Autumn can be one of the best times to dust off the fishing gear and head to the lake.

Hot summer temperatures push fish into deep water and make them sluggish, but as fall cools the air and the water, fish are back on the move.

As water temperatures drop into the upper 60s, sport fish such as white bass, crappie and walleye move up from cool, deep water and become more active.

Through much of the fall, white bass often continue their summer habit of feeding on shad in the cool of the night.

If they can’t be found near the surface, cast jigs, spinners or crankbaits along rip-rapped piers, jetties or dams in six to 20 feet of water. Minnows or live shad also work well along drop-offs or flats.

Walleye are difficult to find in the hot summer months, but in October they often can be found near humps, islands and drop-offs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Drifting a jig-minnow combination or live shad works well.

Crappie also can be found at this time of year six to 20 feet deep, often near brush, old stumps and submerged trees. Vertically fishing jigs or jig-minnow combinations are effective.

Later in the fall, as the water cools below 50 degrees, crappie congregate in large schools and move into the main lake.

They still frequent submerged timber or creek and river channels, but they also may suspend themselves in open, deeper water at this time of year.

Because gizzard shad are the most common prey species in Kansas reservoirs, use jigs, spoons and crankbaits that resemble shad.

For information on fishing conditions at Kansas lakes, visit the Wildlife and Parks on the Web at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.