Its coming! 2024
"hamma" reply :
My Favorite time of year, Fall. Technically here but yet to show,..Soon the waters we were relegated to share with all the summer boaters, will be ours once again. The jetskiers, water skiers, and pleasure cruisers will be back at work, showing off their summer pictures to co-workers, pulling in their docks, and winterproofing their water craft. The air and water temps will be falling, and our quarry will be forced to prep for winter. The lush green scenery will be changing to (hopefully) amazing colors that boggle the senses, touch the soul, and make for exceptional memories. Ones of tight lines, chilly mornings, which turn into favorable fishing weather around 10 am, and last til dark.
Speaking of tight lines,... amongst the thousands of lure choices, what are the ones you tie on before leaving home for this coming time of year? And do you float your boat, or hit the shore before sunup? I do, not much gets my heart pumping like that early am fog on the water, as I step on the boat, and untie from the dock. Rods ready, lunch and snacks packed, batteries fully charged, gas/oil filled, on a favorable smallie lake that you know has some giants in it.
Lures I have at the ready are:
A rebel pop-r jr, tied on 10# mono with a berkley cross lock snap, rigged on a 5'10" med action Berkley AIR spinning rod coupled with a 2500 shimano saros reel
A white 1/2 oz Manns classic spinnerbait with its white twintail trailer, on 12# mono, rigged on a 7" All star med. heavy action baitcaster with a shimano curado.
A green pumpkin, or black/blue, jig craw combo, tied on 12# mono rigged on a 25 old shimano speedmaster flipping rod and a newer shimano citica
A 1/4 oz jighead (style tbd by lake) with a 4" smoke/silver flake grub, tied on 10# test green stren, rigged on a Diawa 6' tony bean smallie rod with the matching Diawa td1300 reel
A rapala 7/16 oz x-rap olive green, on 10# green stren, rigged on a cross lock snap, and a 6'6" med. action lews speed stick and a shimano curado
A 1/8 oz lake fork tungsten weight and a gamakatsu #1 offset shank round bend hook with either a berkley powerbait bluegill colored pulse worm, or a green pumpkin with brown centerline zipperworm on 10# green stren, rigged on a old shimano xl speedmaster 5' 9" med. heavy spinning rod and a shimano 4000 symetre reel.
These are my "staples" for fall smallie fishing, I wont leave home without them tied on and ready to go (the night before). They have done right by me up here in New England and I hope some of you will share what you use in your locale.
I bring more rods ready for alternative lures if need be, ,...
Good luck this coming fall, make sure you take some time to enjoy it, Keep ya line wet!
VABASSER37 reply :
Around here fall means small creek fishing for feisty and Hungary smallies. My usual gear includes a 6'6 eagle claw featherlight/shimona Sedona 500 spooled with 4lb seagar invisx with a wacky rigged 3in green pumpkin senko. A 6'8 medium action gander mtn vortex/ lews Mach 1 spooled with 8lb mono and a 3in Yamamoto green pumpkin curly tail on a 3/8oz finesse jig.
"hamma" reply :
WOW! 4 lb test line? I have trouble getting a good hookset on 6 lb test,..kudos to you sir! And I find it amazing how versitile green pumpkin truly is. Seems it works everywhere. Thanks for sharing
Frenchman83 reply :
This is my first fall truly chasing smallmouth. 3/8-1/2 oz spinnerbaits with 12-15# mono on a MH 13 with a Lews speed spool. 1/2 jig n craw with 50# braid on a MH 13 with a Lews speed spool. 1.5 squarebills/DT6 with 12# mono on a M Daiwa with a Lews speed spool. Wacky rigged stick bait and weightlesscraw with 15# braid on a M 13 spinning gear with a Daiwa Exceler 200.
"hamma" reply :
First fall chasing smallies? I hope it all goes well for you Frenchman83, This can be the best time of year for smallies, at least in my opinion anyways., some days they will be timid and just nip at lures creating the lightest of strikes.,..and then there's those stallar days that they hit like a frieght train on the run. Slamming, and running for the hills. These are the days I like a spinnerbait, but hold on tight, that hit just might take the rod right out of your hands
salmotrutta reply :
KHH.I also have a Tony Bean smallmouth rod.Picked it up in a thrift store for $12.Absolutely love this rod.It's the rod i keep a tube tied on.No tubes for you i see?
DubyaDee reply :
I've got these all tied on during the fall. I'll usually throw a jerkbait half the time and rotate the rest till I know what they want.
This time of the year is my favorite. Spring produces, but the water is way too crowded.
Gundog reply :
+1 for the grub. So many people have forgotten about them anymore. Good luck.
"hamma" reply :
I do use tubes sometimes salmotrutta, its just not a "staple" that I keep tied on all season. And a tony bean rod for 12 bucks! Sweet deal. I actually have 2 one thats a old original, and a newer updated model I picked up about 12 years later. I usually have a snapswivel for in-line spinners, and spoons tied on this one in the rodbox. These combo's are so freakin versatile. I actually met him at a B.A.S.S. university seminar. Great guy, who has some of the best tube rigging techiniques I ever saw.
I like dubyadee's underspin, good schooling bait, when they are slamming baitfish balled up on the surface those things rock. And the plastic under it, is that a paddletail or reaper? I like the size, color, and shape.
I have a grub tied on "all" year gundog, whenever the bite slows? It gets the nod and usually pans out
Mainebass1984 reply :
Fall has begun in Maine and Vermont. Water temps are in the upper 60s and the bite is on.
As the water continues to cool and October arrives the smallmouth bite will really pick up. As long as the water doesn't freeze up the bite will be good until after Thanksgiving and perhaps beyond.
My go to smallmouth bait far and above all else : a silver buddy
I also fish a 1/2 oz football jig, a drop shot and a KVD crankbait in the fall and they all work well but most of the time I am fishing a silver buddy.
Without a doubt for smallies in the fall an original silver buddy is deadly.
Typically once the smallies go deeper here, 20-40 ft, they tend to congregate around bait fish near steep rocky drop-offs. The silver buddy excels in such a situation. I look forward to this scenario every year. It provides some of the best smallmouth fishing of the year for me. Last year my friend and I had an excellent day on champlain following the same pattern I described. Our best 5 smallies went 22 lbs 4 oz.
If you intend to fish in the fall for smallies a silver buddy has to be part of your arsenal.
A-Jay reply :
On 9/26/2016 at 11:39 PM, Mainebass1984 said:Fall has begun in Maine and Vermont. Water temps are in the upper 60s and the bite is on.
As the water continues to cool and October arrives the smallmouth bite will really pick up. As long as the water doesn't freeze up the bite will be good until after Thanksgiving and perhaps beyond.
My go to smallmouth bait far and above all else : a silver buddy
I also fish a 1/2 oz football jig, a drop shot and a KVD crankbait in the fall and they all work well but most of the time I am fishing a silver buddy.
Without a doubt for smallies in the fall an original silver buddy is deadly.
Typically once the smallies go deeper here, 20-40 ft, they tend to congregate around bait fish near steep rocky drop-offs. The silver buddy excels in such a situation. I look forward to this scenario every year. It provides some of the best smallmouth fishing of the year for me. Last year my friend and I had an excellent day on champlain following the same pattern I described. Our best 5 smallies went 22 lbs 4 oz.
If you intend to fish in the fall for smallies a silver buddy has to be part of your arsenal.
Here too ~ and I also have been a Blade Bait user & Abuser; with the same type of Inspiring results on Smallies.
This year however, I'm going to fish the same places at the same times just going to present an Umbrella rig instead.
Is this something you're done on the Past ?
I "May" throw a Blade bait first - just to see if anyone's home and the pull the Old Bait & Switch.
A-Jay
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 9/26/2016 at 11:52 PM, A-Jay said:Here too ~ and I also have been a Blade Bait user & Abuser; with the same type of Inspiring results on Smallies.
This year however, I'm going to fish the same places at the same times just going to present an Umbrella rig instead.
Is this something you're done on the Past ?
I "May" throw a Blade bait first - just to see if anyone's home and the pull the Old Bait & Switch.
A-Jay
In VT you can only have 2 baits with hooks in them on the umbrella rig. In Maine you can only have a hook in one of the baits in an umbrella rig. It is unfortunate you can not have hooks in all 5. Doesn't really inspire me to fish an umbrella rig with only one or two hooks in it.
For now I will be sticking with the blade bait and my other confidence baits in my fall smallmouth arsenal.
A-Jay reply :
On 9/27/2016 at 12:00 AM, Mainebass1984 said:In VT you can only have 2 baits with hooks in them on the umbrella rig. In Maine you can only have a hook in one of the baits in an umbrella rig. It is unfortunate you can not have hooks in all 5. Doesn't really inspire me to fish an umbrella rig with only one or two hooks in it.
For now I will be sticking with the blade bait and my other confidence baits in my fall smallmouth arsenal.
I hear ya.
With those regs I'd probably be in the same state of mind as well.
But it's not like I'm at all unhappy with the results the Bottom Metal brings - just looking for another option & maybe a bigger bite.
Good Luck this fall - you're due for an Over Sized Brown Bass very soon.
A-Jay
Gundog reply :
On 9/26/2016 at 9:04 PM, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:
I have a grub tied on "all" year gundog, whenever the bite slows? It gets the nod and usually pans out
In this day and age where $12 to $20 baits are the norm its nice to see a $1 bait being used. Especially one that, IMHO, outproduces many other baits.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 9/27/2016 at 12:04 AM, A-Jay said:I hear ya.
With those regs I'd probably be in the same state of mind as well.
But it's not like I'm at all unhappy with the results the Bottom Metal brings - just looking for another option & maybe a bigger bite.
Good Luck this fall - you're due for an Over Sized Brown Bass very soon.
A-Jay
The big brown bass should be on my favorite spots very soon. Right now the big green ones are biting ! Bite has been red hot.
A-Jay reply :
On 9/27/2016 at 12:06 AM, Mainebass1984 said:The big brown bass should be on my favorite spots very soon. Right now the big green ones are biting ! Bite has been red hot.
Sweet !
I'm looking at 6 days & Nights of COLD RAIN - Booooooo.
After 3 or 4 days I may have to bite the bullet, don a Suba Suit & get after it.
A-Jay
"hamma" reply :
I will use a silver buddy but in the colder waters of winter, just before and just after the ice, but in deeper lakes. I have some killer ice-out techniques and lakes to do so in. But thats another thread, and a couple are just too deadly to broadcast. Before long everybody would be getting their cabin fever fix on them, and hurting the lakes populations,, Kinda like if you want to keep a secret hotspot, lake or pond working for you, keep it secret. Nothing good comes from letting a secret bass pond out, before you know it, it's trashed, and the pigs you once caught are gone.
DubyaDee reply :
On 9/26/2016 at 9:04 PM, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:
I like dubyadee's underspin, good schooling bait, when they are slamming baitfish balled up on the surface those things rock. And the plastic under it, is that a paddletail or reaper? I like the size, color, and shape.
I have a grub tied on "all" year gundog, whenever the bite slows? It gets the nod and usually pans out
I put a fluke on the underspin to make it as natural as possible. Grubs are always a good lure for fall, just not as "sexy" as some other options.
Blade baits are sweet when the temp drops less than 45 degrees. Some folks have success with flutter spoons like the Johnson Slama. Once the water gets to that temp I like using a hair jig better.
A-Jay reply :
On 9/27/2016 at 2:37 AM, DubyaDee said:
Blade baits are sweet when the temp drops less than 45 degrees.
Agreed ~ something else to consider; rather than using that water temp as an indication of when to throw a blade bait, perhaps use the fishes location / position on the structure as a guide.
Once the smallies vacate the shallower haunts and set up on the deeper & steeper structure, they become very susceptible to metal on the bottom. Obviously they don't all do it at once but often times there are quite a few bunched up there well before the water temps get in the 40's. In your area, I there could be some there by the end of this week.
It might be worth a look.
A-Jay
Mainebass1984 reply :
Once the water temp is around 50 degrees the silver buddy bite becomes very consistent for me. Usually most of the fish are in the 3-4 lb range. I will fish them right until ice up. I used to fish a jig in place of the silver buddy. I found that once I started fishing the silver buddy and sticking with it the number of bites I got tripled. I also have had great success "video game" fishing a blade bait. Its a exciting way to fish.
"hamma" reply :
My silver buddy trips are usually when the fall bite slows, as the water cools down a bit and winter is evidently on its way soon. But in some waters I fish the gold modeled silver buddy and it just out shines its silver brother. But, I digress,..my point being,.. I let the fish tell me when to switch over to it. The surface temps sometimes drastically change with our freaky weather patterns. So I avoid the surface temps dictating my choice of lure. Because 2 feet under the surface its often still a bit warmer
Maybe, its a old fart thing, being that I've fished some years in dec/jan with still open waters, with cold surface temps, and the fish are still hitting like their still in a active fall mode.Then other years the Fall bite slowed just around halloween, and ice was in before thanksgiving.
I just hope I get to fish this fall at all, boats ready, im ready, all I need is someone to fish with. Anyone wanting to go pm me.
Robeng reply :
Hamma Hatch - Nice writing. I couldn't agree with you more. Especially what fall does to the senses and the pleasure craft are gone. It'slike spring fishing except it's fall!
Turkey sandwich reply :
Nice post! The fall is an awesome time to be on the water. Fishing aside, most parts of the country are absolutely beautiful, the leaves make a killer backdrop for the wildlife, and it's just comfortable all day. Oh, yeah, and everything is biting. Bass are packing on weight, trout are comfortable and active again, and the weather/shorter days don't typically require you be up at 4:30 AM.
Your fall smallmouth arsenal looks a lot like mine. I'm a huge grub advocate so long as the water isn't heavy stained - th catch fish everywhere and it's silly more people don't learn to fish them. I'm hoping this fall to invest more time building confidence in suspending jerkbaits, so I'll be throwing perch colored X-Raps a bunch once I can swing a free weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to get some quality pictures. I haven't picked up any bronze over 4lbs this year... Fingers crossed that the fall is bountiful!
"hamma" reply :
On 9/28/2016 at 2:36 AM, Robeng said:Hamma Hatch - Nice writing. I couldn't agree with you more. Especially what fall does to the senses and the pleasure craft are gone. It'slike spring fishing except it's fall!
Thank you robeng,..and yes it is just like spring. But just a bit better in my opinion. Because the longer the weather stays mild, the longer this season holds on, with no springtime activities going on, jet skiers, pleasure boaters etc: which is actually opposite of springs progression. Plus,..Im lucky to be close to cape cod as some of the freshwater lakes and ponds out there dont even get ice thru mild winters and I can fish right thru til spring.,..So I pray for mild winters,....lmao ,..Not so I dont have to shovel another 100 inches of snow, I just need to keep the boat accessable no matter how much snow I get.,.. and yes I've gotten some dang crazy looks at the gas station with my boat in tow as Im filling its fuel tank, and its snowing. And,.. Ive broken thru 10 feet of ice or more, from shore to open water at the ramp so I can launch the boat. Im sure some southern anglers never have to do those chores, And probably think Im nuts, they're "kinda" right, cuz all the most intelligent and respectable people are nuts,...lmao
Hey! ,..Now,...fishing is what I do, its my thing, I dont let weather determine "everything" pertaining to it, that I can rectify anyways.,...lol,...It may determine fish activity, but my activity ?,..its got a battle on its hands with this guy. I've been smelt fishing, in sub zero temps, sitting on a dock having a blast, cooking up food on a portable gas grill, and sipping on some fine spirits. Weather dosent deter me!
"hamma" reply :
On 9/28/2016 at 3:31 AM, Turkey sandwich said:Nice post! The fall is an awesome time to be on the water. Fishing aside, most parts of the country are absolutely beautiful, the leaves make a killer backdrop for the wildlife, and it's just comfortable all day. Oh, yeah, and everything is biting. Bass are packing on weight, trout are comfortable and active again, and the weather/shorter days don't typically require you be up at 4:30 AM.
Your fall smallmouth arsenal looks a lot like mine. I'm a huge grub advocate so long as the water isn't heavy stained - th catch fish everywhere and it's silly more people don't learn to fish them. I'm hoping this fall to invest more time building confidence in suspending jerkbaits, so I'll be throwing perch colored X-Raps a bunch once I can swing a free weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to get some quality pictures. I haven't picked up any bronze over 4lbs this year... Fingers crossed that the fall is bountiful!
Thanks Turkey Sandwich,...I couldnt agree with you more. I use the perch patterened jerkbait early in the mornings, then switch over to the olive green around 9 or 10ish as the morning patterns fade, for the rest of he day., I think that solid greenish flash really gets them hopping on it with the sun being up so, hits it just right.
One thing everyone seems to be missing is, as these smallies feed up for winter, they are getting fatter, stronger, and can litterally wear you out during a good day of fishing, the longer the season goes on. They fight like frieght trains on the run, they jump to show you how fat they've gotten, and then it's a fight till you get your thumb on the lower jaw. Almost like they are challenging you to succeed. While doing a triple gainer with a full double twist, in mid air mind you, they look at you, and size you up as if to say,..."this is what I got to beat?',.."he's got a fight on his hands now!",... and its on. That right there is the one reason I wait to winterize my boat til the last minute. With those mild winters maybe not at all.That hightened, energy filled battle, has got to be the pinnicle of smallie fishing. They are as fat as they are going to be that year, and ready to battle because of it. And do they ever battle.
Set your drags right ,..otherwise plan on loosing some lures. I actually set my drag for the hit, and then back the drag down a bit once I have them hooked, to let them fight the rod and line. after I let them go? I reset the reels drag, ready for the next hit. Shimano's fighting drag reels really shine doing this, as It has a lever to "set" for the hit, after you've loosened the drag for the fight, when it comes time to reset the drag, its is as easy as moving the drag lever back to its original "setting" Works wonders and I rarley loose a hooked fish
God I love smallie fishing in Fall. It just rules
Keep ya line wet
Turkey sandwich reply :
I can't wait to get out in a few weeks.
"hamma" reply :
Me either,..its like a poison ivy itch you just cant reach. You know "its coming",...lol (pardon the pun),..that itch? will be scratched.
I just hope while were out there "scratchin away" we not only get to make new memories, of the exceptional fall colors, favorable temps, and yahoo free open waters, but we all get to hook into some of those fattened up, acrobatic, and beautifully colored defiant bronzebacks.
This is like an "addiction", much like the drug addicts around here, that get free meth clinics. We should have free smallie clinics!,...lol ,...Like one on pickwick, dale hollow, kezar, and erie. ,...lol,...I'd be found on their doorsteps every fall, wiping my mouth with my sleeve, slightly shivering, all wide eyed, and attention lost. Begging them to admit me,.. "c'mon, man!! ,... please!,...hook me up, I need my fix",...lmao
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