The chances of being successful in fall bass fishing are dependent on finding the fish. This is the common reason people struggle in the fall. They do not locate the fish. People will fish a spot that was productive a few weeks prior. Yet, the water temperature has dropped making the fish move.
The choice of lure and color has an effect also. People tend to stay with summer tactics. This may work at times but other techniques will achieve better success. In the fall, the fish move around in and out of the shallows and deeper water. Where the fish are in relationship to the depths affects the lure choices.
An experienced angler will build a pattern on knowledge of fall bass fishing. It is the best time of the year for big fish and larger catches of fish. Each waterway, smallmouth, and largemouth have a few different aspects to watch. You need to know the waterway and the specific species for the best results.
Fall Bass Fishing Location
Location is the key every time you go fishing. An area needs the proper structure, cover, and water temperatures for fish. In the fall a transition happens causing changes in water temperatures. This time of year fish suspends or move between the deeper and shallows more often.
On days with a lot of sunlight, the shallows warm and draw in the bass. On overcast days they will be close to drop-offs near deeper water or in deep water. They will suspend near dropoffs on cloudy days also. The weather has a dramatic effect in the fall. A change of a few degrees in water temperatures makes bass move. It is likely the fish are in different locations daily to find a better water temperature.
Tips and Tactics
In the fall, you need to pay attention to the lures. If you catch a fish on a lure type. Stay with the lure and try another color. The color change may increase the amount of fish. If using a lure and it quits producing, change the type. Do not get stuck on a lure that was catching fish. The fish quit hitting the lure. Try something else.
It is common for spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and other reaction lures to work. At times the fish just stop hitting the lures. This is when a slower presentation is your better option. Ned rigs, Wacky rigs, or other soft plastics are likely going to work better.
Best Fall Lures
- Suspending Jerkbaits
- Lipless Crankbaits
- Thin body Crankbaits
- Ned Rig
- Jigs
- Wacky rig
- Drop Shot
A suspending jerkbait stays at depth on the pause. Bass has time to hit the lure if they are moving slowly due to cooler water temperatures. Change up the cadence and time of pause to find what is best.
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Lipless cranks offer the ability to cover many depths. Count the lure down and retrieve it. The lure has a tighter wiggle making it appear like a frightened fish. This triggers the bass to strike.
A thin body crankbait has a tight wiggle also. Plus the lip controls the depth for accurate fishing at a specific depth. If you know how deep the fish are located these lures keep you at the depth.
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Ned rigs and jigs are for when fish are at the bottom. Fish close to the bottom are less active or feed down. A slow-moving lure with pauses entices an inactive or finicky fish to strike. It looks like injured prey or an easy meal.
The drop shot or a weightless wacky rig keeps the plastics higher in the water. This works when fish are feeding up. They are looking above for food. In areas that see a lot of pressure or cold fronts are times to use these options.
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The Waterways
Smallmouths are found commonly in rivers. A largemouth is a lake-dwelling species. There are differences between the species and the waters. The shallows in a lake warm up with sunlight. A river’s current mixes the water making the shallows warm less or not at all.
On a lake, the fish move into the shallows on the northern shore. These areas catch more sunlight. This makes this area of a lake warm up more. Little things like this aspect do make a difference in the fall. Smallmouth bass does not move into the shallows as easily in the fall. They will suspend near transitional structures. These are where the shallow drops off into deep water.
Smallmouths move into the shallow to feed. Areas around tributaries and rocky shorelines will have bass schooling in the fall. Largemouth congregate in the deeper weed edges waiting for the shallows to warm up.
In lakes with both species, the largemouth takes the better habitat. They tend to outgrow smallmouth and chase them away. Largemouth prefers weeds whereas smallmouth like areas with rocks. Understanding the species’ preferences helps in locating the fish.
Conclusion to Fall Bass Fishing
Fall fishing for bass, you need to locate the fish. Bass school up in specific areas based on habitat. Use the lures for the conditions. A lure needs to run at the correct depth and speed. The different waterways make the fish behave differently. Lakes have the shallows warm up during the day. Rivers the water mixes keeping it cooler.