Tips for Catching More Bass During the Early Fall

As the days get shorter and the temperatures start to drop, bass fishing enters one of its best seasons - the early fall. The cooling water triggers feeding activity, and bass start bulking up for winter. 

Use these early fall fishing tips to help you catch more and bigger bass during the summer to fall transition:

1. Target Wind Blown Banks

Fall winds pushes micro-organisms and therefore baitfish to wind-blown banks also drawing active bass to those areas as well. Position your boat (or you if fishing from the bank) upwind and work baits imitating local baitfish around available cover and structure to entice feeding bass into biting. 

2. Fish Shallows Early and Late

Bass will still be active in shallow areas early and late when the water is warmer. Focus on shallow structure like stumps, docks, and grass edges, especially on sunny days. Topwaters, walking baits, and buzzbaits can be productive when bass are chasing baitfish in the shallows.

3. Fish the Backs of Creeks 

Creeks often cool down faster than main lake areas. The baitfish and bass will move into the backs of creeks as the water temps drop. Target creek mouths, pockets, and anywhere creek channels swing close to shallow cover.

4. Follow the Bait

Cooling water temperatures trigger shad and other forage species to bunch up, making them easy targets for hungry bass. Look for balls of baitfish near structure on your electronics as well as signs of surface activity and keep moving to find the feeding bass. Match the hatch with shad or perch pattern crankbaits, blade baits, and swimbaits.

5. Fish Slow Tapering Points  

Points that gradually slope out to deeper water form structure that congregates both baitfish and bass. Drag Carolina rigs, deep diving cranks, jigs, or dropshot rigs along these transitional areas. Focus on the shallow end of the point and out toward deeper water.

6. Fish Isolated Cover

Bass will often hold tight to cover like stumps, brush piles, rocks, and docks in the fall. Thoroughly work around isolated pieces of hard cover with jigs, Texas rigs, bladed jigs, and jerkbaits. Making repeated casts to high percentage areas like shady areas or along current seams are often key to triggering strikes from cover-relating bass.

7. Use Reaction Baits Around Baitfish Schools

When you spot a group of bass stacked up on structure and chasing baitfish, use reaction baits to trigger reflex strikes. Lipless cranks, jerkbaits, bladed jigs, and swim jigs can all quickly draw strikes when retrieved around baitfish schools before they keep migrating. Have a follow-up bait (jigs or weighted soft plastics) ready to pitch back to stubborn when short striking your first offering. 

8. Keep Moving Until You Find Fish

Don't be afraid to pick up and move to a different spot when the bite dies off in an area. Bass are usually on the move in the fall and you need to keep moving to stay ahead of them. Eliminate unproductive water, and keep hitting new spots until you dial in an area holding active fish. Once bass are located, slow down and work the area thoroughly before moving to a new location. 

9. Match Lure Selection to Weather Conditions

As fronts move through, cooling or warming water trends are common in the shallows, often causing bass locations and moods to change quickly. Reaction baits like crankbaits and spinnerbaits are better on warming trends, while jigs and soft plastics excel in cooling conditions. Pay attention to weather and make appropriate tackle adjustments.

10. Have Variety in Your Fall Tackle Arsenal

Because bass are in transition during early fall, having a wide variety of bait types and colors is essential. Make sure you have baits that cover all depths of the water column and structure/cover you may be fishing. When the bite is tough, switching to finesse-style baits and techniques is often the key to triggering more strikes.

As the weather cools during the early fall period, get out there and give these fall bass fishing tips a try. Adjust to the changing conditions, and you'll be reeling in the fall lunkers throughout this cooling water period.

Fishing Spinnerbaits in Creeks for Early Fall Bass

Early fall is a great time to fish spinnerbaits in creeks for bass. The water temperature is still relatively warm, and the bass are starting to move shallow in search of food. Spinnerbaits are a versatile lure that can be fished in a variety of ways, making them a great choice for creek fishing.

Here are a few tips for fishing spinnerbaits in creeks for early fall bass:

Use a spinnerbait with a painted white or chartreuse blade. These colors are very effective at imitating shad and herring, both being a major food source for bass in the fall. If other forage fish like perch or sunfish dominate your favorite creek, adjust colors accordingly. Always carry a variety of spinnerbaits in different sizes and colors. This will allow you to adjust your presentation to the conditions.

Fish the spinnerbait around cover. Bass will often hide in cover, such as rocks, logs, and weeds, so make sure to fish a spinnerbait around these areas.

Vary your retrieve. A spinnerbait can be fished with a variety of retrieves, so experiment until you find one that is working well. Some good retrieves include a slow, steady retrieve, a retrieve with pops and pauses, and a retrieve with jerks and retrieves.

Fish the spinnerbait in shallow water. Bass will often move shallow in the fall, so make sure to fish a spinnerbait in water that is 2 to 4 feet deep. That said, never be afraid to check deeper pools and cuts by slow rolling a spinnerbait through those holes.

Take a few moments and watch the following video from the folks at Lurenet describing why spinnerbaits can be highly effective bass slayers in the early fall…

Ned Rigging for Summer to Fall Transitioning Smallmouths

As summer gives way to fall and smallmouth bass adjust to the changing conditions, the Ned Rig offers a finesse approach that consistently produces results. Its simplicity and natural presentation make it an excellent choice for hooking into transitioning bass.

Why Choose the Ned Rig for Summer to Fall Transitioning Smallmouth Bass?

Smallmouth bass experience changes in their metabolism, feeding habits, and preferred habitats as summer transitions into fall. They often move from deeper, cooler waters to shallower areas in search of prey like baitfish, crayfish, and other aquatic creatures. This is where the Ned Rig shines:

Subtle Action: The Ned Rig's finesse approach perfectly imitates the slow movements of injured prey, making it an irresistible target for transitioning bass.

Natural Appearance: The compact size and lifelike texture of the soft plastic bait mimic the look and feel of the bass's favored prey items, increasing your chances of getting a strike.

Versatility: The Ned Rig can be presented in various ways, such as dragging it along the bottom, hopping it gently, or even dead-sticking it. This versatility lets you adapt to the changing preferences of smallmouth bass.

Ned Rig Techniques for Success:

Choose the Right Gear: Opt for a light spinning rod and reel combo with 6 to 10-pound test fluorocarbon line. The light gear ensures a delicate presentation and allows you to feel even the slightest nibbles.

Jig Head Selection: Use a rounded edge, mushroom-shaped jig head in the range of 1/16 to 1/4 ounce. This weight keeps the rig close to the bottom while maintaining its natural, horizontal posture.

Soft Plastic Baits: Experiment with various soft plastic baits like stick worms, finesse worms, crayfish, and creature baits. Colors that mimic natural prey are usually effective, such as green pumpkin, brown, and watermelon.

Retrieve Techniques: Try different retrieval techniques to find what the bass prefer on a given day. Drag the rig slowly along the bottom, occasionally lifting it a few inches and letting it settle. Allow the bait to rest on the bottom for a moment, mimicking a feeding opportunity.

Location Matters: Focus on transition zones between deeper and shallower water. Look for structures like rocky points, drop-offs, submerged vegetation, and areas with current.

Patience is Key: The Ned Rig requires patience and a keen sense of touch. Strikes can be subtle, so pay attention to any slight changes in line tension or movement.

Bassmaster Elite series pro Josh Douglas is a specialist at fishing for big northern smallmouth bass. Take a few moments and watch as he explains several of the adjustments he makes to his Ned rig when fishing for transitioning smallies, especially in the north country...

Remember, each fishing day is unique, so adapt your techniques and approach to the conditions you encounter on the water. With practice and persistence, you'll be reeling in those smallmouth bass during this exciting seasonal shift.

10 Tips for Catching Late Summer Bass

Late summer can be a tricky time for bass fishing. The water is warm, vegetation is thick, and the bass can be lethargic. With the right approach, however, you can still catch plenty of bass during the doldrums of late summer. 

Here are 10 tips for increase your late summer bass fishing success:

1. Fish Early and Late - During the hottest part of the day, bass seek cooler water and cover. Focus on the mornings and evenings when they are more active.

2. Downsize Your Lures - In warm water, bass are less aggressive. Use smaller, more subtle lures like finesse worms and small crankbaits that mimic this year's forage and often trigger more strikes. 

3. Fish Deeper - Bass often move to deeper, cooler water in the summer. Target drop-offs, creek channels, and structure in 15-20 feet of water.

4. Look for Shady Spots - Shady cover like docks, overhanging trees, and floating vegetation give bass relief from the sun. Key in on these shady ambush spots.

5. Try Topwater Poppers - Despite the heat, early morning and late evenings are prime times for topwater plugs. Keep the fish are looking up!

6. Follow the Baitfish - Find the bait, find the bass. Schools of shad, perch, shiners, herring and bluegill are magnets for hungry largemouth and smallmouth bass.

7. Fish at Night - Some of the best summer action happens after dark. Big bass become more active and often feed under the cover of darkness.

8. Stay on the Move - Keep moving and cover water until you locate where the bass are holding. Bass often shift locations day to day and sometimes over the course of the same day.

9. Watch the Wind and Weather - Bass become more active with changes in barometric pressure and when wind/cloud cover are on the increase.

10. Beat the Heat - Hydrate, use sun protection, and take breaks. Don't overexert yourself fishing in hot summer conditions.

Late summer bass fishing can be fantastic if you adjust your tactics. Following these tips will help you catch more bass during the dog days of summer and with the right approach, you can enjoy some of the best action of the year.

Fishing the Z-Man Mini-Max Chatterbait for Late Summer Bass

As the dog days of summer start to fade, bass catching can get tough. The hot temperatures send lethargic bass seeking the comfort of shade and deeper, cooler water. While they aren't as active during the day, late summer is still a prime time to catch big bass on reaction baits that trigger vicious strikes, especially in low light or breezy conditions. 

One fantastic lure to use this time of year is the Z-Man Mini-Max Chatterbait. Here are some tips to help you get more strikes and hook-ups on this unique blade bait.

Chatterbait Gear Recommendations

The Mini-Max Chatterbait has a smaller profile that matches young-of-the-year forage like bluegill, shad, crawfish  and other baitfiah perfectly during late summer. To make the most of its design, try rigging the Mini-Max on 12-20 lb fluorocarbon and pair it with a 6’10” medium heavy rod. The stout rod helps drive the hooks home on subtle bites and pull bass from cover. In addition, use a high speed (6.8:1+ gear ratio) reel to keep the lure moving and trigger reaction bites.

Target Areas and Presentation 

During late summer, bass hold tight to shaded cover and current breaks. I target laydowns, docks, rocks, weed edges, and points near deeper water. The key is keeping the Chatterbait moving right in front of the fish's face to trgger strikes. An aggressive, steady retrieve works best, occasionally stopping the lure to let it flutter down right at the target. Deeper docks and boat houses are prime spots for triggering vicious strikes.

Adding a Swimbait Trailer

A 3-4 inch swimbait trailer like a Keitech Fat Swing Impact paddletail or Hog Farmer Spunk Shad Pintail matches the forage size and gives the Chatterbait a bulkier profile. Match natural shad, perch, and bluegill colors based on the primary forage in the water you're fishing. Sometimes the additional action and vibration of the swimbait tail increases the number of bites over other styles of trailers. Pay attention to any specific trailer colors that seem to work best on a given day.

Gearing Up for Late Summer Success

As summer starts winding down, the Z-Man Mini-Max Chatterbait is a go-to lure for enticing big bass. With its small profile and unique vibration, it perfectly mimics the forage bass target this time of year. Focus on shaded cover near deep water and use an aggressive retrieve to trigger reaction strikes. Add a swimbait trailer for increased action and bulk. 

If you're looking for a fun way to catch quality bass even in the heat of late summer, tie on a Mini-Max Chatterbait and go make some noise!