When it comes to bass fishing in the fall, whether you live in the south or up north, our
favorite fish will be found where the food is. Bass up north know that another long winter is coming so they will start bulking up for the dark winter months. In the south, temperatures are finally starting to cool down and this will get bass in the mood to kick up their activity levels.
Around the Lake of the Woods area where I grew up and still live, we have some great tournaments in September and October, they are fun because fishing is so good. I’ve spent many days guiding in between these events in the fall and while we have to bundle up some days to battle the cold weather, the fishing almost always lights out. It’s my favorite time of year to be in the boat!
Northern anglers should keep their eyes glued to their electronics, for evidence of bait or fish, holding on main lake structure. In most northern fisheries, the forage preference changes from invertebrates and crayfish to baitfish as water temperatures start to drop. Knowing that will help you choose your bait options. I’ll always keep a Ned rig on the deck for dropping around boulders or fish I see on my electronics, but for the most part, I’m fishing mostly with a soft plastic minnow rigged up on a jig head, the same bait that I used to win the Bassmaster Classic 2023. The jig and minnow is a proven bass bait for all species anytime they are found offshore.
Try to choose your baits, based on where you are finding fish. If they are chasing bait around in the open water, jerkbaits and topwaters are going to get their attention. If you’re around grass, a spinnerbait or chatterbait might be the best and if you’re fishing around current, crankbaits could be the best option. Keep an open mind and try to match the hatch as best you can.
FAV sticks:
Chatterbait – GLX 873C BJR
Jerkbait – GLX 822C JBR
On southern fisheries, it’s all about the bait as well but instead of focusing on the main basin, bass often chase schools of shad into creek arms in the fall. Or they’ll use shallow vegetation, where we can find some of the best opportunities of the year to catch bass flipping and frogging, some of the most exciting ways to catch fish. In these areas they often focus on eating bluegills and other panfish.
FAV sticks:
Frog – IMX-PRO 884C TWFR
Flipping – GLX 954C FPR
Keep it simple this fall, find the bait and you’ll find the fish!
