Fall Bite.....what?

[tcbass]

So I remember reading that the fall time is one of the best times for bass fishing because the bass are looking to put weight on for winter and also come into the shallows to feed.

 

Well, it's been getting cold for awhile here in Minnesota and the fishing has gotten worse. Way worse. Before that we were catching like 10 fish in the evening as the sun went down on buzzbaits and topwater and quite a few during the day also. The last 2 times we caught 2. What's also strange is that we didn't catch any fish on Senkos under the docks for about a month but just started catching them again, maybe it's the fall thing coming in shallow. But the last 6 years we kept catching them shallow until we stopped fishing at the end of the season.

 

 

 

So, what's going on? Where is this awesome fall bite?

[Bluebasser86]

Are you trying to catch them the same way you did the last 6 years? That's a bad habit fishermen have, we try to force the fish to do what we think they should be doing instead of figuring out what they're actually doing and fishing memories instead of the moment. Had it happen to me a couple weeks ago. Lake I was at historically has a great trap bite in the fall. I caught a few on it, but not nearly as many as in years past. Switched to a bladed jig in the same areas over the tops of submerged grass and started killing them. 

[jaysen]

i noticed in ny the fall bite hasnt hit full swing yet as well. i am catching them in the shallows but not many and i have to work for them. in a few more weeks im sure it will be better. keep switching lures and you will see what they are interested in at any given day.

[Tony L.]

The fall bite is certainly one of the best times of the year, but it is also one of the most unpredictable and difficult to pattern from day to day. At least that has been my experience of it-- I'm sure that other, better anglers than myself have more consistency. No worries, you'll catch them.

[ww2farmer]

Fall is about size for me, not numbers. As the days get shorter and colder, the number of fish I catch go down, but the average size goes up.

[einscodek]

I havent a clue where this idea of a fall bite is the best comes from.

Spring is clearly the best bite followed by the summer where the heat makes the bite active

In fall, they are beefing up but there are ALOT of bait in the water competing against your not-so-real lures.

 

I would agree the size on average goes up but based on my observations thats poundage .. the fish are packing it on but its the same big fish from the spring and summer

 

IMO, winter is the worst bite followed by fall..

that said, I am still catchin them.. my yields have fallen alil from summer but I am still catchin lots of fish but I expect this to slow more and more into the fall until Thanksgiving where I pack it in and start packing on the turkey!

[J Francho]

Fall is about size for me, not numbers. As the days get shorter and colder, the number of fish I catch go down, but the average size goes up.

 

I can relate to this.  I don't experience the "feedbag mode" that all the articles and pros' pitches about fall fishing talk about.  Bigger fish seem to get a little more predictable, and less scattered.

[papajoe222]

Are you limiting yourself to fishing around sunset? If so, you may be missing the best action. Although bass may feed mor often, or for longer periods, their activity level will still have peaks and valleys. I've noticed a big change in the location of fish in the water column in the past week. The majority of fish I'm catching now are in the top of the water column and last week the majority were in the lower reaches. The time of day has been a significant factor.

Just because the fish may be fattening up, does not mean catching them will become easier.

[WRB]

Take a few minutes and study The Cosmic Clock ( few pages back in this forum).

Fall is a transition period from summer to winter and for bass water temperature, not air temps, combined with shorter day light signals fall. Water temps (at the depth the bass are at) between 68-58 degrees changes where the bass locate. The bass are moving from summer locations to deeper water, they follow their food source as aquatic vegetation dies off or turn from green to brown.

Bass are moving deeper, not moving up shallower; fall down, spring up.

If you fish the same areas as pre spawn, the fall locations are similar.

Tom

PS, 55-40 is winter for bass.

[Raul]

So I remember reading that the fall time is one of the best times for bass fishing because the bass are looking to put weight on for winter and also come into the shallows to feed.

 

 

Fall/Autumn .....  must be one of them "Northern" things...... so I can´t contribute much to the conversation, we don´t have that down here.

 

Lemme think, fall ?  Oh yeah ! now I get it ! it´s when temps are no longer above 100° and drp to around the mid 80´s.

[Mainebass1984]

I love the fall bite. Big fish become somewhat predictable. The pattern changes and the most effective lures change as well. The average size goes way up, the number of 3 lbers caught goes up. The numbers can suffer if you aren't on fish.  Fall fishing surely is different then any other season. You can still have amazing days in the fall. The chances of trophy bass goes up. I would consider fall fishing in new England when the water temps get below 68 degrees. Lately the water temps I have been seeing in VT and ME has been 62-64 degrees. The bite slows down number wise once it hits 50 degrees. You got to fish real slow then and sometimes very deep 40 ft or so but the average size of fish is still very good. I have my best luck for huge bass in spring and fall. Lots of anglers fish in the spring. Once fall hits there is far less activity on the water. All the summer visitors are gone, some, fisherman have packed it up for the year, and a bunch of people are hunting. More often then not in the fall especially the late fall you have the whole lake to yourself which can only work to your benefit. I have found that in new England fall bass tend to congregate in specific areas. Once you find them it can be amazing. This is very true of Lake Champlain. Once your on a school of bass the amount of fish you can catch is incredible. If your limited to shore or in time then the fishing can seem difficult. Some of the best fishing is during the warmest ties of the day in the fall usually between 10-2. I am taking my vacations this fall. It is the best time of year in my opinion for trophy bass.

[WRB]

Fall/Autumn .....  must be one of them "Northern" things...... so I can´t contribute much to the conversation, we don´t have that down here.

 

Lemme think, fall ?  Oh yeah ! now I get it ! it´s when temps are no longer above 100° and drp to around the mid 80´s.

Your days get shorter and nights a little cooler south of the border, should be a slight seasonal change.

Tom

[Chris S]

So, what's going on? Where is this awesome fall bite?

Out in Kansas I start looking for the shad to be pushed up into the creeks and look for the bait fish and just match the hatch with a lipless or squarebill.

[tcbass]

Take a few minutes and study The Cosmic Clock ( few pages back in this forum).

Fall is a transition period from summer to winter and for bass water temperature, not air temps, combined with shorter day light signals fall. Water temps (at the depth the bass are at) between 68-58 degrees changes where the bass locate. The bass are moving from summer locations to deeper water, they follow their food source as aquatic vegetation dies off or turn from green to brown.

Bass are moving deeper, not moving up shallower; fall down, spring up.

If you fish the same areas as pre spawn, the fall locations are similar.

Tom

PS, 55-40 is winter for bass.

 

 

 

Great info, thanks!

 

Out in Kansas I start looking for the shad to be pushed up into the creeks and look for the bait fish and just match the hatch with a lipless or squarebill.

 

 

 

Way too weedy in this local lake for any type of crankbait. That's why we use topwaters and Senkos. 

 

 

 

Also, no shad in this lake.

[J Francho]

 

Also, no shad in this lake.

 

What's the forage base?  How big a lake?  What type of lake?

[Chris S]

What's the forage base?  How big a lake?  What type of lake?

or even where are you??

[roadwarrior]

or even where are you??

 

Minnesota

[Chris S]

Minnesota

in that case those weeds will be dead by next week guessing there is blue gil in there?

[J Francho]

Minnesota lakes have shad...  How do you know there NO SHAD in them?

[Swampstud]

Here in michigan were just coming out of our first cold front. It was about a week long. Before the water temp was 75-77, i was able to get out on day 5-6 of said cold front. Water dropped to 59-63. I nailed em up ender docks on a texas rig rage craw when it was warm. First day fishin in cold front i couldnt figure out much, 1 keeper n few dinks. Fished the next day with a jig and once again nailed em. They havent moved at all, i do actually find tho they move shallower until a certain point then retreat. Last year i cought a 5.5+ in 5ft of water/stump side of xmas tree in 43°water. im sure every lake fishes different in the fall. Good luck!

[tcbass]

What's the forage base?  How big a lake?  What type of lake?

 

 

I think mostly bluegill, bass, and crawdads. I've never heard or seen shad in this lake. It's in the Twin Cities, which is central MN. 1,268 acres with an avg depth of 8 feet and maximum of 37. Lots of big muskies in it. 

 

Don't know what type of lake it is.

[J Francho]

If there aren't shad, there's shiners in there.

[WRB]

I think mostly bluegill, bass, and crawdads. I've never heard or seen shad in this lake. It's in the Twin Cities, which is central MN. 1,268 acres with an avg depth of 8 feet and maximum of 37. Lots of big muskies in it.

Don't know what type of lake it is.

I think mostly bluegill, bass, and crawdads. I've never heard or seen shad in this lake. It's in the Twin Cities, which is central MN. 1,268 acres with an avg depth of 8 feet and maximum of 37. Lots of big muskies in it.

Don't know what type of lake it is.

Musky eat big baitfish like walleyes, perch, suckers, ciscoes and small bass. When bass are not the primary predator, they stay near cover as long s possible, so does their prey or they become part of the food chain.

I doubt that shad are in your lake as it freezes over for a few months each year, located in MN.

Sudden water temperature changes of 10 degrees have a major affect on bass, takes time to make those adjustments.

If the water temps stabilize before the lake freezes, you should be able to catch more bass.

Your lake is either a natural lake or a reservoir. Most MN natural lakes are aging, (mesotrophic) filling with silt and have heavy weed growth, the bass still must seek out the warmest water to survive....look for springs and rocky areas where the water is warmer and crawdads can hide.

Tom

[mjseverson24]

This time of year in MN is probably the best time for bass fishing... once you figure out the pattern it can be just incredible. that being said the patters at this time of year can be very odd especially during the turnover period. typically this time of year the north east corner of the lake will be the warmest and get the best sunlight, so the vegetation will stay healthier the longest (which will keep the baitfish around longer) also at this time of year in MN i notice that the steeper the breaklines and dropoffs hold more fish consistently than the more gradual sloping areas. I also seem to target lakes with cleaner clearer water at this time of year as the fish tend to be on the deep weed edges and since the weeds are depleated the fish zone is fairly small and concentrated. I approach this time of year with a combination of finesse, searchbaits, and powerfishing tactics depending on the pattern of the day. Crankbaits on the outside weededges in fall is a pattern that is as consistent as any, so if you are hiving trouble finding fish look for the healthiest weed edges you can find then grab your favorite crankbaits and locate the active fish, then slowing down with a jig/T-rig or a dropshot is a great way to catch tons of bass in the fall in MN. if you have dirty water and muskies maybe a squarebill in the shallows will work well as the bass are sometimes reluctant to go into the deep water for fear of the muskies. good luck in your search.

 

Mitch

[OperationEagle]

tcbass:  agree that the bite has been tough the past few weekends....I think it is the unstable and high pressure systems that have plagued us this fall.  I am hoping we will get some relief this weekend.  I try to watch what is coming across Montana on WED/THRS in prep for the weekend in MN. 

 

Last two weekends I predicted conditions would be tougher...beautiful days but not for the bite. From what I have been reading and my own experience, I predicted right.

 

Hang in there, I am keeping fingers crossed that this weekend will be more like the fall fishing we have been waiting for...any improvement would be welcome from my perspective!  Just makes it tough when the (open water) season is so short.  Next year I think C&R season starts a bit earlier which is great news.