How to Catch Largemouth Bass in Fall
Largemouth bass are among the most commonly-sought game fish by American anglers. Prized for their aggressive strikes and tough-fought battles, these fish are relatively easy to find in spring and summer, but can be elusive to fall fishermen. But catching largemouth bass in fall is not always as difficult as it seems. Bass gather and feed during this season, and once you find then they will strike a variety of lures.
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Things You'll Need
- Fishing rod and reel
- Topographical lake map
- Minnow-imitating lures
- Warm clothing
Instructions
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Fall Bass Fishing
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Seek out coves with greenish water, which indicates the presence of plankton and may indicate the presence of baitfish and largemouth bass. Specific areas within the cove can hold more bass than others. Look for schools of bass around drop-offs, weed edges and other major pieces of cover, and focus on shallow cover near deep water. Individual bass or small groups may use docks, stumps or small, specific structures as ambush points.
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Cast lures that imitate baitfish. Cast big willowleaf spinnerbaits or soft plastic jerkbaits through weedy cover, or cast lipless crankbaits around rocks, stumps and deep weed-edges. Use an erratic, stop-and-go retrieve to imitate wounded baitfish, add twitches with the rod tip. Rig a rod with a topwater lure in case bass are feeding on the surface.
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Modify your fishing technique according to weather and water conditions. As waters dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, largemouth bass make greater use of steep drop-offs, which allow them to move from deep to shallow water without travelling far. Focus on these areas during the day and fish nearby shallow cover at sunrise and sunset. If bass are unwilling to strike the baits mentioned above, which may happen as temperatures recede into the 40s, switch to jigs and plastic worms. Slow your retrieve and fish close to cover.
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Tips & Warnings
Understand bass behavior. Largemouth bass in many waters become inactive in winter, which means they have to stock up on food during fall. Largemouth bass gather in schools and follow baitfish like shad at this time of the year.
"Turnover" occurs when cool, oxygenated water from the surface sinks and mixes with non-oxygenated water from below. Turnover usually takes place when surface waters reach about 50 degrees, and causes water throughout the lake to reach roughly the same temperature and oxygen level. Bass often scatter at this time and become difficult to find and catch, but as soon as conditions stabilize, largemouths start actively feeding again, and you can usually find them on steep drop-offs and nearby shallow cover, especially in bays and coves.
Be sure to get a fishing license before you go fishing, and check your state's bass season and daily limits.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit fall reflections image by Ray Carpenter from Fotolia.com
