Fall Fishing

[Rhino68W]

    The wonderful season of Autumn is finally approaching us. As it creeps closer I have found that some people get sad that the summer months are over, while others get excited for the cooler weather and holidays. I know for my situation it is not good due to the fact that my ponds will freeze, and in turn, so will my fishing. The only thing I can do is hope to make the most of this last season in any way I can.

 

What are some of you guys' favorite methods, tactics, techniques, and tips for fishing in the Fall?

 

   We all have our preferences. Some might work, while others might not. I want to make this an open share-point for fishermen of all skill levels and styles to talk about what they plan on doing this Fall in order to make the most of the rest of the year before the freeze sets in.

[ABW]

I like to throw lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits around this time

[nascar2428]

Calm water I'm throwing the trusty ole Senko, with the occasional lipless crankbait. Windy conditions and my spinnerbaits come out. For me, these next six to eight weeks will provide some of the best fishing of the year.

[Todd2]

Spinnerbaits

[einscodek]

fall is the least favorite season for me..I still catch fish but theyre abit harder to chase down and fugure out

I dont fish winter so I dont count that

and fall cold fronts bite but the fish dont

X2 on spinnerbaits

[tatertester]

Once the water cools down it's buzzbait time in shallow water.

[GoDeep]

Lipless crankbaits for sure

This. I cannot wait to throw some lipless cranks. I catch some many fish here in the fall and spring.....

[Heron]

Ok, what exactly is it about the Fall, that signifies the need for Lipless cranks? 

[Heron]

I think I might skip the fall this year, and switch to finding Crappie. 

[flyingmonkie]

Ok, what exactly is it about the Fall, that signifies the need for Lipless cranks? 

 

Bass feed primarily on baitfish during the Fall.  Find the bait, immitate it, and catch fish.

[GoDeep]

Bass feed primarily on baitfish during the Fall.  Find the bait, immitate it, and catch fish.

Yep. They are looking to fatten up on shad for winter. They are much shallower too.

[Heron]

Bass feed primarily on baitfish during the Fall.  Find the bait, immitate it, and catch fish.

Ohhhh yeah, thats right, I forgot.

 

 

Maybe because in the fall, I never find the bait. 

[ColdSVT]

Jerkbait season part two!

[A-Jay]

For me fall signifies a return to using more horizontal baits; and it's pretty much the same ones I used in the spring.  But because the water temps are going from warmer to cooler, my choice for which one is reversed.

 

  The baits I ended the spring / early summer using, I start the fall with.

 

 The lures I fished as the water warms, I use again as it cools. 

 

And the baits that I started the early spring with, are usually fished as the season comes to a close.

 

There are always exceptions and a ton of crossover but by and large this works for me.

 

Additionally, I will say that I do fish swim baits much more in the fall than the spring and the A-Rig is destine to make an appearance some time soon as well.

 

A-Jay

[fishguy613]

fall is the best time to bass fish imo, the fish are fat from feeding not pregnancy!

I like to use jerkbaits, dropshot, jigs and a big ol squarebill when theyre shallow

[Swampstud]

Bring on the colder temps, and those cold fronts. In my experience fall fishin is the best time to catch a big ol fatty. Them cold fronts only enhance the bite, wheres my jig rod!!

[brgbassmaster]

Jerkbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits.

[Catch and Grease]

Squarebills, lippless cranks, and buzzbaits are some I like.

[Master Bait'r]

fall is the best time to bass fish imo, the fish are fat from feeding not pregnancy!

Agreed! Not to mention no bugs, cool temps and big fat fish gorging for the long winter. I love fishing in the fall, but hate it when the pads all die off. Fishing just isn't the same without heavy cover to play with.

[WRB]

Fall seasonal period starts with a transition from late summer to winter, sounds simple it's not.

Summer period everything is at it's prime, the aquatic weed are green and producing oxygen, insects are everywhere, young of the year fish are still in the weeds along with frogs, crawdads, minnows etc.

In the fall all this changes as the water cools down from the 80's to the low 70's and dips into the low 60's as nights are longer, days shorter and air is colder.

The ecosystem is changing fast, weeds are turning less green, less oxygen and the critters using the weeds as a sanctuary must move. For bass their prey source moves, they move with it. Find the prey, they bass are feeding on, it's no different for any seasonal period. Fall the prey is moving, that means you need to be flexible and locate the bass and prey depending on the type of prey that is available.

Another factor to consider is the thermocline, as the water cools the heavier upper layer of water can turn over the thermocline and bottom debris with very low DO levels can shut down a fall bite fast. The turnover will last about 2 weeks until the mixes and stabilizes. Winter seasonal is now very close and the bass go deeper as the water gets cold below 55 degrees.

Enjoy fall fishing, keep on the move and don't get locked onto your favorite lure, be versatile.

My lures don't change much, adding structure spoons and A-rigs to my jigs, swimbaits, worms, crankbaits, buzzers etc.

Tom

[jiggz125]

Would you guys also throw Bladed Swim Jig/Chatterbait this time of the year? I seem to have dismal luck throwing spinnerbaits, I did catch one nice Northern but no bass ever on a spinnerbait.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Fall is crankin' season for me.

[BasshunterJGH]

Fall is crankin' season for me.

^^ Agreed. Squarebills, medium divers, and lipless crankbaits work best for me in fall. I also like senkos on calm days. Wacky rigged seems to produce better.

[JThoms38]

Smaller presentations generally work as the cold sets in for me little shad baits, anyone else like to down some waterfowl when bass fishing is coming to a close...fall means duck and goose hunting and that's a guys best friend when he can't fish lol.

[WDinarte]

This is the key for my area I take a good 10 minutes stand still and paid attention to the water and see the bait running around if still any and choose from there the best option on lures that I have in my back pack, for me top-water lures work the best for fall and any plastic lure my second option... but most of my fishing is in creeks and ponds. The big rivers I'm still learning my way.