Some believe that fall provides the best fishing of the year! Because of the cooling temperatures, a greater amount of oxygen is in the water and the fish are more active.  As fish become more active, they require a larger amount of food and are more likely to go after anything you throw at them.

Here are some of the baits we recommend for bass catching in the fall:

• Lipless Crankbaits (Rattle Traps, Cordell Spots, etc)
• Top Water Baits (Zara Spooks, Floating Minnows, and Chug Bugs)
• Plastics (Curly Tail Worms & Lizards, Crawls)
• Spinner Baits (Slow rolling or working like a worm on the bottom)
• Pig & Jig combos
• Crankbaits (Deep divers working on the downward slops or drops)

In addition, make sure you are keeping an eye on the changing patterns of bait fish. Places to find these include large creeks, the shallows, and breaks. Once you catch sight of bait fish, bass are usually not too far behind!

Paying attention to the weather is also critical when it comes to fall bass fishing. For example, schooling baitfish tend to head in the direction of the wind. If the wind is blowing north, position your boat towards the north side of the body of water. Typically, cooler fall temperatures will also cause the bass to seek areas where the water temperature is likely to remain fairly stable. We recommend packing a tackle box with a temperature gauge, wind check powder, and a GPS.

Finally, take advantage of cloudy days throughout the season! During the early fall and overcast weather conditions, the bass will be found in shallower water for longer periods of time. If you find a school of bass, they will most likely stay in that same spot all day. Bass will also be more active–sometimes all day long–during overcast and cloudy days. As the water color darkens, the bass will be found in shallower water.