by Terry Robertson
The bass are beginning a feeding frenzy in an attempt to fatten themselves up for the winter. The lake traffic has slowed down because many sportsmen have migrated off the water and into the woods. For many, autumn is their favorite season to target bass. For me, it’s a close second to spring fishing. Nevertheless, it’s a great time to be on the water chasing them.
During the fall months, when the water temperatures begin to drop, the shad and other grocery fish are schooling up and beginning their migration to the backs of coves and up creeks in search of plankton to feed on. These schools of shad are easy prey for big bass. The road to a successful day of bass fishing starts with locating the shad, and presenting the right bait nearby. The bait you choose should mimic the baitfish as close as possible. Here are some of my favorite lures for fishing most any waterbody in the southeastern United States during the autumn months. With this small box of baits, you’ll be able to handle any situation the fall season may bring.
SPINNERBAITS
Tried and true. A great bait to trigger a reaction strike from feeding bass. My choice is a 1/2 oz tandem willow leaf spinnerbait. The flashing blades spin around as the lure is retrieved mimicking a small group of bait fish.
• When the water temperature drops and the shad move shallow, you should too. When you locate shad breaking the surface, cast well past the shad and retrieve the lure just under the surface of the water. Pause in the shad area and allow your bait to sink a few feet before continuing the retrieve. Often, the bass will bite on the fall of the lure.
• Cast past your defined shad group and allow the lure to sink. Then, slow roll the spinnerbait along the bottom to trigger a strike. Big bass can’t turn down an easy meal.
• Cast parallel to outside grasslines; or slow roll it through flooded timber and buck brush.
• Try the Booyah Blade Spinnerbait – 1/2 oz double willow or the Strike King Premier Plus Spinnerbait – 1/2 oz double willow.
BUZZBAITS
Aptly named, the Buzzbait creates a buzzzzz at the surface of the water as the leading propeller blade spins during the retrieve. The disturbance created can be seen, felt, and heard and draws bass in to bite the skirted hook. Buzzbaits are perfect for drawing fish out of heavy cover or murky water. The top water strikes are exciting and it is just plain fun to fish. They are perfect to quickly cover ground when trying to locate shallow water fish.
• Standing timber, shallow docks, grass lines, reeds, flooded bushes, or shallow flats are all great places to fish a buzzbait in the fall.
• Vary the speed of your retrieval. Changing speeds also changes the sound and vibrations of the lure. When you get bit, stick with that speed.
• When fishing in late fall or in clear water, downsize to a 1/4 or 1/8 oz buzzbait. The smaller baits can be fished faster, which in turn alters the look of the bait itself and triggers a reaction strike.
• Unless you are fishing in exceptionally heavy cover, adding a trailer hook can increase hookups.
• White, chartreuse, or transparent colors are the colors of fall buzzbait fishing. A very overcast day, or while night fishing, I change to a black or blue buzzbait.
• Try the 3/8 oz True South Moab with a clacker in Glimmer Ghost Silver or Strike King Mini Pro Buzz in Super White.
SWIMBAITS
Swimbaits are a great option for fishing shallow cover. They can be purchased ready to fish; or you can rig them yourself on a jig head or weighted hook. Small shad are at the top of the menu for bass and the swimbait is an irresistible imitation. They come in many sizes but I prefer the small 2 to 3 inch soft body swimbaits for fall fishing.
• When fishing a swimbait, I’m not looking for a reactionary bite, or defensive bite as with other more obnoxious baits. The swimbait is a finesse presentation. A slow and steady retrieve from the swimbait appears to be an easy, effortless meal for the waiting bass.
• When fishing cover such as laydowns, stumps, or dock posts, I try to bump and bang the cover itself with the bait.
• Don’t be scared of skinny water. I often fish in mere inches of backwater with success.
• If you spot a school of shad in the shallows, you can bet the bass are nearby. Cast into or past the school and start a steady retrieve. Bass will key in and strike as your bait leaves the safety of the school.
• I use a 7.6 medium action rod and a spinning reel when fishing small swimbaits.
• Try the Z-Man Minnow Z3 or Strike King Rage Swimmer Electric Shad.
CRANKBAITS
(LIPLESS AND SQUAREBILL)
Shallow running crankbaits are perfect for fishing shallow flats and grass at the back of creeks. They appear as a lone bait fish and an irresistibly easy meal to coax that big bass out of its ambush spot.
• Crankbaits are a great tool for covering water and triggering bites.
• Fish every piece of isolated cover such as tree stumps or rocks.
• Rip your crankbait through standing vegetation and flooded timber.
•Vary your retrieve speed from a slow lollygagging retrieval to a fast panicked retrieval. Stick with whichever works.
• As water temperatures decrease later in the fall, target hard cover like rocks, docks, or layed down timber as these hold heat. Switch to a deeper diving crankbait in late fall when bass start to move to deeper waters.
• Try the 6th Sense Snatch 70X or the 6th Sense Crush Flat 75X Squarebill.
TOP WATER WALKING BAITS
These baits are, by design, a finesse type top water bait. They work best on calm days in early fall before the water temperature drops too much. They are a great choice for fishing flats and allow you to cover a lot of water in a short amount of time. Also great when bass are chasing baitfish on the surface in clear water conditions.
• Use walking baits around and in cover.
•Make a long cast to give yourself room to “walk the dog.” Let the splash rings settle before starting your walking retrieve.
•A smooth “walking” retrieve that appears to be an injured shad is what you are after. Start slow and vary your retrieve cadence to entice a strike.
• Be ready for explosive top water strikes!
• Try the Zara Spook or the Strike King Sexy Dawg.
JIGS
Jigs are a multi-purpose and very versatile bait. Jigs can be flipped, skipped, dragged, swam or fished any other way you can dream up. They excel in heavy cover, grass, and vegetation.
• Think small for fall. A 3/8 oz jig with a large skirt and trailer allows for a slower fall.
• I use a craw type trailer with plenty of action. Black and blue, or green pumpkin colors seem to be all I ever use. Both are very effective in the fall.
• Fish every treetop, laydown, solo stump or rock in your target area.
• Take your time. When you make your cast, let your jig hit bottom and soak a while before beginning to work it slowly back to the boat.
• Try the Ike’s Mini Flip or Strike King Hack Attack.
SOFT PLASTICS
Flipping soft plastics is still an effective way to catch bass in the fall. Something as simple as a Texas rigged Baby Brush Hog can’t be overlooked. It’s simple, cheap, weedless, and it works!
• Flip it, swim it, punch it or drag it. You can use a craw bait, worm, senko, creature bait, or lizard. The options are unending and all are effective.
• Be certain to fish any isolated cover you find in your target area.
• Once again, my favorite colors are black and blue, or green pumpkin almost exclusively.
• Try the Strike King Rage Craw, Reaction Innovations Double wide Beaver, or Zoom Baby Brush Hog in natural colors.
Take advantage of the cool weather and beauty of the fall season. The true key to catching fall bass is to locate the areas holding the schools of shad. The greedy black bass are gorging themselves in preparation for winter making it the perfect time to stretch your line. Show them the right lures, slow down a little, and hang on!
