Archery deer season is winding down, fall turkey and small game hunting is in full swing, the statewide archery and firearms bear seasons are coming up and the statewide firearms deer season ushers in December.

With all of that to keep outdoors enthusiasts busy, not to be overlooked is the excellent fishing to be had fall afternoons in Pennsylvania.So until Hunters United for Sunday Hunting wins its battle with the state legislators, Sunday afternoons outdoorsmen have the choice of sitting and wishing or grabbing their tackle and fishing.Clearly, the second alternative is the most satisfying for anglers in general and bass anglers in particular. And best of all, there should still be plenty of Sundays remaining before Old Jack Frost spreads his cold breath over Pennsylvania's streams and covers lakes with ice.Yes, late November and early December Sundays are capable of providing excellent fishing opportunities.Fall is one of the most exciting times of the year and the best chance for catching trophy large and smallmouth bass.Bass often hit just about anything in anticipation of the upcoming winter, and boat anglers with a fish/depth finder can locate areas where the bottom drops into deeper holes or clear areas surrounded by vegetation that provides oxygen and holds baitfish.Jigs tipped with minnows, crankbaits and spinner baits work well in impoundments that hold largemouth bass.River smallmouth will hit jigs tipped with minnows, minnow imitations, crankbaits and jerkbaits. Look for the shad fingerlings moving downstream in the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers because where the shad are so are the smallmouth bass.Areas with large rocks rising from the water surface also hold smallmouth, whose metabolism is changing with the cooling of the water. These rocks hold heat better than other structure drawing the bass to the slightly warmer temperature and will hold baitfish for the same reason.Use lures that match the baitfish in the area, and if the baitfish species is not known use chrome or white lures. A shad finish is also an excellent choice.Another fishing option is to target larger streams and lakes that hold walleyes, which begin moving to the shallows as the water surface temperature begins to cool. Walleyes are customarily caught at night, but they begin feeding during the day as the fall sun shines lower to the horizon and begin to scatter as the lakes and rivers experience the fall turnover.Later, as the water temperature drops into the lower 40's and oxygen content becomes constant at all depths, look for the walleyes in deeper water, tail waters below dams and as eddies alongside fast current.Very often, pickerel will also be caught in these areas and will hit just about anything from spinnerbaits and crankbaits to minnows and night crawlers.Fishing methods for walleyes vary from trolling minnows and night crawler rigs to using jigs tipped with a minnow or soft plastic or scented baits. Trolling spinner rigs with three tandem hooks provide the best hooking opportunities.Walleyes tend to grab the end of night crawlers and minnows often missing the hooks, so use a jig with a long shank hook when jigging with plastic. A short shank hook works well when tipped with a minnow hooked through its mouth and out the back of its head to increase hooking percentages.Many trout remain in the stocked waters of the Pennsylvania. In the fall they will hit the same lures and bait that are used during the spring and summer, but use a slower retrieve.Anglers are advised to dress in layers to remain comfortable in the changing fall temperatures, and boat anglers are required by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations to wear a life jacket on boats less than 16 feet in length or any kayak or canoe from November 1 through April 30. It is also a good idea to wear a lifejacket when fishing from shore or wading during cold-weather months.