Does it seem like the first cold snap sets off a very brief frenzy in rivers that quickly dies off?

[Ohioguy25]

In Ohio these overnight lows have turned the fish on overnight. However, in my experience it generally is short lived and we are left with a scattered, inconsistent fall bite that alternates between bouts of aggressive moving presentations and slow, very subtle finesse tactics. 
 

Mid-late September is when this initially kicks off with the smaller fish going first, followed closely by the 17/18” fish for a day or two. Then it really seems to be sort of all over the place. The bites quickly become very few and far between, with most of the squeakers suddenly absent from their summer feeding grounds but a shot at your 20+“ fish getting you off the couch.
 

What I’m wondering is if this is due to the autumnal migration or if the yo-yo temps (it is now back in the mid-upper 80s) have stunted the fish back into summer pattern?

[Spankey]

Great post. I would have to agree with you. Might not be the same every year. I thought that we may be getting an early fall but temps are inching back up during the day. Mornings lost that very cool kick they had a few days ago. The AM temps should drop off in a week or so. I love what we are getting into now. My nicest bass, whether from the river or the lake have been in October. Doesn’t happen every year but I like to thing history repeats itself.