Late Summer/early Fall Largemouths

[BassAddict'18]

What are your preferred baits of choice and techniques for late summer and early fall largemouth fishing? Any tips for a co-angler with his first tournament of the fall coming up in mid September? Thanks!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

What part of the country? Reservoir, lake or River?

[BassAddict'18]

What part of the country? Reservoir, lake or River?

North Carolina Piedmont region. The formal announcement has not been made but i am almost positive its going to be Falls Lake.

[roadwarrior]

Rage Blade/ Rage Structure Bug trailer (white in white)

 

Z-Man Project Z Chatterbait/ Rage Tail Cut-R trailer (Houdini/ green pumpkin w/ red flakes)

 

 

 

[BassAddict'18]

Rage Blade/ Rage Structure Bug trailer (white in white)

 

Z-Man Project Z Chatterbait/ Rage Tail Cut-R trailer (Houdini/ green pumpkin w/ red flakes)

 

 

 

I hadn't thought about using a chatterbait, that is a great idea 

[everythingthatswims]

Just try to throw something at least a little different than the guy in the front of the boat. I fished a fun tournament as a co angler, my boater was throwing a spinnerbait with willow blades and I was throwing one with Indiana blades, same color, same retrieve, same weight, same brand. I caught a lot more fish than he did, but since it was a team event (5 fish between the two of us) he stuck to the willow blade spinnerbait since he said it would be useless to be presenting two identical lures. "If there's a 5 pounder that wants willow blades, we will get him, and if theres one that wants indiana blades, we will get him too"

[scaleface]

I use the same lures then as I do the rest of the year.   Match the lures to the conditions .

[Basspro3106]

Rapala DT in perch color. 

[ww2farmer]

That's transition time around here. Not quite still doing the things they have been all summer, and not on the fall stuff yet.... Best advice... Junk fish.

[Scorchx1245]

September I find them thick in the weeds and early October I find them shallow. In NYS.

[BassAddict'18]

Just try to throw something at least a little different than the guy in the front of the boat. I fished a fun tournament as a co angler, my boater was throwing a spinnerbait with willow blades and I was throwing one with Indiana blades, same color, same retrieve, same weight, same brand. I caught a lot more fish than he did, but since it was a team event (5 fish between the two of us) he stuck to the willow blade spinnerbait since he said it would be useless to be presenting two identical lures. "If there's a 5 pounder that wants willow blades, we will get him, and if theres one that wants indiana blades, we will get him too"

I have heard that before about always trying to throw something different than the guy in the front of the boat. That's great advice and I will have to keep that in mind when I see what he's going to be doing.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Its a very confusing time of the year because as has already been said, they aren't fully doing their fall stuff yet but at the same time they aren't still fully doing their summertime stuff which leaves for a lot of figuring out to be done.

[HoosierHawgs]

Spinnerbait and Squarebill. Those are my main as the fish start to transition to following the bait up shallow.

[papajoe222]

I'd start out with moving baits, cranks and spinnerbaits as the fish may be making a seasonal move by then. A swim jig would give you the option of slowing down if the need arises.

I would attempt to get together with your boater before hand.  It's useless to put together a game plan only to find out that the guy up front has a completely different idea.  If it's a draw tournament, you're just going to need to be versatile. Also, don't assume that because the event is in Sept. that summer patterns won't work.  Just as in the spring, not all fish will start their seasonal movements at the same time.  Keep an open mind and don't be afraid to open your mouth and make a suggestion or two to the boater, especially if neither of you are catching anything. Good luck and have fun.