The fall can be an amazing time of year for bass fishing, but it can also be a tough bite. Especially, if you are not sure the areas to target and the right baits and lures to use. But don’t worry we have you covered. In this article you will learn everything you need to know about bass fishing in the fall. Including the fish behavior, best fall baits, areas to target and some tips and tricks that will help you catch more bass during the fall season.
Fall Bass Fishing 101
Anglers often ask: Is the fall a good time for bass fishing? The answer is simple, absolutely! The fall season can be a great time of year to be bass fishing. But it does come with some challenges. Here are some of the advantages and challenges that come with fall bass fishing:
Challenges
- Patterns change
- Fish are on the move
- Shorter days
- Changing weather conditions
- Colder weather
- Scattered fish
Advantages
- Aggressive feeding
- Less fishing pressure & boat traffic
- Bass are keying in on baitfish
- Bass will move to shallower water
- Reaction style lures are big time players
- Big fish are easier to catch
- Bass will group up
Understanding the seasonal patterns and behaviors of bass is super important this time of year. But even during the fall things can change fast depending on the weather patterns. For this reason, I like to think of the fall as having two main periods. Early fall and late fall. Each having its own unique set of conditions. Let’s go over the differences and look at how we can take advantage of these two periods as anglers.
Early Fall vs. Late Fall Bass Fishing
Many anglers including myself like to break down the fall season in two distinct periods. Early fall (when water temperatures are in the 70’s to low 50’s) and late fall (when the water temperature gets into the low 50’s to 40’s.
Being able to understand and recognize these distinct periods can be a game changer and will have a positive impact on your fishing success. In each of these periods bass will be in different locations and focused on different things. Let’s dive into each period and look at how this information can help you catch more bass this fall.
Early Fall Bass Fishing
(Water temperatures: 70’s to 50’s)
The early fall is often referred to as the “fall feed”. This can be an amazing time of year but can also be tricky, as bass are constantly on the move chasing baitfish. During this period, bass instinctively know that they need to start feeding up for winter and bait fish is their primary target.
When the water temperatures start to drop from the low 70’s down to the low 50’s is typically when the fall season begins. However, the real trigger is when bait fish start to make their way to shallower water and this move may vary depending on what region of the country you are fishing. This is by far the most important factor during this season and the early fall is typically initiated by this movement of baitfish.
As the days get shorter and the water temperatures starts to cool bait will move from their summer time haunts and are drawn to the backs of coves, pockets and runs.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is a transitional move and it doesn’t happen instantly, but rather progressively. Bass and bait will use stopping points and transition areas as they work their way to the backs of coves, pockets and runs.
When the water temperature starts to get into the 60-degree range is really when the magic happens. This is typically considered to be the peak of the fall and is when the bass will be found in the shallows and in the backs of coves munching on bait fish.
This early fall period can absolutely be one of the best times of years to fish. Bass are shallow and are aggressively feeding which can result in some magical days on the water. On the other hand, it can be tough fishing if you over look important key factors. Here are some early fall tips that will help you catch more bass.
Early Fall Fishing Tips
- Bait fish are key
- Match the hatch
- Try shock colors (pink, chartreuse) if they aren’t biting on natural colors
- 60 degrees is the magic temperature
- Imitate bait fish
- Bass can be found in the same spring time areas
- Look for creek arms with active drains
- Slightly stained or dirty water is better than extremely clear water
Early Fall Lures
In my opinion the key to have success in the early fall is throwing some type of search bait that imitates baitfish. Reaction style lures such as a lipless crankbait or spinnerbait will allow you to cover water quickly and find areas that are holding fish. Once you locate them that’s when you can slow down if you like and throw some finesse style lures. Below is a list of some power and finesse lures and techniques that have been proven fish catchers in the early fall.
Power Category
- Crankbaits/Traps – shallow diving cranks and ¼ oz traps
- Topwater lures
- Spinnerbaits
- Chatterbaits/vibrating jigs
- Swimbaits
- Swim jigs
Finesse Category
- Flukes
- Grubs
- Finesse Swimbaits
- Wacky rig
Late Fall Bass Fishing
(Water temperatures: 50’s to 40’s)
The late fall or the fall transition can be a tough period. This is really that time of year when you start to see the coldest water temperatures as the fall is transitioning to winter. During this period the water temperatures get into the low 50’s to 40’s. However, this can vary depending on what region you are in.
As the fall season progresses and temperatures continue to drop the water temperature in shallow water gets to a point where becomes too cold for bait fish and bass. As a result, the fish will head towards deeper warmer water and will likely be found around main lake points.
This movement back to deeper water is much like the previous transition to the shallows. It happens progressively. Bass and baitfish will use transition areas as stopping points as they make their way to deeper water and main lake points.
Many of the lures and technique used in the early fall can also be effective in the late fall, with a few minor differences. Bass are still focused on baitfish in the late fall but this seems to calm down a bit and they become open other food sources.
Late Fall Lures and Techniques
Finesse style lures become more of a factor in the late fall. However, power fishing can also produce some big time results. For me the key is still being able to locate them and figure out what stage they are in. Here are some prove techniques that will great in the late fall season:
Power Category
- Crankbaits – medium to deep divers
- Jerkbaits
- Swimbait
- A-rig
- Jigs
Finesse Category
- Hair Jigs
- Shaky Head
- Drop shot
- Tubes
- Ned rig
What do Bass Eat in the Fall?
As the days get shorter and the water temperatures start to drop, bass instinctively know it’s time to start bulking up for the winter. Because of this, bass will start to aggressively feed on pretty much anything but are really focused on baitfish this time of year. Understanding and mimicking the baitfish in your home waters is absolutely key in the fall.
Tough Fall Fishing
The late summer to early fall transition can be one of the hardest times of the year for bass fishermen. What makes this transition period so tough is that the bass can really be found anywhere from a foot to 35+ feet of water. Here are a few tips that I hope will help you catch more bass when the fall gets tough”
Tough Fall Bass Fishing Tips
- Always be on the move
- Focus on baitfish
- Crankbaits and other search baits are key
- Down size when it gets tough
- Bust out your finesse techniques (dropshot, tubes, ned rig etc.)
Where do Bass go in the Fall?
There are two main factors that will cause bass to start moving from their summer haunts to the fall transition. Length of day and night time temperatures. Once these two factors start to change, bass will start to move from their summer patterns and head towards the fall.
It’s important to understand what the baitfish are doing this time of year. The number one rule of fall bass fishing is: find the bait fish, find the bass. Where ever the baitfish are that’s where you will find the fish. The most productive spots in the fall are most likely going to be areas where the bass can pin bait fish and keep them there. Here are some areas you should look to target in the fall:
Fall Bass Fishing Areas to Target
- Transition areas
- Back of creeks
- Ledges
- Flats
- Coves with current
- Points
- Channel swings
- Grass lines
Fall Bass Fishing Tactics
The fall fishing season provides anglers with one of the best opportunities of the year to catch both big fish as well as numbers. Remember, bass are in feeding mode as they prepare for winter. This can be a huge advantage for anglers and can make for some great fishing.
Perhaps, the most popular and my personal favorite way to catch bass in the fall is with reaction style lures. Reaction style lures that imitate baitfish such as shad or bluegill can be money in the fall. However, there are other tactics and techniques that also work well. Below is a list of the best fall bass fishing tactics that every angler should have in their arsenal:
Best Baits for Fall Bass Fishing
One of the great things about bass fishing in the fall is the opportunity it gives you to catch fish in a variety of different ways. No bait or lures is off the table, but there are some that always seem to outperform others. Here is a list of some of the best tactics and lures to catch bass during the fall season.
Lipless Crankbait
Lipless crankbaits are versatile lure that can be a great way to cover a lot of water. Which is super important this time of year with bass always on the move. A lipless crankbait excels in shallow water and especially around grass. Ripping this crank through grass can be one of the best ways to fish this bait.
My favorite lipless crankbait is ½ oz chrome or crawfish colored Rat-L-Trap or a Strike King Red Eye Shad in any color that will mimic the baitfish in the water I’m fishing.
Squarebill crankbait
When bass have baitfish pinned in the back of coves and creeks a squarebill crankbait can be an absolute killer bait. It allows you to cover a lot of water and works creak on flats and around rocks and wood.
Some of my personal favorites are the Strike King Square Bill Crankbait and the Strike King KVD Deep Square Bill Crankbait
Topwater Lures
Nothing gets me more excited than seeing a bass crush a topwater lure. In the fall topwater lures can be an effective way to catch bass up until the water temperatures hits below 55 degrees. At this temperature the bass tend to shy away from topwater lures and its best to try something else.
Buzzbaits, Spooks and Whopper Plopper, are some of the most popular and perhaps productive fall topwater lures in my opinion.
Jerkbaits & Flukes
Jerkbaits and Flukes excel in cold water conditions and as fall temperatures drop these baits become big time players. The key to triggering strikes is a good retrieve. The colder the water, the longer you should pause between jerks. Jerkbaits and Flukes are an excellent imitation of bait fish and our lures that every angler should have tied on in the fall.
If you are looking for a good jerkbait I recommend trying the Lucky Craft Pointer 100 or the Jackal Dowzvido.
Swimbaits
Slow rolling a swimbait can be a great way to catch some big fall bass. Swimbaits are often overlooked in the fall but can absolutely catch them. As water temperatures continue to drop bass can’t resist the subtle action of a swimbait.
The S-Waver 168 Swimbait in “Light Trout” is a killer. I also really like the Keitech Swing Impact.
Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits are another great way to cover water and get some nice reaction strikes from hungry bass. The spinnerbait is a heavily used lure by many anglers during the fall, and for good reason. They imitate baitfish very well and put off a lot of vibration. The other great thing about a spinnerbait is its versatility. It can be fished fast or slow and its weedless nature makes it a lure that can be fished just about anywhere.
My spinnerbait of choice is a white 1/oz double willow leaf bladed Strike King Spinnerbait. This presentation seems to match baitfish better and outperforms other styles this time of year.
Jigs
If bass aren’t munching on baitfish they are most likely eating crawfish. They are high in protein and make an excellent meal for bass trying to fatten up for winter. For this reason, a jig is a fantastic fall bait and one that I make sure I always have one tied on.
My favorite jig to use is a football head jig I feel that it tends to work better than other jig head styles unless I am fishing in heavy brush. My go to fall colors are purple and brown. I’ll typically pair this jig with a double tailed grub.
I would highly recommend making sure you always have a jig tied on. They will come in handy especially if you run into some nice structure.
Tubes
Hopping or dragging a tube can be a fantastic way to catch bass in the fall that often gets overlooked. This method is especially effective when the fishing is slow and the bass aren’t reacting to moving baits. One of the reasons why a tube can be so productive is because they do a great job at imitating crawfish.
Final Thoughts
There are so many reasons to go bass fishing in the fall. The colors can be great, crowds are gone and bass are eating. If you keep the above information in mind as you fish this fall, you’ll be well on your way of taking advantage of some great fishing opportunities. Also its important to understand that some of the specific information mentioned might be slightly different where you live but the foundational information can be applied anywhere.
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Tight Lines!