| Fall is one of the most challenging times to pattern bass because their movements often seem erratic compared to other seasons. As temperatures cool, baitfish and other forage move into shallower water where oxygen levels are higher, and bass instinctively follow. Despite being more visible and active, these fish can be extremely selective about when and where they bite. Many anglers make the mistake of assuming shallow bass are always aggressive, when in reality they often feed in short bursts between long inactive periods. To stay productive, it’s important to read environmental cues such as the wind, shade, and light penetrations that influence where bass hold. Understanding this seasonal shift is the foundation for targeting fish effectively during the unpredictable fall transition. As the days shorten, bass behavior becomes heavily dependent on temperature swings between night and day. Sudden cold fronts or extended periods of calm, sunny weather can completely alter feeding activity and positioning overnight. Bass will push shallow in the morning when baitfish are active and retreat deeper by midday as light increases. Paying attention to how quickly the surface cools or warms can reveal patterns that repeat over several days. Adapting to these changes instead of forcing one approach helps anglers stay in tune with the rhythm of fall bass movement.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. |
| In the fall, success often depends on finding small, high-percentage spots rather than covering entire stretches of shoreline. Bass group up on a smaller structure like a single stump, rock, or brush pile, which can reveal where they’re feeding. Once you identify a promising area, it’s better to slow down and thoroughly fish that target from multiple angles. Sometimes one or two casts will produce nothing, but a small change in presentation direction can make all the difference. This method helps pinpoint exact feeding zones and maximizes your chances at multiple bites from the same location. The key is to balance exploration with patience by moving quickly to find areas holding fish, then work it to trigger strikes once you locate them. Many anglers make the mistake of spending too long in unproductive water simply because it looks promising. Instead, focus on whether a stretch of bank or cover doesn’t produce within several casts, move on, and search for active fish. The fall season rewards those who can identify repeating patterns between locations, such as similar depth, structure type, or water clarity. Once that pattern becomes clear, it’s often possible to replicate success across multiple spots throughout the lake or river.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! |
| When bass get finicky in the fall, soft plastic baits like worms, craw-styled baits, beetles, lizards, or insect larvae excel at drawing reaction strikes. Their natural action and lifelike fall make them ideal for covering different types of structures such as rocks, docks, laydowns, and grass. A simple Texas-rigged soft plastic remains one of the most reliable options because it can be presented slowly and precisely in tight cover. The goal is to create a realistic movement that looks effortless yet tempting to inactive bass. Unlike fast-moving lures, soft plastics maintain their appeal in both clear and stained water conditions. Their versatility allows anglers to adapt seamlessly as fish transition between shallow, mid-depth, and deeper zones throughout the day. One of the biggest advantages of soft plastics is how customizable they are for different conditions. By adjusting weight size, hook style, or bait profile, you can easily fine-tune how quickly the bait falls and how much action it gives off. A lighter weight offers a slower fall for suspended fish, while a heavier setup can punch through dense cover to reach bottom-dwelling bass. Changing the tail or appendage design can also shift the bait’s vibration and silhouette to match local forage. Soft plastics can imitate nearly any prey item. They serve as a year-round confidence bait that consistently puts fish in the boat, especially during the unpredictable 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. |
| Fall bass can be sensitive to the angle at which a bait approaches their strike zone. After catching a fish from a piece of cover, try repositioning the boat and casting from a different direction to see if others will respond. Bass react to a bait’s entry or movement along a particular side of the structure rather than the bait itself. Making repeated casts to the same spot may seem repetitive, but it’s often the secret to coaxing additional bites. Adjusting line entry, retrieve speed, or fall rate can also alter how the bait behaves and appears to fish below. By treating each target like a puzzle and testing various presentations, anglers can uncover hidden fish that others overlook. Small differences in current direction or light angle influence how bass sit themselves around cover. Casting with or against the wind can change how naturally your soft plastic drifts and falls, making it more or less appealing. Sometimes, even a foot of difference in where your bait lands can trigger a strike that previous casts missed. The more you experiment with approach angles, the better you’ll understand how bass interact with their environment. Developing this attention to detail helps transform average fishing spots into consistent producers, especially during the unpredictable feeding patterns of fall.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! |
| During the fall, bass frequently travel in small groups known as wolfpacks that patrol shallow banks searching for forage. These fish are highly mobile but pause briefly on isolated cover, such as a single dock post, stump, or rock, especially when shade provides a break from bright conditions. Anglers who visualize these can anticipate where wolfpack bass are likely to hold. Presenting a soft plastic bait naturally in these spots can tempt quality fish that might otherwise cruise past without striking. Because these bass are often the biggest in the system, patience and precision become essential. Casting into shaded pockets and allowing the bait to sit motionless before subtle movements often produces the most rewarding results. When fishing for wolfpack bass, timing plays a major role in success. These groups often follow the movement of baitfish, so key windows like early morning, late afternoon, or overcast periods tend to trigger short feeding frenzies. Watching for surface disturbances, nervous bait, or flashes near cover can reveal when a wolfpack is nearby. Once they move through, it’s best to wait a few minutes and make repeated casts to the same area, as stragglers or returning fish may still strike. By reading the environment, anglers can intercept these roaming giants during their most active feeding windows and turn brief cast into memorable catches.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. |
| When bass transition from offshore areas back toward the shallows, many temporarily suspend along the outer limbs of deep laydowns or brush piles. These suspended fish can be difficult to reach with standard bottom-contact techniques. To effectively target them, let a soft plastic bait like a worm or craw slowly fall through the limbs and pause mid-depth. Small shakes or lifts can keep it in the strike zone longer, mimicking vulnerable prey moving between cover. The first few casts will reveal whether fish are positioned higher in the structure or closer to the bottom. Maintaining control and contact with your line during the descent helps detect smaller bites that occur while the bait is hovering near suspended bass. Because suspended bass can move vertically depending on light and temperature, it’s key to adjust your presentation depth throughout the day. Cloud cover or wind can push these fish slightly deeper, while bright, calm conditions often make them rise higher in the cover. Using a slower fall rate with lighter weights can increase the amount of time your bait spends in the strike zone, resulting in more bites. Once you hook one, it’s common for others in the same group to react, so be ready for follow-up casts immediately. Mastering this suspended presentation not only improves your fall results but also sharpens your ability to catch finicky bass.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. |
| Clear water is common in the fall, so matching the natural tones of the environment is crucial for fooling wary fish. Try to use Green pumpkin, watermelon, and translucent shad or craw shades to create realistic profiles that blend with the surroundings. Overcomplicating color selection or rig setup often does more harm than good because bass rely heavily on sight in these conditions. Keeping your bait choice simple allows you to focus on presentation and precision instead of constant lure changes. Fall bass are opportunistic and will strike a convincing imitation of any forage, whether that’s a crawfish, bluegill, or insect. By sticking with natural soft plastics and emphasizing realism, anglers can consistently convert hesitant followers into committed bites. The lighter presentation adjustments often make the biggest difference in clear water conditions. Slightly downsizing your bait or using lighter line can help create a more lifelike action that appeals to pressured fish. Controlled movements are usually more effective than aggressive twitches or hops because they appear less intrusive. Pay attention to how your bait looks in the water and make minor tweaks to achieve a natural fall rate and profile. When everything appears seamless, even the most cautious bass are far more likely to commit, proving that simplicity and precision often outperform complexity. 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. |