Fall Bass Fishing:
The Season of Change
Summer is over! Well, not really, but with September comes changes. September is a transitional month! It is full of changing weather conditions and roaming bass. We still have the summer heat at times, but mostly it is about dropping temperatures, especially at night. And for us, that feels good.
With the temperatures dropping, the water temperatures start to drop slowly. And with cooler water temperatures bass begin to move and become even more active. But with moving bass, it becomes a little more difficult to find them. It can make us scratch our heads and question our thinking process. But don’t worry, it isn’t you. The main thing is to cover water. And let’s talk about my choice of baits for September.
Topwater
One way to cover water is with a topwater lure. For me, that means a walking bait mostly. I choose two lures for this. The first is a SPRO Walking Haint 110 or 125 to match the baitfish. While it covers water quickly, it can call fish up from a distance. It is also a great bait to throw when bass begin to chase baitfish to the surface.
My second choice is the old buzz bait. There is just something about it that will work at anytime. The drawing power is strong! This can be worked over submerged grass, laydowns, and around the edges of lily pads with ease. I prefer one with no skirt and a soft plastic that will provide a bigger profile and help keep it running on the surface.
Shallows
The shallows will become more active with baitfish and hungry bass. But you need to cover the water to find them. For me, a shallow running crankbait is a must. I choose a squarebilled crankbait for this. I like to either go bigger or smaller and when going smaller, I like the Fat John 50 for a smaller size to match the baitfish. It has an erratic hunting action while staying higher in the water column with a running depth of 0-2 feet. The Fat John 60 is also a great choice. It runs a little deeper, 1-3 feet, but still has that hunting action which will make fish to attack it. Both will cover those shallow areas quickly and are proven bass catchers.
When I want a bigger profile, I will go with the Fat Papa SB 70. It has a frantic hunting action, similar to a balsa bait. This also will allow you to work it in a little deeper water with it’s diving depth of 3-5 feet. You can work it in the stumps and through some of the thickest cover with ease.
Mid-Depth
Covering water is the key and to that, a jerkbait can be one of the most productive. There are two choices of jerkbaits, either a hard bodied or a soft jerkbait. A Zoom Super Fluke is a top choice for a soft jerkbait. Rigged on a small weighted swimbait hook , throw it shallow and work it out deeper. Work it kind of fast with a jerk, jerk, pause action to entice some big bites. For a hard bodied jerkbait, I like the SPRO McStick 110. And I work it in the same way.
Bottom
Now we are talking about that power fishing option that I love. And there are plenty of choices for baits, but let’s stick to my top picks. A jig can cover a lot of water quickly. If I want to work the shallows and laydowns, a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig is my choice rigged with either a Baby D Bomb or a Chunky D trailer. I can work a laydown slowly or work down the bank, dragging and hopping it along. I also like to work laydowns with a Missile Baits D Bomb or Chunky D Texas rigged. Especially on those sunny days when the bass may be seeking cover.
For those drop-offs into deeper water-like points, I like to use a 3/4 ounce Ike’s Flip Out Jig with a D Bomb for a faster fall and a Chunky D to slow the fall. The idea is to drag it down the drop and hop it at times to drag a big strike. And don’t overlook the living rubber skirts for some added appeal.
For those highly pressured waters, for clear water, and any time you are finding it difficult, a good choice is to switch to a Missile Baits Ike’s Micro Jig or Micro Football Jig. And I like a Missile Baits Micro D Bomb for a trailer. Fish this on 10-pound fluorocarbon, but instead of switching to a spinning rod, use a bait caster on a medium-action rod. You can drag it along the bottom and hop it at times. There is just something special about it!
Change to Win
September is a great month for many reasons! School is back in, the pleasure boaters are starting to dwindle and the weather is cooling off. The highs are generally in the 80s and lows in the 50s. And being out fishing becomes more pleasurable. But the fishing can be tough at times. But the rewards can be some of those big girls that have been hiding all summer. Change happens all the time, we just need to embrace it and change our thinking. Once you know the tricks to finding bigger bass, you just need to put them into action!