Cold Fall Bassin'?

[The Young Gun]

Here in northern wisconsin the water temp is about 40 degrees, but im still seeing bass all around the docks? What will they bite on at this time? spinnerbaits? lipless cranks? Jerks? I would love to end my season with a few nice bass before icefishing walleyes for months.

[papajoe222]

Young gun, I like that. Well, this old fart would try to find out what those fish are after in the shallows and try to match it with a drop shot or a tube jig. In the fall, I like to use larger baits, but once the water temp. drops below 50, I'll downsize to get more bites. I know I won't get many bites, so I try to improve on those numbers then.

The only lakes I've been on with water temps. that low have been in Wisconsin. However, I target deep structure then and rely heavily on blade baits and hair jigs. If you're not against using a little live bait, a hair jig tipped with a minnow is a killer in cold water. Sorry I couldn't help more.

[Vinny Chase]

I have 3 rods tied up this time of year....NorthStar Hippy Jig, NorthStar Hair Jig, and a LC pointer in bluegill pattern....That is all I need.

[mod479]

Here in northern wisconsin the water temp is about 40 degrees, but im still seeing bass all around the docks? What will they bite on at this time? spinnerbaits? lipless cranks? Jerks? I would love to end my season with a few nice bass before icefishing walleyes for months.

When you can see them, try to skip a weightless fluke to those fish near the docks, or pitch a light (1/8 -1/4oz) tube jig in a natural color. Also caught some decent fish dropshotting right next to docks...robo worms and erie darter jr.

I've still had my best luck fishing a LC pointer 78 this fall..they will rarely chase one down at these temps. I've been pausing for as long as 15-25 seconds to get strikes some days, other times 2-5 seconds and they rip the pole out of your hand. Just make sure you have slack in your line and the lure stops dead. Those are my 4 suggestions for fall smallies. Water temps ~50 degrees here in very Northern NY.

Both of these fish were caught next to the same dock, first on the pointer, then followed up immediately with a tube to the ones I saw following the first fish! Not big fish, but fun. Go get em!

[scaleface]

^ Man, those are the fattest smallmouths.!! ^

[mod479]

^ Man, those are the fattest smallmouths.!! ^

Right on! They're chunky right now, some more than others, but certainly getting ready for winter!

I should also mention I've noticed a pattern... the best producing docks on my lake have also have submerged timber near them, in this case an entire hemlock tree that uprooted and fell to the side of the dock and sunk ~15 feet down to the bottom. Ran the pointer over it, and up came the school! Sight fishing is fun.