Crisp and Cool Mornings:
Finding the Fall October Bass
by Bruce Callis
The crisp morning air is spattered with the fog of the heat rising off the water. Ahead lies a beautiful oak tree that has only been in the water for two months. With the press of a thumb and a roll cast, the Missile Baits D Stroyer slices through the air, gently breaking the surface as it lands near the outside edge of the top branches. Slowly watching the fluorocarbon line as the baits wiggles down, the tentacles flapping through the tender branches until the slack comes into the line. With a slow turn of the handle, the spool engages and the slack is taken up, but just enough to allow the bait to rest quietly. With a slow lift of the rod, the line tightens and the bait hops as it crawls over the branches and then back to the bottom. Suddenly, the line snaps tight as it is picked up off the bottom, and the rod snaps back as the hook is driven into the lip of an unsuspecting bass.
And then the fight as it pulls back, making a run at the tree, trying to get itself unhooked. The pull, as it is slowly removed out to safety,y and then the sudden surge, busting the surface, rising skyward, the head shaking from side to side. And then the dive back down in an attempt to free itself. What every angler dreams of this time of year. The size we all hope for is huge, but we are happy to feel that thump and the tug. It is our drug of choice.
As the weather gets cooler at night, the bass become more active. They are chasing baitfish, and it is our desire to find them, especially those big bass. And it can happen on any cast. They are moving and are roaming from up dirt shallow to out, covering the flats and deeper drop-offs. It is a fun but difficult time that holds much promise.
To catch bass here as we enter into October, focus on structure and cover using lures like plastic worms or creature baits, jigs, spinnerbaits, topwater lures and crankbaits. During the day, use a worm or creature bait or a Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig in 1/4 to 3/8 ounce to fish around docks, submerged wood, and drop-offs. Rig the worms on a Texas rig, wacky worm, or Ned rig to target a variety of cover. Don’t forget about a drop shot, also. Jigs are very effective in a variety of situations, including around docks, submerged wood, and drop-offs. Rig them with a variety of trailers that will either help it drop fast or slow the fall.
I have always loved a spinnerbait, and I have caught plenty of big bass on them. They are a good lure for covering water,r also. On cloudy days or stained water, a Colorado blade will draw more bass in with its thump. For bright days or clear water, go with a willow leaf. And they are especially good on days with a breeze and a little chop on the water.
Crankbaits are a great tool to use, also. With the amazing choices we have today, you can cover from up shallow to out deeper. One of my favorites is the Fat John 60 by SPRO. It runs 1 to 3 feet which makes it great in the shallows. But don’t be afraid to run it in deeper water for those roaming bass. The Little John 50 runs a little deeper and also is a great choice.
Deeper-running crankbaits are useful for deeper water around offshore points and ledges, and for deflecting off underwater structure. One lure I love to use is a lipless crankbait. While everyone thinks about it out deeper, it can also be used up shallow. A multi-purpose bait that is great to throw into schooling bass as well.
Topwater Lures are great choices for the early morning and late evening hours when bass are more active in shallow water. They are also great to throw over schooling fish chasing baitfish to the surface. I love a good walking bait as it casts well and can cover a lot of water, but at the same time can be worked in place by a skilled angler. And a buzzbait is a great choice to cover water. Experiment with blade size and different color trailers to determine which is better.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different lures. Bass are opportunistic feeders, so don’t be afraid to try different baits and techniques until you find what works on a given day. The bass activity often increases around sunrise and sunset when the light conditions are low. Hit the shallows first as they usually hold an abundance of baitfish. Look for bass hitting the surface. Bass fishing can require patience; if you’re not catching fish right away, try different locations, lures, or techniques. Wear your life jacket, and have fun.