| As summer fades into early fall, the length of daylight becomes one of the first cues that bass respond to. Even when the water remains warm, the shorter days encourage fish to abandon deep summertime resting spots and roam in search of food. Anglers who wait for dramatic temperature drops may miss the beginning of this productive season. Paying close attention to sunrise and sunset can help you predict when bass will shift toward fall patterns. Once daylight noticeably decreases, start scouting transitional areas and preparing to change your approach. Adjusting early ensures you’re on fish before they scatter widely in cooler weather. Shortening days also trigger small biological changes in bass, increasing their feeding instincts as they prepare for the cooler months ahead. This makes early fall an ideal time to experiment with different soft plastics to find what they’re most willing to attack. Watching how shade lines shift during the day can also help you identify likely ambush points. Fish may position along weed edges or drop-offs where they can strike prey moving through new light patterns. Understanding how daylight shapes bass behavior allows anglers to stay one step ahead during the transition.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater, along with being made in the USA by real fishermen. We recently restocked the HellaMite Pro Pack, which is loaded with 60 baits in all six proven colors, plus three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs and a handy storage bag. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also restocked our Green Pumpkin and Smoke Purple HellaMite. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility. |
| During the transition into early fall, bass tend to favor two main zones, including open-lake structures and the backs of feeder creeks. In the main lake, the bass often suspend near bait schools along long points, humps, and contour breaks. These areas give bass both feeding opportunities and quick access to deep or shallow water as the conditions change. Meanwhile, shallow water in creeks can become hot spots when baitfish bunch up in one to four feet of stained water. Exploring these creek arms helps you intercept bass feeding aggressively on smaller prey. Switching between these two environments keeps you close to where fish naturally stage and feed. Pay attention to the timing of bass movement between these zones, as fish often shift locations based on wind direction or cloud cover. A light breeze funneling into a creek arm can draw baitfish shallow, pulling predators with them. On calm, bright days, bass may favor deeper breaks where they can hover just below the bait. Carry a mix of soft plastics from lizards, beetles, and worms, so you can adapt to whether bass are holding deep or cruising in the shallows. Reading these clues and rotating between lake structures and creek pockets will help you stay in step with active fish.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, and the Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action that triggers strikes! |
| How deep bass position themselves is closely tied to water clarity during early fall. Clear water lets sunlight penetrate farther, which draws baitfish and predators into deeper zones. In murkier water, bait often stays shallower, creating easier targets near the surface. Successful anglers assess clarity before deciding how deep to search for fish. Start by noting how far below the surface you can see your lure or line. Then target suspended bass at depths that match visibility, keeping presentations in the same layer where prey is holding. A good rule of thumb is to begin your search at the depth where you lose sight of your bait and work slightly above and below that level. Soft plastics such as craw-styled baits, worms, beetles, lizards, or even insect larvae can be rigged to reach different depths while maintaining a natural look. When the water clarity changes after rain or high winds, it’s important to adjust your strategy to follow where baitfish relocate quickly. The bass may slide up or down the water column within hours, so staying alert to new conditions is crucial. Learning how light penetration shapes feeding zones gives you a clear edge when targeting bass during the early fall transition.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater. |
| Bass activity in early fall revolves almost entirely around finding and following forage. Without shad, minnows, or other small prey nearby, most ambush predators simply won’t linger. That means your first task is always to confirm the presence of bait before you start casting. Look for flickering schools near the surface, small dimples in calm water, or birds hovering above. Electronics can also help reveal groups of fish hugging structure or drifting through open water. By prioritizing areas rich in bait, you naturally put yourself where bass are most willing to bite. Spend extra time scanning likely feeding lanes before making your first presentation to avoid wasting casts in empty water. Wind can push forage into pockets, coves, or along rocky banks, concentrating the food source and drawing bass close. When you find these zones, experiment with a variety of different soft plastics to match the size and action of the prey bass are feeding on. Anglers should keep moving if signs of life disappear, as baitfish are constantly shifting to find the best conditions. Staying alert to the small clues that reveal forage movement is often the difference between a slow day and steady action.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round! |
| Because forage moves constantly this time of year, bass rarely stay in one location for long. Anglers should plan to cover large stretches of water instead of waiting on a single spot to produce. Casting along points, crossing humps, and working shallow creek flats are all good strategies for locating roaming schools. Keep your eyes open for surface activity or bait flickers that reveal where the action is happening. When you find a cluster of feeding fish, stay mobile and follow them rather than anchoring down. This willingness to move keeps you aligned with the shifting habits of bass in early fall. A trolling motor or slow drift can help you stay on top of these roaming schools without spooking them. Vary your casts with soft plastics such as lizards or worms to quickly gauge which profile gets the fastest response. Pay attention to how wind direction or cloud cover might influence where baitfish collect, as these factors can change feeding lanes within minutes. Mark productive spots on a GPS or mental map so you can circle back if fish return later in the day. Treating the lake as a series of constantly shifting zones helps you maximize opportunities as bass chase forage across wide areas.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red Worms have been restocked as well. You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out, along with some of our newest colors, including the Brown Worm, Electric Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also Restocked 6-inch Worms, including Watermelon Red, Green Pumpkin, Black & Blue, Fire TGR, Wild Berries, Bone, 10w30 Synthetic, Zombie Blood, and Chocolate MNT! — all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater. |
| Lures that can mimic darting prey excel in the fall transition, and soft plastics offer versatile choices. Lizards, insect larvae, craw-styled baits, beetles, and worms rigged for quick retrieves can trigger reaction bites. Their small movements and lifelike profiles resemble the prey that the bass are chasing during this season. Experiment with speeds, starting with an energetic retrieve, then vary cadence until you learn how fish want the bait presented. Early fall bass are often aggressive, but they can also become selective when conditions shift. Keeping presentations lively and natural helps you connect with more fish as they pursue forage. Pay attention to water temperature and clarity, as these factors influence how quickly bass respond to a moving bait. In clearer water, a faster retrieve can imitate fleeing prey, while slightly slower speeds may be more effective in stained conditions. Try casting past visible schools of bait and pulling your lure through the edge of the activity zone to trigger strikes from nearby predators. Switching colors or profiles can also help you match the size and look of whatever forage bass are targeting. The more you fine-tune movement, speed, and appearance, the better your odds of drawing consistent strikes during the early fall transition.Introducing the Newest 8-Inch MagDingo Worms! These are the ultimate game-changer in bass fishing! Engineered for anglers who know SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a fixation for the larger bait. The MagDingo Worm boasts a solid 8-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. The 10-count packs are now available in a variety of 6 crucial colors, including the 10w30 Synthetic, Black & Blue, Zombie Blood, Green Pumpkin, Wild Cherry, and Watermelon Red. Each worm is made in the USA from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for maximum attraction, the 8-inch MagDingo Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing trophy-sized smallmouth and largemouth bass. |
| Flexibility is essential once bass begin transitioning toward fall patterns. Their feeding behavior can change daily depending on wind, cloud cover, and where baitfish roam. A tactic that works well in the morning may fade by midday, requiring a fresh approach. Keep several soft plastic setups handy so you can switch between lizards, worms, or beetle profiles without losing time. Watch how fish respond, and don’t hesitate to adjust depth, retrieve, or even the size of your offering. The anglers who adapt most readily tend to capitalize on the unpredictable nature of early fall bass. Pay close attention to small environmental cues, such as shifting shadows, falling barometric pressure, or an uptick in breeze, as these often trigger changes in feeding mood. If the bass suddenly stops biting, try repositioning to nearby cover or exploring slightly different depths where bait may have moved. Rotating through a variety of soft plastics such as cray-styled baits or insect larvae, can reveal which profile best matches the day’s forage. Staying patient yet responsive helps you recognize new opportunities instead of waiting for fish to return to an old pattern. Success hinges on observing, experimenting, and making adjustments as conditions evolve.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. Owner Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! The WEEDLESS Block Head Jig features high-quality construction that helps increase your hook-up ratios and keep your bait clean from snagging rocks or vegetation. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you precious time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next adventure. |