It’s like spring…in reverse

A lot of bass fishermen in the South put up their rods and reels in the fall and turn to football or hunting for outdoor recreation. But if you are one of those guys, you are passing up some of the best bass fishing of the year. Think of it like this.  Fall bass fishing is like Spring bass fishin, but in reverse.

What’s the same: The fish are feeding and they are on the prowl.

What’s different? In Spring, the fish are generally moving to shallower water. They are feeding for the energy to go into the spawn. It’s kind of like they are eating a big breakfast before going to work.  Then the feeding slows as the spawn takes place.

In Fall, the fish are also generally moving back to shallower water, leaving deep water looking to feed in the backs of creeks or on shallow flats where the baitfish are likely to congregate. They are feeding to fatten up for Winter. In the Fall, it’s kind of like eating a big supper before going to bed for a long winter’s nap. Then the feeding slows as the water turns cold. Bass, especially the females, depend on good Fall feeding conditions so they are in good shape when Spring conditions do bring on the spawn.

So, spring isn’t the only “best time of the year” to fish. Fall is a great time to catch fish, too.  How? Basically the same way you do in spring. First, you have to find the fish. Pattern them by working stretches of shoreline holding shad, points or shallow humps or flats.  The key is the fish will follow the food.

I love fishing a plastic worm, so I’m always going to give that a try. Any type of soft plastic that you like will work. I still look for grass lines, underwater moss patches and wood structure like leaning logs or fallen treetops near the shore.

The more conventional approach in the Fall and into early winter is using spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Those are the best baits for the big ones. There are so many different types of these lures that the best advice is to fish with the one that you have faith in. If it works in Spring, it will probably work in the Fall.