The Quest Continues ~

[A-Jay]

I think it’s safe to say that each of us have our ‘Favorite Season’ when it comes to bass fishing.  Whether we’re after numbers of fish or even bigger fish, there’s usually one time frame each year that we seem to do the best. 

There could be a few different reasons for it.  Perhaps it’s the climate, or the presentations & / or baits we throw most at that time.

Whatever the reason, whenever that specific time rolls around, our anticipation to most every trip we make gets ratcheted up at least a notch or two.

   I’m definitely stoked to get out on soft water in the spring after a long, hard winter and I’ve had some very special days on the water early season.  The results of pre-spawn speak for themselves.   Also, Summer nights on that water can & often do feel magic. 

However for me, right now, straight through the fall up and right until the lakes freeze over, is where it’s at.  I just seem to do better than any other time of the year.  The bass are totally eating – sometimes all day long.  So there’s a morning, afternoon and sunset bite; and there’s often even a decent night bite that fewer bassheads take advantage of.  Weather & the conditions become a factor eventually, but as long as I’m safe & can tolerate it – the tight lines can be abundant.  Needless to say, I make a concerted effort to be on the prime waters as often as I possibly can.

Last season I talked about ‘The Final Push’. 

How the local weather forecast, always a point of interest, goes next level this time of year.  Especially as the days & weeks on the calendar are crossed off.  One by one they fall to the wayside, did I get out or not ?  

All of this still applies and weather.com is once again my homepage.  

Considering all of the above, I started getting out ‘more’ (and looking shallower) earlier this season.  And by early, I mean a full 5 weeks before what the calendar calls the first day of autumn; 22 September. 

 Didn’t have the success I’d hoped for right away but two weeks into it, that all changed.  The results I’d been hoping for started coming.  Although I never know for sure if they’ll continue, but if history is any indicator, the best fishing may very well still be ahead. One thing is for certain, I’ll be doing most everything I can do to be wetting a line as much as possible until it’s over.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

A-Jay

[WRB]

We don't the Indian Summer northern regions have and lakes freezing only occur at high altitudes so the fall bite is a slow transition to colder water period and can be tough in SoCal. For me it's all about pre spawn the 2 months before bass go on beds and the summer night bite.

Tom

[The Bassman]

In central IN the post turnover period (usually early Nov.) can be real good if it's reasonably moderate.  We can have 70 degree weather and 30's real close together. It's my favorite time, too.  No bugs, little vegetation, little competition.  The bass can be quite aggressive. I love to fish moving baits especially lipless.

[BuzzHudson19c]

I share your enthusiasm. This is the time to be on the water. My river is looking at temps in the low to mid 60's and the smallies are getting revved up. Starting to catch them with chunky bellies and half digested minnows in their gullet. I took this week off from work to be able to fish everyday but I may have timed it wrong. It's getting good around here, but not quite peak yet. First week of October looks like it's going to be bananas.

[WCWV]

I couldn't be more in agreement. 

My most favorite and productive time is also fall.

I got out this past Friday and had the best day of the year, looking forward to my next trip.

[Columbia Craw]

I would venture a guess and say you will put a six plus in the boat before hard water A-Jay. I went out today and it was windy and cold and the first rain in almost three months.  The lake dropped 10 degrees from last week.  I still love this time of year the most.

[A-Jay]

On 9/17/2017 at 6:00 PM, Columbia Craw said:

I would venture a guess and say you will put a six plus in the boat before hard water A-Jay. I went out today and it was windy and cold and the first rain in almost three months.  The lake dropped 10 degrees from last week.  I still love this time of year the most.

@Columbia Craw ~ You were right  . . .

 

A-Jay

[toni63]

Night bite? Really? I kinda figured that was a dog days of summer thing.

[StrikePrince]

On 9/16/2017 at 5:13 PM, A-Jay said:

I think it’s safe to say that each of us have our ‘Favorite Season’ when it comes to bass fishing.  Whether we’re after numbers of fish or even bigger fish, there’s usually one time frame each year that we seem to do the best. 

There could be a few different reasons for it.  Perhaps it’s the climate, or the presentations & / or baits we throw most at that time.

Whatever the reason, whenever that specific time rolls around, our anticipation to most every trip we make gets ratcheted up at least a notch or two.

   I’m definitely stoked to get out on soft water in the spring after a long, hard winter and I’ve had some very special days on the water early season.  The results of pre-spawn speak for themselves.   Also, Summer nights on that water can & often do feel magic. 

However for me, right now, straight through the fall up and right until the lakes freeze over, is where it’s at.  I just seem to do better than any other time of the year.  The bass are totally eating – sometimes all day long.  So there’s a morning, afternoon and sunset bite; and there’s often even a decent night bite that fewer bassheads take advantage of.  Weather & the conditions become a factor eventually, but as long as I’m safe & can tolerate it – the tight lines can be abundant.  Needless to say, I make a concerted effort to be on the prime waters as often as I possibly can.

Last season I talked about ‘The Final Push’. 

How the local weather forecast, always a point of interest, goes next level this time of year.  Especially as the days & weeks on the calendar are crossed off.  One by one they fall to the wayside, did I get out or not ?  

All of this still applies and weather.com is once again my homepage.  

Considering all of the above, I started getting out ‘more’ (and looking shallower) earlier this season.  And by early, I mean a full 5 weeks before what the calendar calls the first day of autumn; 22 September. 

 Didn’t have the success I’d hoped for right away but two weeks into it, that all changed.  The results I’d been hoping for started coming.  Although I never know for sure if they’ll continue, but if history is any indicator, the best fishing may very well still be ahead. One thing is for certain, I’ll be doing most everything I can do to be wetting a line as much as possible until it’s over.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

A-Jay

I'm looking forward to fishing Fall hard for the first time and I'd like to ask you, what specifically are you watching for in the weather?

 

Where I live here we are getting a few days of consecutive rain for really the first time all summer, clearing up around the weekend when it will be sunny and around 70 degrees.  What does this mean for the Fall bite exactly?  I'm looking forward to getting out this weekend.  Thanks again.

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, StrikePrince said:

I'm looking forward to fishing Fall hard for the first time and I'd like to ask you, what specifically are you watching for in the weather?

 

Where I live here we are getting a few days of consecutive rain for really the first time all summer, clearing up around the weekend when it will be sunny and around 70 degrees.  What does this mean for the Fall bite exactly?  I'm looking forward to getting out this weekend.  Thanks again.

@StrikePrince

Where are you located ?  What I look for in Northern MI may be different for you depending on your Local - 

A-Jay

[StrikePrince]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

@StrikePrince

Where are you located ?  What I look for in Northern MI may be different for you depending on your Local - 

A-Jay

I'm in the PAcific Northwest, here is our 10 day forecast.

 

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/98502:4:US

 

Edit:  I guess it won't be sunny this weekend, but warmer, at least.

[WRB]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

@Columbia Craw ~ Good Guess . . 

7-4 from last week 

A-Jay

What a beautiful smallie A-Jay!

Tom

[A-Jay]

20 minutes ago, WRB said:

What a beautiful smallie A-Jay!

Tom

Thank You Tom ~ 

A-Jay

[Columbia Craw]

Did I say six????  I meant eight.  You are smokin' A-Jay.

 

Doug

[flyfisher]

I have yet to crack the fall fishing code around here but i seem to fall (pun intended) into some good fish in the late fall early winter.  Here in central VA it generally doesn't get super cold so hard water isn't an issue.  part of my issue is I tend to fish a bunch of different lakes and not really spending the time to learn all of them like I should.  I went out to a lake i used to fish a few years ago, very often, and realized why I used to like that lake so much.  I plan on fishing it hard this fall and winter and hope to crack some of the code of the lake and maybe, get into some green bass as large as the brown bass you are catching.

As always, great post and thanks for posting.

[gim]

I generally enjoy fall fishing more so than the sweltering summer because there's less competition and certainly less recreational traffic on the water.  I wouldn't say that the fishing is always better, however.  Lately, the falls have been HOT.  Our first frost is usually around now and last year we didn't have until mid November.  Now the forecast says 90 later this week again (gross).  I like fall for a lot of reasons - hunting season, cooler weather, football - and fall fishing is another reason.

[Oregon Native]

Still pretty warm here....but can hardly wait....LOVE....LOVE.....LOVE the fall and winters around here.  Fishing is soooo amazing.  In Oregon I had to resort to salmon/steelhead which wasn't all bad .... but full time chasing bass is amazing.  Good luck to you all and enjoy natures gifts.

[Mainebass1984]

On ‎9‎/‎18‎/‎2017 at 7:13 AM, A-Jay said:

@Columbia Craw ~ Good Guess . . 

7-4 from last week 

A-Jay

 

That is an amazing fish A-Jay. Congratulations ! Your hard work, dedication, and persistence surely have paid off.

 

 I agree 100 %. From now until ice-up is the time to catch some of the biggest bass of the year. Most guys I know put the fishing stuff away and hunt. I fish until the ice is too thick for my boat to break through it. Some of the best bass fishing of the year is now !

[roadwarrior]

The season for Tennessee River smallmouth really begins in mid October and runs through

mid March. This is Big Girl Time!

 

[SuperCorona]

Water temp in the Cooper River has been 75-76 the last 10 days so it's coming down slowly.  Went to Goose Creek Res on Wed for the first time since Irma and temp is still mid 80s.  I did have a decent day fishing nose-hooked trick worms and 4" senko t-rig around the edges of the pads.  My wife caught her first plastic worm bass!

[Catch 22]

I agree with AJay on the timing.Give me now til March 1st. Ya`ll can have the rest of it.Of course I fish salt most of the other times and start cross linking fresh and salt sometime. That's why I own so much tackle.I haven`t fished bass since March with the exception of a north trip when I broke the 6lb smallie mark. That was nice. Give me some cold wx and coveralls. Less people out. Maybe the nfl debacle,that may change ??