Fall Fishing
Fall bass fishing can be a double-edged sword for many anglers the cooling weather can mean the fishing season is almost at an end for Northerners but it also sparks one of the best times of year to catch fish. Let’s look at some surefire tactics for fall.
As the days grow shorter the water temperature starts it drop and bass will then move from summer haunts to the warmer shallows to feed. This is one of the best times of year to catch fish using a baitfish pattern. Cooler water in the backs of creeks tend to draw the baitfish into huge schools with the bass in tow! This is a great place to find good numbers of bass bunched up. That is why when fishing this time of year a baitfish imitation is very good. I would stick with your spinnerbaits and topwater shad type baits. The topwater bite is usually very good during this period and action can exist throughout the day. Some of the best Fall fishing can be done around the noon time hour when baitfish gather together in very tight groups. This gives the bass an easy target.
Reservoir fall fishing can be great when bass follow bait into the backs of coves and creeks. The bass will reverse their migration route and travel along ditches or creek channels to the backs of the creeks and coves. Do not over look points and offshore structure at this time bass will still frequent these spots as the weather fluctuates. The fall transition can often times be a long process. As we discussed before baitfish are the primary food source but do no forget about crawfish and other forage. As the water cools bass will feed on what is most available.
If you fish natural lakes this can also be an explosive time to bass fish! From my experience bass seem to use the outside edges of weedlines to ambush schools of baitfish. This is a great time to throw a rat-l-trap or spinnerbait and run it parallel to the grass line. Try and locate these type weedlines closest to huge flats or spring time spawning grounds. Bass will hold on the weedlines throughout the day and often times chase baitfish onto the flats. In fall vegetation starts to die off and thus takes up more oxygen. Try and find the greenest grass or healthiest vegetation. This will attract more fish during this period. Lily pads are also a great place to fish during the fall. Try swimming a jig around the pads or even a spinnerbait if the lilly’s are spread apart.
Fall may be the best time to catch good numbers bass in rivers. They also follow the baitfish into pockets and creeks where they can ambush them more easily. Try and fish areas such as jetties, logs or stumps. Baitfish will tend to hang around structure of this sort in the fall. One of my favorite places to catch bass in the fall in rivers are bridge pilings. Baitfish will cling to the walls of the bridge making it easy for bass to get an easy meal. Fall cold fronts do not seem to have a drastic effect on bass in rivers but it may slow the bite somewhat. The best time to load up on fall bass is the warmer days following a cold front. Fish will move up shallow and chase baits alot better. Once the weather turns the water temps into the 50’s slow down and focus on brushpiles away from the current.
I hope this gives you an idea of where to locate fall bass. Fall fishing can be an amazing experience if you can find the baitfish and present the right lures. Give these tips a try and let us know how your fall fishing turns out!
Keywords: fall fishing | fall bass fishing
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