Fishing from the Bank in fall

[juicebass]

Waters have hit 45 and continue to drop daily.. 

At what point is it gonna be almost impossible to catch from the bank?

Im going to try and give it one last go this weekend, but I'm assuming it might be quiet, don't the fish typically move deep once it gets that cold?

thx

[everythingthatswims]

I've caught them from the bank in low 40s water that I took a temperature of.

 

Without a thermometer, I have caught bass when ice covered 75% of the pond.

[jr231]

It depends where you're fishing ? A little more info is needed. For instance, is it a pond ? Or a big lake ? If it's a pond you'll be able to catch em until the ice keeps you from fishing. (Unless you can go on the ice ) a big lake is different though. Maybe you can still catch a few at the mouth of creeks . And maybe come across a straggler. But for the most part probably SOL. 

[MediocreAngler]

I bank fish year round with pretty good luck but then again I am in Mississippi where we have 80 degree weather in December.

Most of my luck in the winter months comes on very slow presentations though dragging jigs fishing flukes in slow motion slow reeling swimbaits etc.

[geo g]

Fish don't stop feeding for long.  Even in ice out conditions they feed, as you can see from all the northern guys that ice fish.  So slow down with a confidence bait, and let the fish decide if its time to eat.

[WRB]

Water temperature totally controls cold blooded fish matabelism, cold water cold fish that don't need to eat very often. Water temps 55 to 65 isn't cold enough to slow down bass much, under 50 to 40 degrees they slow waaaay down.

Sinnerbaits that mimick large size bait fish are go to lures during the fall, followed by structure spoons, tail spins and your verity of soft plastics and jigs.

Tom

 

[CrustyMono]

On 10/28/2016 at 2:53 AM, everythingthatswims said:

I've caught them from the bank in low 40s water that I took a temperature of.

 

Without a thermometer, I have caught bass when ice covered 75% of the pond.

Same i caught a 3 pound smallmouth in december when 99% of the lake was covered. only a 1' by 10' area near the dam was open

[Bankbeater]

I fish the same baits that I use in the summer, only I slow them down. 

[Senko lover]

My favorite baits in general for fall fishing are a jig and a lipless crankbait. They seem to work really well this time of year especially.

[Colin312]

Swimjig with silver spinner blade and a pork trailer (jig strips) caught a couple smalls last week. It has definitely slowed down already, in the span of about 2 weeks here in  IL.