Fall/winter bass movement 2024
riverbasser reply :
I'm still trying to unlock the seasonal patterns on my local lake and figured yall could help with some general info. I realize none of the questions will have a definite answer.
In the southeast at what water temps would bass start to leave the creeks and head toward winter homes?
How do summer and winter spots differ or do they use the same areas for both?
If not, what kind of area do you look for to hold bass in winter?
Catt reply :
On 10/24/2016 at 12:07 PM, riverbasser said:In the southeast at what water temps would bass start to leave the creeks and head toward winter homes?
How do summer and winter spots differ or do they use the same areas for both?
If not, what kind of area do you look for to hold bass in winter?
Depending on the size of the body of water some bass never leave creeks while others never see a creek!
The first thing I consider is the size & depths of the body of water. Toledo Bend will not fish like our shallow water marshes & both will not fish like our rivers.
A little more information is required to properly answer!
riverbasser reply :
On 10/24/2016 at 7:43 PM, Catt said:Depending on the size of the body of water some bass never leave creeks while others never see a creek!
The first thing I consider is the size & depths of the body of water. Toledo Bend will not fish like our shallow water marshes & both will not fish like our rivers.
A little more information is required to properly answer!
Well you know the lake I'm talking about. (Lake Eufaula)
I understand what you mean but I'm really just asking a general question since at this point I don't understand enough to ask a specific one.
Assuming the bass moved from the main lake into a creek following the shad in fall.(I know some have moved off a ledge on main lake and I assume they followed shad into the closest feeder creek) When or what water temps would they start to leave these creeks for winter holding areas? (If the creek isn't the winter spot)
What are the characteristics of a winter hole?
Any more info you need ill gladly provide
WRB reply :
The Cosmic Clock and Bass Behavior is appropriate for highland deep structured reservoirs, seasonal bass movements are defined as winter, pre spawn, spawn, post spawn, summer and fall. I use water temperature combined with vertical vs horizontal migration movements to help define the seasonal periods. Vertical migration being moving from deeper to shallower water areas or shallower the deeper water areas and horizontal being moving to different areas without changing depth.
Re; The Comic Clock and Bass Behavior, the casters chronicle.
Tom
Catt reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 12:11 AM, WRB said:The Cosmic Clock and Bass Behavior is appropriate for highland deep structured reservoirs, seasonal bass movements are defined as winter, pre spawn, spawn, post spawn, summer and fall. I use water temperature combined with vertical vs horizontal migration movements to help define the seasonal periods. Vertical migration being moving from deeper to shallower water areas or shallower the deeper water areas and horizontal being moving to different areas without changing depth.
Re; The Clock Clock and Bass Behavior, the casters chronicle.
Tom
There's your random answer! 
WRB reply :
On 10/24/2016 at 10:03 PM, riverbasser said:Well you know the lake I'm talking about. (Lake Eufaula)
I understand what you mean but I'm really just asking a general question since at this point I don't understand enough to ask a specific one.
Assuming the bass moved from the main lake into a creek following the shad in fall.(I know some have moved off a ledge on main lake and I assume they followed shad into the closest feeder creek) When or what water temps would they start to leave these creeks for winter holding areas? (If the creek isn't the winter spot)
What are the characteristics of a winter hole?
Any more info you need ill gladly provide
Water temps less I than 55 degrees tends to move the baitfish and bass deeper and crawdads into clay or rocky areas. Winter baitfish like Threadfin Shad must find water temps above 45 degrees to survive. Locate the baitfish schools and the bass should be close. The structure features I look for are vertical or very steep depth transitions like ledges, walls and major points that have baitfish nearby or rock to clay transition or any type of wood at the depth the bait and bass are at.
Tom
Turtle135 reply :
On 10/24/2016 at 12:07 PM, riverbasser said:In the southeast at what water temps would bass start to leave the creeks and head toward winter homes?
Most of the lakes I fish do not have that shad migration to the creeks (cause there are no shad). I assume the shad are following their food source (plankton) into those creeks? Once the water temperature drops enough to curtail plankton production that water would lose that green tint? So might water clarity be the clue as to when the shad will leave the creeks?
Catt reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 12:55 AM, WRB said:Locate the baitfish schools and the bass should be close. The structure features I look for are vertical or very steep depth transitions like ledges, walls and major points that have baitfish nearby or rock to clay transition or any type of wood at the depth the bait and bass are at.
Tom
Other than the spawn this should be what ya looking for year round!
riverbasser reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 12:58 AM, Turtle135 said:Most of the lakes I fish do not have that shad migration to the creeks (cause there are no shad). I assume the shad are following their food source (plankton) into those creeks? Once the water temperature drops enough to curtail plankton production that water would lose that green tint? So might water clarity be the clue as to when the shad will leave the creeks?
you are correct about why they go into the creeks and your answer makes sense. normally the water stays muddy year round on this lake so ive never noticed but with the drought going on it is pretty clear right now. I will pay closer attention and see if i can tell a difference throughout the rest of this year
On 10/25/2016 at 12:55 AM, WRB said:Locate the baitfish schools and the bass should be close. The structure features I look for are vertical or very steep depth transitions like ledges, walls and major points that have baitfish nearby or rock to clay transition or any type of wood at the depth the bait and bass are at.
On 10/25/2016 at 1:09 AM, Catt said:Other than the spawn this should be what ya looking for year round!
Based on these two responses
My question of "How do Summer and Winter spots differ?" The answer is they pretty much use the same ones
Catt reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 2:24 AM, riverbasser said:My question of "How do Summer and Winter spots differ?"
The answer is they pretty much use the same ones
For a generalized answer!
Spring & fall
Summer & winter
riverbasser reply :
I know it sounds like I'm tip toeing around with my questions but I'm trying to learn what your always teaching. "Follow the break lines" Ive found a few holding areas so now I'm trying to figure out there course from one place to another. Having a hard time but mainly because I wanna know now and it seems it will take a few seasons to fully understand.
@Catt
TnRiver46 reply :
Never fished eufala but a lot of the lakes I fish, the creeks will hold Shad all winter. When the afternoon sun hits the creeks they can warm up quicker. I would drive into several creeks and compare their water temps to main channel water temps. I net a lot of Shad for bait and can almost always get them in creeks. Sometimes when it's real cold the creeks are frozen or close to it and the main channel is warmer. Like posted above, some bass never Leave the main and some never leave the creeks. Also, on eufala you probably have gizzard and threadfin Shad. The threadfin die off when it's super cold but the bass will still eat them while they are dying and dead. The gizzards will tolerate much colder water and don't seem to die off nearly as often
Catt reply :
Do y'all think all bass on lake Eufaula move into & out of the creeks during spring/fall leaving no bass in the creeks during summer/winter?
Or do we understand there is a resident population of bass in every creek & on the main lake?
Does the resident population in creek "A" swim over to creek "B" & the resident population in creek "B" swim over to creek "A" to satisfiy the saying " they move into the creeks during spring/fall?
riverbasser reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 4:52 AM, Catt said:Or do we understand there is a resident population of bass in every creek & on the main lake?
of course I understand this but I'm not trying to track a resident creek bass, he's in the creek lol. I want to know how my main lake fish move in and out(The ones that do) and if they don't ever leave the main lake then I want to know where they do go cuz right now I'm have a hard time finding any schools on main lake.
Catt reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 12:55 AM, WRB said:Water temps less I than 55 degrees tends to move the baitfish and bass deeper and crawdads into clay or rocky areas. Winter baitfish like Threadfin Shad must find water temps above 45 degrees to survive. Locate the baitfish schools and the bass should be close. The structure features I look for are vertical or very steep depth transitions like ledges, walls and major points that have baitfish nearby or rock to clay transition or any type of wood at the depth the bait and bass are at.
Tom
Except on Eufaula I would start at creek channel intersections (Eufaula has more than one) & look shallower.
WRB reply :
Over a 100 years worth of experience and 2 different approaches, 55 degree water and colder I tend to look deeper, Catt shallower. It's trail and error or a coin toss.
Tom
Catt reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 6:12 AM, WRB said:Over a 100 years worth of experience and 2 different approaches, 55 degree water and colder I tend to look deeper, Catt shallower. It's trail and error or a coin toss.
Tom
Well I should have said where creek channel & river intersection!
riverbasser reply :
Thank you both
chadmack282 reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 7:00 AM, riverbasser said:Thank you both
did u find your answer or just end up with more questions & options?
riverbasser reply :
On 10/25/2016 at 7:42 AM, chadmack282 said:did u find your answer or just end up with more questions & options?
I got my answer. Tom says Water temps 55 and below move the bass into winter areas. And I was given a general idea of what a winter area might be, thanks to Catt having a little knowledge of my home lake I have a more specific answer than most could give
These are the questions I asked but the bigger questions I have can only be answered by me spending time on the water
Catt reply :
@riverbasser, during the Dog Days of Summer (late July/August) where were the offshore bass?
I would start looking for shad in deeper water surrounding those areas, both towards the bank & towards the creek/river channels.
riverbasser reply :
@Catt hard for me to believe how much your post explains since the few spots I found them in the dog days they were on ledges near flats about halfway in between the shore and the creek to river intersection. There is also deeper water in both directions.This is still a big area since many creeks on Eufaula cross the width of the lake to reach the river channel. Thank you
Catt reply :
On 10/26/2016 at 10:04 PM, riverbasser said:@Catt
This is still a big area since many creeks on Eufaula cross the width of the lake to reach the river channel.
Try 65 miles long, 10-12 miles wide, & 190,000 acres!
45 yrs later & I'm still trying to learn the Big Pond!
riverbasser reply :
Wanted to post an update about what I saw at the lake Thursday. Was fishing down the bank of main lake about 50 yards from a decent sized cove and and had a few thousand shad schooled up around me just under the surface. It seemed they were making circles but slowly moving north up the lake. Nothing chasing or feeding. THEY WERE NOT IN THE CREEKS. So either this kinda shatters some of what I believed happens in fall or it has just yet to happen on my lake. What do y'all think? If they are still migrating to the creeks I might have taken my vacation early. Was hoping to catch the time when bass were feeding the heaviest. Opinions?
Catt reply :
riverbasser reply :
I've read these, along with every other topic in the sticky. Guess I need to read again. Thanks
Catt reply :
On 11/8/2016 at 7:00 AM, riverbasser said:THEY WERE NOT IN THE CREEKS.
So either this kinda shatters some of what I believed happens in fall or it has just yet to happen on my lake.
What do y'all think?
If they are still migrating to the creeks I might have taken my vacation early.
Opinions?
Those questions ya gonna have answer yourself!
@WRB stated we have 100 yrs experience but we aint on your lake!
scaleface reply :
On 11/8/2016 at 7:00 AM, riverbasser said:Wanted to post an update about what I saw at the lake Thursday. Was fishing down the bank of main lake about 50 yards from a decent sized cove and and had a few thousand shad schooled up around me just under the surface. It seemed they were making circles but slowly moving north up the lake. Nothing chasing or feeding. THEY WERE NOT IN THE CREEKS. So either this kinda shatters some of what I believed happens in fall or it has just yet to happen on my lake. What do y'all think? If they are still migrating to the creeks I might have taken my vacation early. Was hoping to catch the time when bass were feeding the heaviest. Opinions?
First we are in different areas . I went to mark Twain lake yesterday and found the water pretty murky for fall , just a few inches of visibility and surface temp in the low 60's . I went to the back of a creek and found the water clearer and fished for a couple of hours . There were a lot of shad up there and I got skunked . Bass dont always go by the play book . I went out on the main lake and muddier water and started fishing the bluffs . I cast a crankbait in a cut and caught a bass . Caught three more in that cut so thats what I concentrated on for the final few hours. Ended up catching about twenty bass with five keepers on a shallow diving Rapala Crankin Rap , shad pattern .
There is undoubtedly bass in that creek I fished but they just were not cooperating . I came close to being skunked but made that one lucky cast with the correct lure that steered me in the right direction .
lo n slo reply :
On 11/8/2016 at 10:53 PM, scaleface said:First we are in different areas . I went to mark Twain lake yesterday and found the water pretty murky for fall , just a few inches of visibility and surface temp in the low 60's . I went to the back of a creek and found the water clearer and fished for a couple of hours . There were a lot of shad up there and I got skunked . Bass dont always go by the play book . I went out on the main lake and muddier water and started fishing the bluffs . I cast a crankbait in a cut and caught a bass . Caught three more in that cut so thats what I concentrated on for the final few hours. Ended up catching about twenty bass with five keepers on a shallow diving Rapala Crankin Rap , shad pattern .
There is undoubtedly bass in that creek I fished but they just were not cooperating . I came close to being skunked but made that one lucky cast with the correct lure that steered me in the right direction .
seen them do like that on Norman and Wylie down my way in the winter. but it was the warm discharge creeks that drew the shad in. the bass in there can get real picky. but motor out to the windward shore and you can catch them.
i'd like to mention something else for the OP. i've done good by finding the birds during the winter. tie on a bucktail or a swim bait you can throw. give it a try sometime.
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