favorite fall set up?

[Rebel Angler]

Just was wondering what everybody's favorite fall set up is?

Such as where on the lake you prefer to fish, what type of approach, lure selection, etc.

thanks!

[BASSclary]

If there are any, I prefer shallow creek arms.

[5bass]

I fish where the shad are with something that looks like and imitates a shad and I'll also have something that looks like and imitates a shad rigged up to throw at schooling fish.

[roadwarrior]

Just hoping for rain and current to make the brown fish happy.

Hoping the green fish get out of the way!

:

[jazzy0017]

i would have to agree with everyone on finding the shad and definitely a spinnerbait or lipless crankbait is mine!!

[Sam]

Rebel, living in North Carolina makes fall fishing different from living up north as winter will arrive later; be shorter; and leave earlier.

So with that said, here are a few tips for fishing in the fall.

1.  A Carolina rig over rocks.

2.  Drop shot.

3.  Wacky Senkos.

4.  Shaky Heads.

5.  Rat-L-Traps.

6.  Jigs and Pigs.

7.  Texas Rigged Plastics, especially the Baby Brush Hog.

8.  Topwaters, such as poppers and buzzbaits.

9.  #5 or #7 Shad Raps in Silver with Black Back.

10.  Sexy Shad Crankbaits, and start shallow and keep going deeper until you find what they want.

In other words, try everything to see what the bass want and hit the docks, piers, backs of creeks, points, wood, grass, humps, holes, riprap, rocks, stumps, roadbeds, etc.

Of course, if you can find shad in the creeks throw a crankbait, Shad Rap, Rat-L-Trap or a plastic so that it falls through the shad and looks like an injured shad falling to the bottom.

It is imperative that you check the water temperatures every where you fish. On Lake Anna in Virginia, the water temperature was 81* this past Friday. So when I go back next Friday to prefish for a tournament I will check the temperature to see if the temperatures are holding or falling.

Water clarity is also important. Check for clean water in the fall. If the lake starts to turn over you will have a lot of debris and muck floating in the water making fishing difficult.

Remember, as the water temperature cools the bass become active as they feed for the winter.  They will hit a lot of presentations depending on their appetite and the ease of striking your bait.

I wish there was a simple and fool proof formula for fall, winter, spring and summer bass fishing but there is none. What works today may not work tomorrow and that is why you have to constantly test the waters with different baits, colors and techniques.

So go out and set your goal to find out what the bass want to eat and how they want it presented and you will have a lot of fun.

Let us know how you do. 

[FD.]

In Florida it is TOAD season.

[MMan16]

Cranks,Flukes,Jigs, and this year i'm gonna try a soft plastic swimbait. If the lake has boulders or something that collects and holds heat i'll hit that first.

[NateFollmer]

Two words: suspending jerkbaits

The closer it gets to winter, the slower they go!

[flippin and pitchin]

Spook the flats and points baby.  Then get the crankbait rod out.  Love the fall.

[K_Mac]

I love the fall. 8-) Fishing gets easier as fish start to prepare for winter. I fished this past Fri, Sat and Sun and had a typical fall trip. I caught fish on everything I threw: T-rigged plastics, jigs, shakeyheads, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, grubs, Bandit 100 CBs, and wacky rigged Stick-os. All of my fish (5) over 18" came on the wacky rig. Lots of stuff will work, but if I had to pick one thing in the fall it would be a wacky rig.

More important than what was where, as it always is. I caught fish this trip at depths from 2-12 feet. The common element was grass close to deep water (15' or greater). Find grass and rock close to deep water and you could almost call your shot. Did I mention I love fall fishing?

[bandsr4me20]

10-20 mph wind blowing into a pocket with shad flipping and bass chasing them.

[Sam]

Where?

Back of creeks.

Follow baitfish.

Riprap.

Piers and Docks on sunny days.

Approach?Quietly with trolling motor.

Start with RICOs or Cavitrons in AM.

May throw a Chugbug or Spook.

Follow with Chatterbait.

Then with chrome and blue or black back Rat-L-Traps to locate the fish.

Crankbaits.

Use Senkos, wacky and shaky head presentations on wood, piers, docks, boathouses, etc.

The bass will tell you what they want and where they are.

Baits?

RICO or Cavitron in AM.

Maybe a Chugbug.

Chatterbait.

Rat-L-Trap type lures to locate the bass.

Spinnerbaits.

Crankbaits.

Wacky Rigs

Shaky Heads

Drop Shot

Just keep trying until you locate where the bass are that day and then what baits they want. 

[basskatcher()]

3/4 oz shad colored Rat-L-Trap, trolling for stripers!

[jamarkwe]

Put the Bass gear away and bust out the Perch gear...

[The Bassinator]

I'm surprised more people haven't said hard jerkbaits like a pointer or a floating rapala

[oteymc]

Good post, keep it going.

[Rebel Angler]

thanks for all the info guys, especially Sam!

helped a ton man

[Northern Strain]

Just hoping for rain and current to make the brown fish happy.

x2 The river is all dried up.

[JDK.]

rattletrap, fluke, spinnerbait, pop r, jerkbait in no particular order

[WanderLust]

I'm surprised more people haven't said hard jerkbaits like a pointer or a floating rapala

LC Pointer has been absolutely deadly for me. 78 in Ghost Minnow and Ghost Blue Gill.

5" worms, tubes, IKAs and Rage Craws still producing as well though.

I did add a tray of lipless to me backpack last night though. As fall goes, when all else fails.... Throw a trap.

[Dam Yankee]

Stanley ribbit over and in grass and lily pads. Also a rage tail shad. Also a spook over submerged grass and out on the deeper edges. A C-rig with a fluke. A trap. And a swim senko with a 1/4 bullet weight. Jerk it up...let it fall..reel slowly for a few cranks and repeat.