Staying On Top of Fall Fishing
As the heat of summer fades and the crisp mornings of fall roll in, bass anglers know it’s prime time for explosive topwater action. Fall is one of the most exciting times of the year to fish topwater lures for bass, as shad and other baitfish begin to migrate into creeks, shallows, and transition areas. With the lakes turning over and shad beginning to bunch up by the thousands, bass take advantage and use this time to feed up for the winter. Fall fishing is famous for “junk fishing” but I believe a topwater is the single most effective way to catch bass in the fall of the year.
When you’re trying to locate fish in the fall, speed matters. This is where buzzbaits and ploppers shine. These lures allow you to cover large stretches of shoreline, flats, and creek arms quickly, triggering reaction strikes from active bass that are hunting baitfish. Buzzbaits are especially effective in stained water or low-light conditions. The squeaking blade throws off vibration and noise, which can call bass from a distance. They excel around shallow wood, grass edges, and even open banks when bait is present. On the highland reservoirs around the south, fishing buzzbaits around shade lines and seawalls can be especially effective. Ploppers offer a more aggressive profile with their distinctive gurgling sound. They’re great for both open water and target casting around isolated cover. Retrieve speed can be adjusted to dial in what the fish want—sometimes a steady, medium retrieve is all it takes, while other times a fast, erratic retrieve will generate more strikes.
Once you’ve found fish near structures like laydowns, docks, rocky points, or shallow brush, walking baits become the go-to option. You can keep the bait in the strike zone longer and allow the fish to pull off the structure they are hanging on to attack your lure. This precision makes walking baits ideal when bass are holding tight to cover and won’t chase a fast-moving lure. They excel on calm days, particularly when the water is clear and the fish can inspect the bait. Match the hatch with smaller, more natural colors when conditions are tough, or go bigger and bolder in low light or choppy water.
One of the most overlooked fall patterns is throwing topwater lures over deep, clear water, especially where submerged brush piles or standing timber are present.This pattern works especially well during calm, sunny days when bass position high in the water column, or early in the morning when bait is near the surface. Smaller motionless baits are becoming super popular in clear water as well. These baits mimic a fleeing shad and cause a slight ripple underneath the surface. The berkley “krej”, jackall “riser”, and deps “wagasaki” baits are good options for this technique. They are some of the best options when schooling fish are present or the fish are extremely picky.
Fall fishing is all about staying on the move and fishing for active fish. There are fish feeding somewhere on the lake and it is up to you to find them. Topwaters are my favorite way to catch fish and this is the time of year to throw them!