How to Fish for Fall Bass: The Complete Guide

How to Fish for Fall Bass: The Complete Guide: Learn everything you need to know for a fall Bass fishing trip, including where to fish, what bait to use, and how to reel them in.

 

Top 10 lures for catching big fall bass

Fall is a great time for bass fishing, as the cooling water temperatures trigger the bass to feed aggressively in preparation for the winter months. Here are some of the best lures and techniques for catching fall bass:

1.    Crankbaits: Shallow and medium-diving crankbaits can be highly effective in the fall. Try colors that mimic the local baitfish, and vary your retrieve speed until you find what works best.

2.    Spinnerbaits: Spinnerbaits with willow leaf or Colorado blades can mimic baitfish and create vibration in the water, making them attractive to bass.

3.    Jerkbaits: Suspended jerk baits can be deadly in the fall, as they imitate injured or dying baitfish. Work them with sharp jerks and pauses to trigger strikes.

4.    Topwater Lures: Early in the fall, when the water is still relatively warm, topwater lures like poppers, walk-the-dog baits, and buzz baits can produce explosive surface strikes.

5.    Swimbaits: Soft plastic swimbaits on a jig head or weighted hook can be retrieved slowly to imitate wounded or sluggish prey. They work well for larger bass.

6.    Creature Baits: Crawfish and creature-style soft plastics can mimic the abundant bottom-dwelling prey that bass feed on in the fall. Texas or Carolina rig them for best results.

7.    Drop Shot: A drop-shot rig with finesse worms or minnow-style baits can be effective when bass are finicky. This allows you to present a bait at different depths and keep it in the strike zone.

8.    Football Jigs: Dragging a football jig along the bottom can imitate a crawfish or other bottom-dwelling prey. This can be effective in rocky areas.

9.    Lipless Crankbaits: These lures are great for covering water quickly and mimicking schools of baitfish. They can be particularly effective when bass are actively chasing prey.

10. Johnson's Silver Minnow: It can be retrieved fast or slow to produce many strikes. One of my favorite lures all year. 

Remember that the key to success in fall bass fishing is to be adaptable and pay attention to the behavior of the bass in your specific body of water. Water temperature, depth, and the type of forage available will all influence the best lure and technique to use. Don’t pass up any docks still in the water, they can be amazing. Additionally, as fall progresses and water temperatures drop, the bass will move to deeper water, so you may need to adjust your tactics accordingly.