONS TO EXTEND YOUR BOATING SEASON INTO FALL

Autumn usually has less boat traffic making it the perfect time to hit the lake in search of fall colors and great fishing. Autumn usually has less boat traffic making it the perfect time to hit the lake in search of fall colors and great fishing.

For many boaters in the northern states, Labor Day weekend marks the last big hurrah of their boating season before it is time to pull the boat out of the water for the winter months.  Shortly after the holiday weekend schedules get busy, the kids will be back in school, and that north wind starts blowing cold air from the Arctic. But wait a minute. Just because Labor Day basically marks the end of summer that doesn't mean that your boating season has to come to an end too.

Even though you can expect the temps to start cooling off after Labor Day, there is still some great weather to enjoy through the month of September and even well into October. 

If you and your family like to fish, fall can be one of the best times to get some lines wet and reel in a big one. You can find bass feeding in the shallows, pan fish schooled up in the weed beds, and steelhead making their yearly run upstream. There are plenty of fish species you can target whether it be in an inland lake or river, but you wont be able to catch them if your boat is laid up in storage.

Another benefit of boating into the autumn is that there is less traffic on the water. The lines at the public launch are gone and you can pull right up to the docks at the gas station or restaurant you have wanted to go to all season and actually get a spot. Less traffic not only opens up that perfect spot on the sandbar or fishing hole, but it also makes navigating the lake safer and less stressful. Sometimes it can be unreal how few people are actually out on the lake enjoying what little nice weather we have left.

If your like me and love the sights and colors of fall, being on a lake is one of the best places to be. Imagine taking a relaxing cruise on the boat with the fresh crisp fall air surrounded by natures finest color display. Honestly, enjoying fall weather from a boat is hard to beat in my opinion. Much better than driving around in a car all afternoon. This is seriously the best time to take advantage of the outdoors before your stuck inside with cabin fever for the next few months.

Lastly, the less time your boat is in storage the better. Your motor wants to run and not just sit dormant with the bipolar weather we see in the fall. Hot, cold, hot, cold. You know what Im talking about Michiganders. Not to mention you will also be getting the most out of your season that you can. I mean, you got a boat to use it. Am I right?