Fall is not fall 2024
Sword of the Lord reply :
As I've said before (and since I don't know who does and doesn't know) this is my first year back to bass fishing in 3-4 years since I got sick. Healthy now and back at it.
The fall I remember and the fall being talked about, is not the fall I'm experiencing. I was catching tons of bass in the heat of the summer when it should have been harder. Theoretical better fall conditions have been miserable! I'm catching bass, but only about a third of what I was catching, with some big fat 0 days, which I didn't really experience at all in the summer. The Senko bite, both Texas and Wacky, is completely dead, as are worms. The Ned and weightless trick worms are dead. I get the occasional top water hit only on a Whopper Plopper, and a few fish on lipless cranks and spinnerbaits. Mostly it's just tough and miserable. I have no explanations. Do you all? I live in Illinois. We've mostly had 60-75 degree highs for a few weeks and 45-55 degree lows. I usually fish ponds, 2 small lakes, and a river. It's the same everywhere. I'm well aware that this happens sometimes. You just have rough days. But this is happening at the exact opposite time it theoretically should, and the supposed tough conditions were what was phenomenal for me.
Turtle135 reply :
You are not alone!
I have not had a lot of time to fish so far this month but I have not figured them out either. The hydrilla is dying but the water temperatures are still 6-8 degrees warmer than normal here in Maryland for mid October.
I am heading out for a couple of hours before work tomorrow to see if there is an early morning bite.
Angry John reply :
Are you changing with the conditions? My fall pattern has not turned on and being my first fall in a new state i am not sure i will catch on. I am going back to cranks traps and swim baits for the fall and seeing how it works out. The leaves are falling the fronts are pushing threw but i have two kids in school this year so i dont have near the same amount of time on the water. I have been waiting and waiting on the topwater action to take off and i sure hope it comes soooooon,,,,,,
nighthawk25 reply :
Same in Northern Indiana. Summer was WAY better than this fall has been. I mainly fish one lake that is connected to a river. In summer I could catch a few decent ones on senkos. So far this fall I have caught 1 or 2 keepers on a senko.
I have tried pretty much everything the last few weeks. There really didn't seem like a pattern developed so far but I might have one now. Tonight I caught a decent smallie and a dink largemouth on a jerkbait but it was getting dark so I had to leave. Now I know where I'm gonna go next time. The water is a little stained but I'm hoping it'll clear up so that bite lasts.
BuzzHudson19c reply :
Fall is change time for the bass. Doing the same thing in the same places as the summer is a recipe for failure.
You said you're fishing ponds, so finding them isn't the hard part. They are there. A big change in the fall that guys tend to overlook, especially on ponds, is when fish feed. Dusk and dawn may be great in the summer and dead times in the fall.
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 10:05 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Fall is change time for the bass. Doing the same thing in the same places as the summer is a recipe for failure.
You said you're fishing ponds, so finding them isn't the hard part. They are there. A big change in the fall that guys tend to overlook, especially on ponds, is when fish feed. Dusk and dawn may be great in the summer and dead times in the fall.
I was just thinking that same thing about the early and late bite. I bet they are tearing it up in the afternoon hours while I'm at work. I do have the weekend to test my thoughts on that. No time in the mornings during the week, but the evening bite just ain't there right now for sure.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Fish often scatter in the fall and get into a funk. The whole "fall feedbag" thing rarely is a real thing for me.
68camaro reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 10:37 AM, MichaelCopeland said:I bet they are tearing it up in the afternoon hours while I'm at work. I do have the weekend to test my thoughts on that.
Afternoon wasn't any better:(, yesterday here in VA I went out from 12 - 6pm, temps mid 60's, water temp 69, beautiful sunny blue sky, rained day before but water clear, started very windy, ended calm. I thought with cooler water and wind fish would be on hunt.
I was trying out new trolling motor for kayak so fished lots of water and areas in reservoir never fished before. In the six hours only caught two 1 1/2 lbr's around 4-4:30pm in same area. The day started very windy and I began throwing 5/8 spinner with paddle tail swimbait, then used3-4' crankbait as my water is shallow, then went to jigs near banks, then skipped senkos t-rig style around docks, cover anything. I even trolled quite a bit. Threw topwater in shade under bridge for few casts.
The two that hit were caught in calm part of day on crankbait and 1/4 oz spinner, I downsized from 5/8. I think I was throwing the right stuss, but next time out if like this I will also try the larger swimbaits I just picked up, S-168, Trashfish and Huddleston 8" trout. I didn't throw jerkbait as I never really saw fish on fishfinder, but I think with water temps dropping this will pickup soon.
BigAngus752 reply :
I also live in Illinois (central). The calendar says fall, the morning air says fall, but it is NOT fall for fish yet. All the water temps around here are still way too high (like 75 degrees last time I was out). Night time air temps are getting to the 40's sometimes now. Just wait a couple/few weeks and the water temps will get down where the fish like it and it will be on like Donkey Kong. Find an overcast afternoon first week or two of November, throw some topwaters and spinners. You should make a comeback.
A-Jay reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 7:49 PM, BigAngus752 said:I also live in Illinois (central). The calendar says fall, the morning air says fall, but it is NOT fall for fish yet. All the water temps around here are still way too high (like 75 degrees last time I was out). Night time air temps are getting to the 40's sometimes now. Just wait a couple/few weeks and the water temps will get down where the fish like it and it will be on like Donkey Kong. Find an overcast afternoon first week or two of November, throw some topwaters and spinners. You should make a comeback.
Solid advice ~
Fall here in northern MI has been nothing short of epic for me.
Although I've been guilty of it myself on more than one occasion, try not to fish the 'calendar' but instead fish the conditions. Water temps and the amount of daylight have been driving my fall fishing for a while.
Also the day Before a good front has been a reliable trip maker.
As long as the water temps are above 50-ish, I sticking with a horizontal presentation.
Once it starts to dip below that, I usually working low and slow(er) ~ on or near the bottom.
A-Jay
DINK WHISPERER reply :
Not sure we actually have a Fall he in S FL but my summer was horrible this yr. I too was out of the game for almost 4 yrs. It really sucks cuz i just got my 8 yr old son into it and he's losing hope at one of those 60+ fish days i always told him stories about having.
Jar11591 reply :
This fall the fishing has been on fire for me. The bite has definitely changed a little though. I’m catching zero bass off of laydowns, when that was a big producer all summer. The fish I have been catching have either been super shallow, like less than 2’ or deep in any green weeds that still exist. The topwater bite has been incredible, even as the water has cooled down a lot. I’ve caught bass in water so shallow this fall that I would have usually ignored it. Sometimes you have to make minor tweaks in location to stay on them. Top water super shallow or over any remaining submergent weeds has been the key for me.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
Oh well it had been 90 degree during the day here in SoCal for the past week and will continue this week. The water temp still 70 fish scatter around the big one has not move back into the creek yet.
BigAngus752 reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 9:16 PM, Jar11591 said:This fall the fishing has been on fire for me. The bite has definitely changed a little though. I’m catching zero bass off of laydowns, when that was a big producer all summer. The fish I have been catching have either been super shallow, like less than 2’ or deep in any green weeds that still exist. The topwater bite has been incredible, even as the water has cooled down a lot. I’ve caught bass in water so shallow this fall that I would have usually ignored it. Sometimes you have to make minor tweaks in location to stay on them. Top water super shallow or over any remaining submergent weeds has been the key for me.
Just out of curiosity since I have never been to your area, what is the water temp right now where you fish?
Rick Howard reply :
I have no idea what part of the country you are in. Maybe its not really "fall fishing time" where you are.
Fall is not a free for all bass catching frenzy. It is easy to get that picture in your head by reading articles and watching videos. In my experience the bass are not as spread out in the fall. You really have to find them. When you do find the bass you will catch more and the fish also tend to be fatter.
Its not about shallow or deep, to me. I look for Food + Healthy weeds or wood. If I can find the 3 together that is even better. Wood is normally easier for me to fish so I prefer that. I find schools of bait fish then find the good cover (healthy weeds or wood) and fish that. If the area is void of bait fish I keep on looking. If your body of water does not have schooling bait fish than I would skip right to finding healthy weeds. Food will be in those.
Turtle135 reply :
Well, I got out on the lake before work today and I was able to successfully "eliminate more water". 
WRB reply :
Fall to the bass isn't a human calendar period, it's all about changes in their environment. Bass being a cold blooded animal water temperature, not air temperature controls thier activity along with light and dark time periods that combine to change the water temperature.
If you go to the store to get some food and the shelves are empty you go to a different store. Bass go to where the food was and it moved, they follow to where it is now located. Fall to bass is a change in water temps that affect their body temperature in most regions of the country that is a change from 68 to 58 degrees, colder water is the basses winter.
Tom
ohboyitsrobby reply :
Follow the shad. I live in Arkansas and it's picked up tons since a cold front passed this past weekend. The topwater bite isn't great yet though. But we've been smashing em on a trap, 6xd and a Carolina rig. Don't really even matter what's on the c-rig. Just drive over a school of baitfish mark em and let it rip.
Gundog reply :
On 10/19/2017 at 12:31 AM, Turtle135 said:Well, I got out on the lake before work today and I was able to successfully "eliminate more water".
Don't give up till you eliminate the whole lake. 
Jar11591 reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 10:46 PM, BigAngus752 said:Just out of curiosity since I have never been to your area, what is the water temp right now where you fish?
The last couple times I’ve been out the water temps have been in the low 50s in the morning and mid to upper 50s by midday.
lo n slo reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 11:45 PM, Rick Howard said:I have no idea what part of the country you are in. Maybe its not really "fall fishing time" where you are.
Fall is not a free for all bass catching frenzy. It is easy to get that picture in your head by reading articles and watching videos. In my experience the bass are not as spread out in the fall. You really have to find them. When you do find the bass you will catch more and the fish also tend to be fatter.
Its not about shallow or deep, to me. I look for Food + Healthy weeds or wood. If I can find the 3 together that is even better. Wood is normally easier for me to fish so I prefer that. I find schools of bait fish then find the good cover (healthy weeds or wood) and fish that. If the area is void of bait fish I keep on looking. If your body of water does not have schooling bait fish than I would skip right to finding healthy weeds. Food will be in those.
well said
Paul Roberts reply :
I still haven't figured out "Fall" to my satisfaction. Currently, I'm in a frustrating situation with a particular water body. I've been catching fish -and good ones- until about 1pm, then nada. I mean dead for the remaining 5 hrs! I haven't exhausted all possibilities yet. There are just too many variables to put my finger on the culprit. I'm going to change gears there, and see what I can come up with. Then I'm switching waters. Would love to figure that one out, but 5hrs is a long time to go biteless, esp every day.
DogBone_384 reply :
Fall up here’s been almost a fail. I’ve tossed the kitchen sink at a smallmouth pond I’ve frequented the last couple weeks with only a few small SMB to show (shallow). My Lowrance marks plenty of fish around 15’ deep, but they just don’t like my offerings.
A month ago 2-3 pound fish were easy picking, but not right now. Water temps were 66.x the other afternoon when I left for work.
Fish n Things reply :
Fall here in Eastern NC has been a little weird this week. We had a pretty decent cold front come in, yesterday's high of about 75, around 5 a.m. it got down to 38 degress. With that much temp change in such a short amount of time the fish are stressed. The oxygen levels are moving quite a bit to. Today it got around 80+ so I am sure this weekend wont be much different. Either way though I will be out on the water. Hopefully soon the water temps balance back out so we can get to the real Fall time bass fishing.
That being said the Fall time doesn't produce as much in quantity, but in my area so far quality gets way better. Fish group up more in this time of year and I often have great luck fishing mouths of rivers that feed into lakes/ponds. Bait fish seem to collect near those entrances/exits from river to lake, and we all know if there's baitfish, somewhere close there is Bass.
Tight Lines!
everythingthatswims reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 4:25 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Fish often scatter in the fall and get into a funk. The whole "fall feedbag" thing rarely is a real thing for me.
That's because they wait for winter to go hang at those discharges
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 10/20/2017 at 11:06 PM, everythingthatswims said:That's because they wait for winter to go hang at those discharges
For sure the truth in those power plant lakes. I think the real feeding binge just doesn't happen when we feel like it should. I usually do better in late October through most of November when water temps range from the high 50s to the mid 40's. All through the 60 degree water temps it's usually pretty tough though.
Clint C. reply :
I'm in northern IL (Fox Chain). I'm heading out this afternoon. I've been getting them in shallow areas, very shallow (2-3ft) that have secluded thick clumps of weeds. Drag it through and when it breaks free. Boom! (Ned Rig) Also a frog on the edges of floating duck weed. Going to try drop shot by some off shore white bass schools I found. Hoping the bigguns are hanging nearby them.
gimruis reply :
The calendar says fall, but the conditions are mostly still in a late summer pattern. It was almost 80 degrees here today in central Minnesota. The lakes used to turn over around here in late September/early October and it hasn't even happened here yet. We didn't even have a frost here until mid November last year. Thankfully this fall hasn't been super warm and we've had some frost already but I'm afraid that these warmer conditions in the fall aren't going away because our climate is warming up.
Russ E reply :
On 10/20/2017 at 11:08 PM, Bluebasser86 said:For sure the truth in those power plant lakes. I think the real feeding binge just doesn't happen when we feel like it should. I usually do better in late October through most of November when water temps range from the high 50s to the mid 40's. All through the 60 degree water temps it's usually pretty tough though.
I agree.
fishing has been tough for me lately. Luckily have not been skunked yet, but numbers and size have been low for a month.
the lakes I have fished the last couple weeks are around 65 degrees. needs to drop another 5-10 degrees.
with the current forecast, that may not happen for awhile.
JustinJ reply :
59 degree water temp in southeast NY today on a shallow weedy 100 acre pond. Tough fishing. Been tough last few weeks. I've never experienced a "fall feed bag" probably because all my lakes are shallow and weedy with no shad. Primary forage is bluegill and perch
ww2farmer reply :
IMHO, the two worst times of the year to fish are extended unseasonable cold snaps in the spring, and extended warm spells in the fall. Both of which we have had plenty of this year. Lots of guys can catch them when dealt those cards............I can't.
Catt reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 7:49 PM, BigAngus752 said:I also live in Illinois (central). The calendar says fall, the morning air says fall, but it is NOT fall for fish yet. All the water temps around here are still way too high (like 75 degrees last time I was out). Night time air temps are getting to the 40's sometimes now. Just wait a couple/few weeks and the water temps will get down where the fish like it and it will be on like Donkey Kong. Find an overcast afternoon first week or two of November, throw some topwaters and spinners. You should make a comeback.
Exact same thing with "pre-spawn/spawn". ?
Quit watching calendars, moon charts, temperature gauges, & get Outdoors!
Fall & spring "feeding frenzy* can be earlier or later each year, let nature tell y'all what's going on.
Nebasska reply :
Try mid to deep divers they will be feeding hard for winter soon...I notice the wacky and plastic bite slows this time of year usually...tight lines to ya!
Sword of the Lord reply :
Maaan. A big, fat skunk today. Not even a bite. I tried a Texas rigged Senko (didn't have my Wacky stuff on hand), some spinnerbaits (even got desperate and tried inline spinners and beetle spins), several lipless crankbaits, top waters, and swimbaits. Just...nothing. Tomorrow I'm going back to what worked in the dead of summer: Wacky rigged Senkos in the weedlines and pockets and big worms hopped on the bottom. We'll see what happens. These ladies and gentlemen are not chasing at the moment. It's odd, though, because for a couple of weeks there when the weather did cool off and before the water had a chance to cool of itself, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits were being crushed.
Bankbeater reply :
I think the weather has the bass screwed up around here. They don't know what season it is. One day it's in the 80's, and the next day the high is in the 60's. Then the temps are back into the 80's again.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/22/2017 at 9:58 AM, Sword of the Lord said:Maaan. A big, fat skunk today. Not even a bite. I tried a Texas rigged Senko (didn't have my Wacky stuff on hand), some spinnerbaits (even got desperate and tried inline spinners and beetle spins), several lipless crankbaits, top waters, and swimbaits. Just...nothing. Tomorrow I'm going back to what worked in the dead of summer: Wacky rigged Senkos in the weedlines and pockets and big worms hopped on the bottom. We'll see what happens. These ladies and gentlemen are not chasing at the moment. It's odd, though, because for a couple of weeks there when the weather did cool off and before the water had a chance to cool of itself, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits were being crushed.
Sword, where are you?
Ah... I see, Illinois, and ~60s water temps when you started this thread.
I have often done well with speed when water temps are in the upper 50s into the 60s. It seems the fish are in some kind of... funk. They are slow to respond, or don't respond as well, to standard "feeding" type presentations. I've done well though by burning a lipless, bulging a tandem SB, or grinding a buzzbait. Interesting bc, this has often been the case on water I've just plied with slower presentations. I switch to speed and BANG! Sometimes its been BANG!, BANG!, BANG!, BANG!. Enough that it's pretty apparent its real.
It could be something to do with dropping light levels, low water, and dying veges.... maybe. I really dunno. They remind me of "stale" steelhead, that come into the river on early runs, all full of spit and vinegar, then water levels drop and they get into a funk -what we called "stale". Whatever, bass do seem to get into a funk; Interesting that Bluebasser has noticed the same thing.
My advice, for myself that time of year. 1). Try SPEED. 2). Try a different water layer -bottom, rather than asking them to come up. Then... 3). try a new water body.
BTW, I just put out a video on fall fishing that briefly mentions the need for speed.
Sword of the Lord reply :
On 10/23/2017 at 2:13 AM, Paul Roberts said:Sword, where are you?
Central Illinois
1978jessejames reply :
I hated fall fishing until I learned how to understand it better. I hired guide in the fall named Dale Stroschein, and he taught me how to find them. They HAVE to feed in fall. I was beyond frustrated, until he help me boat 5 pounders in Sturgeon Bay October 19 last year. I searched for them locally in 48 degree water running moving baits tight to bottom and landed gorgeous Smallmouth last November. I hear ya. Its very frustrating. Don't give up, fall is very tough. Keep moving around trying deep, shallow, mid depths, fast and slow. Hopefully a few bites will give you a hint. If not KEEP moving. You might not be near fish. If you are on them, keep changing baits, go ultra finesse if needed.
BuzzHudson19c reply :
Went out today and caught my best smallie of year. Took a little time to find the fish. Water temp at 59. I was throwing a perch colored RatlTrap and just about the time I was starting to doubt my lure selection I landed the hawg. I actually had a different fish cough up a small perch. After that I never changed lures.
Don't give up man. They are out there. The water is still pretty dang warm for this time of year.
Sword of the Lord reply :
On 10/23/2017 at 9:12 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Went out today and caught my best smallie of year. Took a little time to find the fish. Water temp at 59. I was throwing a perch colored RatlTrap and just about the time I was starting to doubt my lure selection I landed the hawg. I actually had a different fish cough up a small perch. After that I never changed lures.
Don't give up man. They are out there. The water is still pretty dang warm for this time of year.
That's funny dude. I finally got a couple of dinks on the same lure a little bit ago. The first is pictured.
Also, I hooked into my PB on this lure today as well. Only right at the shore when I was going to grab her, she shook off. She was barely hooked. Tried to be as calm as possible but the odds were slim. I d**n near cried.
Ben Miller reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 9:12 AM, Sword of the Lord said:As I've said before (and since I don't know who does and doesn't know) this is my first year back to bass fishing in 3-4 years since I got sick. Healthy now and back at it.
The fall I remember and the fall being talked about, is not the fall I'm experiencing. I was catching tons of bass in the heat of the summer when it should have been harder. Theoretical better fall conditions have been miserable! I'm catching bass, but only about a third of what I was catching, with some big fat 0 days, which I didn't really experience at all in the summer. The Senko bite, both Texas and Wacky, is completely dead, as are worms. The Ned and weightless trick worms are dead. I get the occasional top water hit only on a Whopper Plopper, and a few fish on lipless cranks and spinnerbaits. Mostly it's just tough and miserable. I have no explanations. Do you all? I live in Illinois. We've mostly had 60-75 degree highs for a few weeks and 45-55 degree lows. I usually fish ponds, 2 small lakes, and a river. It's the same everywhere. I'm well aware that this happens sometimes. You just have rough days. But this is happening at the exact opposite time it theoretically should, and the supposed tough conditions were what was phenomenal for me.
Dink, it could be as simple as your line.
Sword of the Lord reply :
On 10/23/2017 at 10:49 AM, Ben Miller said:Dink, it could be as simple as your line.
How so? I always run thin fluoro with finesse and I use lighter mono than most, and never use braid.
JohnnyQuestWY reply :
Well guys I am here in Texas and even though I have caught a few fish, it has been tough. I fish from the bank and I was doing better at Lake Fork than even boaters were. There was no particular pattern to it, and it has been like that the last two lakes I have fished. I first went to Lake Tawakoni and then Lake Fork, and the result has been the same. It was like catching ONE fish for each lure I changed to. So Different lure, Different presentation, Different colors. Only think I saw that was close to being constant was a small crappie jig with a white twin tail trailer, and that was the only thing that caught me two bass on the same lure. And I haven't tried a NED rig, but my next fishing trip I am going to super slow down. I will agree on one thing I have read here and this from experience. low 50s to high 40s is a good time to fish. I have caught Bass at 40 degrees and 11 mph winds in upper Wyoming so lets see. It should get better when it gets colder.. right now the waters have been high 74 - 81..
JQ.
SuperCorona reply :
Goose Creek Res - water temp 69.8 - 72.0: Yesterday started off pretty good with a 4.5 pounder in a clump of pads on a Z3 trick worm followed up by a 2 pounder a couple casts later. Same cove, after seeing some short-lived top water feeding I located some shad hanging out so I slowly circled them. The bass came back up about 20 ft from my boat and I was able to get a couple 2.5s. The schooling action is starting but not lasting long and I haven't seen it anywhere else on the lake yet.
Overnight temps are supposed to be dipping into the high 40s this week so I'll be on the lookout for even more action.
Tara-senko reply :
The cold fronts every week or 2 We have been experiencing (St. Louis) has been brutal. The fish are very sporadic as well so if u fish from shore (myself). It's a challenge but I enjoy it. The temps at night are going to 30s this week and the cold rains we have had made it so tough. I got 0 bites in 12 hours yesterday, still had some fun but it was long.
Anyone else been successful around STL?
Turtle135 reply :
Got out on one of my local grass (heavy hydrilla) reservoirs this weekend. The good news is that they were pounding the jigs (the bad news is that they were all this size).
The big females must be on some other structural element. The grass is breaking up and making some impressive mats but so far I am not finding bigger fish by punching that grass.
Attila reply :
I posted a picture of my biggest smallmouth so far this fall on a lake in the Kawartha Lakes chain in Ontario, Canada. The details on its surroundings are as follows; the water temp was 61F at a depth of 9ft. I caught 6 fish in total that were on a rock flat with a sand transition to deeper water and a weed edge on both sides. I’ve been catching more and bigger smallmouth after sunset; I really don’t have an explanation for this, as everything that I’ve read tells me that smallmouth become way more active in sunny weather, perhaps with a bit of a breeze present. The areas that I fish are very rocky and I believe that they hold onto the suns heat better than sandy bottoms which results in more fish activity when compared to either weeds or sand flats.
Over the last few outings I've noticed that the fish are really holding close to structure. The larger fish I caught last week were right on the drop off of a saddle; the fish that I caught last night all hit in an area that had a small hump which went from 9ft up to 7ft and then back down to 9ft about 30' away from the pier I was fishing on. I figured out its location while throwing a deep diving jerkbait earlier in the evening.
It's amazing to see just how much of a difference a couple of feet in depth make to the fish. I don't know if there are weeds present but I'm certain there are different sizes of rock, ranging from large to small pebble sized rock which could also hold crayfish for them to feed on.
I have stuck primarily with one jerkbait this year, the Rapala Shadow Rap in yellow perch. I swapped out the trebles and put a dressed treble on the back, and it resulted in one of my biggest smallmouth of the year. I’ve spent the better part of the year learning and refining my jerkbait techniques and find that it’s paid big dividends in helping me catch more and bigger bass than any other pattern I’ve used all year.
Will Bass reply :
Fall this year has been good to me as compared to last which was horrible. I switched to swimbaits and spinners that mimic shad. Also baby bass colored spinners are magic right now! Lost my PB three weeks ago due to a poorly tied FG knot but I was inches within getting her on the bank. Bought a net that I thought would be great for a bank beater such as myself to remedy that. This past Friday I hooked a beast with a head like a meatball on my ultralight setup. It wouldn’t fit in the net!
NYWayfarer reply :
On 10/18/2017 at 10:05 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Dusk and dawn may be great in the summer and dead times in the fall.
Dawn is dead time indeed for me. I could get shot by the duck hunters around here!
Yumeya reply :
Summer has been pretty bunk for me, I went almost 3 weeks without catching a fish.
We had flooded waters this year and the weather went from winter to summer way to fast, it sucked.
Now that fall is here is been a little better so far.....but it has been one of the slowest summers ever
Ben Miller reply :
On 10/23/2017 at 11:09 AM, Sword of the Lord said:How so? I always run thin fluoro with finesse and I use lighter mono than most, and never use braid.
Defiantly not your line. Suggestion was from a recent trip to clear water and I have braid. 
Ratherbfishing reply :
You're right about that. It went straight to winter.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/24/2017 at 5:28 AM, Attila said:I posted a picture of my biggest smallmouth so far this fall on a lake in the Kawartha Lakes chain in Ontario, Canada. The details on its surroundings are as follows; the water temp was 61F at a depth of 9ft. I caught 6 fish in total that were on a rock flat with a sand transition to deeper water and a weed edge on both sides. I’ve been catching more and bigger smallmouth after sunset; I really don’t have an explanation for this, as everything that I’ve read tells me that smallmouth become way more active in sunny weather, perhaps with a bit of a breeze present. The areas that I fish are very rocky and I believe that they hold onto the suns heat better than sandy bottoms which results in more fish activity when compared to either weeds or sand flats.
Over the last few outings I've noticed that the fish are really holding close to structure. The larger fish I caught last week were right on the drop off of a saddle; the fish that I caught last night all hit in an area that had a small hump which went from 9ft up to 7ft and then back down to 9ft about 30' away from the pier I was fishing on. I figured out its location while throwing a deep diving jerkbait earlier in the evening.
It's amazing to see just how much of a difference a couple of feet in depth make to the fish. I don't know if there are weeds present but I'm certain there are different sizes of rock, ranging from large to small pebble sized rock which could also hold crayfish for them to feed on.
I have stuck primarily with one jerkbait this year, the Rapala Shadow Rap in yellow perch. I swapped out the trebles and put a dressed treble on the back, and it resulted in one of my biggest smallmouth of the year. I’ve spent the better part of the year learning and refining my jerkbait techniques and find that it’s paid big dividends in helping me catch more and bigger bass than any other pattern I’ve used all year.
Smallmouth hate sunshine where I live
Attila reply :
On 11/1/2017 at 3:26 AM, TnRiver46 said:Smallmouth hate sunshine where I live
I guess it's different in every region; the way that I fish the bass need good light to hit a jerkbait and for that same bait to put out as much flash as is possible.
That said, I'm going to try more jerkbait fishing for night bass next season to see what happens.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/3/2017 at 10:44 PM, Attila said:I guess it's different in every region; the way that I fish the bass need good light to hit a jerkbait and for that same bait to put out as much flash as is possible.
That said, I'm going to try more jerkbait fishing for night bass next season to see what happens.
Good point, I don't fish with jerkbaits until it gets really cold, which in most years is never in Tennessee. But it seems if I scroll through my fall/winter smallmouth pictures I always see a bunch of nice fish when we are bundled up with a cloudy background. The river smallies will eat on a hot summer day but the lake ones seems to like horrible weather
Mr. Aquarium reply :
go night fishing! up here in MA we are having a warm fall to! but been getting them at night when i have gone out, i mainly fish jigs and swimbaits!
Sword of the Lord reply :
I finally caught my first bass in 2 weeks yesterday. A little 1 pounder. It hit a Texas rigged 4 inch Senko thrown into shallow cover. It was just my 3rd fish is probably 3 weeks. They're being really odd. I'll approach the pond and see them along the shore, but then they take off and won't hit anything. They didn't do that all year long until now. A lot of times they would stare me down all year and take whatever I threw on their nose. It was amusing. I must have become ugly because they don't want anything to do with me.
scaleface reply :
If we get one more warm day with light wind I'm going . Has to be light wind because the boat is winterized and I will be fishing from a small craft but the fishing should be good.
Mr. Aquarium reply :
got a nice 3lber on a swimbait last night the air temp was about 43 and breezy, my buddy caught a 4lber same area on a swimbait. we were in a cove protected from the wind, shallow cove with dying lily pads and some downed trees.
had a few other hits as well
Txred12 reply :
I live in Texas. For some reason one bait that always produces for me and nobody around seems to be fishing is the Zoom Ultravibe. For me green pumpkin is the key color. Fish it texas rigged and I catch something every time I go out, even when nobody else is.
Dorado reply :
Live in AZ and my buddy and I caught about 20 total LMB in 30 minutes. This was after paddling around islands for 3 hours until we changed our approach. Couldn't find the schools on my sonar so we had to find other structure. Come to find out all of the schools of shad were congregated around the marina and it was nonstop action. It was almost like we were fishing a completely different lake. You have to move! But once you find them in the Fall, it can be a very exciting window of select feeding frenzies. Threadfin Shad-colored Z-Man Chatterbait with Reaction Innovations Little Dipper in Pearl Blue Shad as a trailer. This combo worked well in the post-spawn period too. Give it a try!
Sword of the Lord reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 2:47 AM, Dorado said:Threadfin Shad-colored Z-Man Chatterbait with Reaction Innovators Little Dipper in Pearl Blue Shad as a trailer.
Only in our sport LOL
Dorado reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 3:44 AM, Sword of the Lord said:Only in our sport LOL
If you said what you quoted very quickly in a rhythmic fashion.........sounds like a rap verse LOL
soflabasser reply :
The weather in South Florida is very good now. High 70's to mid 80's and the bass fishing is on fire.
Chris_97TJ reply :
80 here in Texas again today. I went out at lunch (the benefits of working from home and only 5 mins to the lake) and caught a couple nice ones on a buzzbait and a fluke up shallow in some dying lily pads. None close to the 8lber I landed on Sunday, but not dinks either.
related General Bass Fishing Forum topic
most viewed General Bass Fishing Forum topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.