Late Season Bassin

Many anglers might argue that spring is a better season than fall for catching hefty bass. Trophy largemouth and livewell busting catches are common from March through May. However, the action is seldom consistent in spring. Weather fronts move in and out, causing bass to change location in a lake, pond, or stream almost daily. If you happen to be on the water at the right time, you'll load up. If you hit the water at the wrong time, however, it will turn out to be a long day. Fall is a different story. Weather changes are more gradual and predictable at this time than during spring and summer. Bass move into shallow feeding areas and stay there for longer periods, moving back to deep water where they've spent much of the summer only when winter's icy temperatures begin to threaten. The reason for the largemouth's migration to the shallows during the late season is to feed in order to build reserves for the meager winter months. As the water temperature cools below the bass' optimum temperature of 65 degrees, the fish feeds less frequently. During winter, then, when thick ice forms a ceiling over the bass' shadowy world, the fish feed infrequently and have no means of sustenance. Therefore, they need all the strength they can obtain from their fall feeding frenzy to get them through the winter. Bass could be found in virtually every area of a lake in fall after the cooling winds evenly distribute the water's dissolved oxygen. In summer, bass will seek out those sections of the lake's stratified water that afford the oxygen they need to survive. Wind action in the fall causes the lake to "turn over" and the oxygen levels are fairly consistent from top to bottom. However, even though bass can live in virtually any area of the lake, other factors cause them to inhabit zones that are easily predictable to the knowledgeable angler. Cover and the availability of a food source are two of the prime ingredients of hot fall bass action. In addition, an escape route to deep water must be nearby in the event of danger. When hunting bass in the fall, then, look for dense cover near deep water. Also, keep an eye peeled for baitfish moving in the area. Leaping shad are not jumping for joy. They are very likely escaping the ravenous jaws of feeding largemouth. In fact, finding bass in early fall can be dependent on locating shad. Some bass form loosely knit bands and follow schools of shad. You can frequently see these bass slashing through these shad schools as they gorge on the small baitfish in late summer and early fall. As autumn sets in, the shad move into shallow coves and the bass follow right behind. Next, an interesting phenomenon occurs. When the first cold front moves in, bringing with it a cold rain, the shad leave the coves in search of warmer water in the main body of the lake. For some unexplained reason, the bass remain in the coves and shallow waters bordering the main body of the lake. The preferred lures of the bass angler will be shad imitating crankbaits, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits or any of a host of lures. In fact, if you do not stock shad imitating lures among your arsenal of bass catching goodies, do not be concerned. The bass will be so aggressive and intent on filling their bellies, they will pay little attention to the size or color of your offerings. If it moves, they will attack it. Spinnerbaits or buzzbaits, those churning, topwater lures resembling a spinnerbait with a large propeller, will entice largemouth from dense cover. Cast these lures beyond bass holding brush, stumps or downed trees and work them back, causing them to bump the cover as you retrieve. Expect a jolting strike as the bass tries to take the lure away from you.

WEEDS ARE THE TICKET: Any form of cover will attract bass in the autumn months, but successful fall bassers have found that weeds are key in locating sizeable numbers of bass. Weeds decompose as the cooling water causes them to die. Suddenly, baitfish and other edibles which had used the weeds to hide from bass during the summer months, find themselves exposed. With no place to hide, the weed dwelling forage creatures find themselves the object of the bass' feeding forays. By exclusively fishing weedy cover, anglers can consistently catch numbers of bass from early autumn until winter forces them off the water. The bass concentrate their feeding efforts on the inside edges of weed beds in early autumn and progress to the deep weedline as they seek water consistent with their preferred 65-68 degree temperature range. When surface water temperatures fall below 50 degrees, the temperature at the deep weedline in 15 feet may still be in the high 50s. By plumbing the depths with bottom bumping plastic worms, jig-n-pig, or deep diving crankbaits, anglers can continue to catch bass until mid winter. Spinnerbaits are also effective for tempting cold water bass. Cast the bait parallel to the weedline, allow it to sink and slowly begin the retrieve. Move the spinnerbait over the bottom just fast enough to make the blade turn. Watch the line as you retrieve. When a fish takes the bait, you will see your line veer off to one side. You probably won't feel a vicious strike. Jigging spoons is another deadly method for taking autumn largemouth in cold water. Bass will often congregate in standing timber or around pilings where the water temperature drops into the 40s. Since the oxygen content of the lake is fairly consistent at every depth, the bass will not suspend in a tight group at one depth. Instead, they will stack up, one on top of the other, the entire length of the submerged tree. To work the jigging spoon, simply allow it to free fall next to a tree or piling directly beneath the rod about 10 feet. Raise the rod tip from the nine o'clock position to 12 o'clock in short jerking motions and allow the spoon to fall back toward the original depth. Expect a sharp "tic" as the lure falls. If you fail to elicit a strike after several attempts, allow the spoon to fall an additional five feet and repeat the procedure. Continue dropping the spoon at five foot increments until you get a strike and work progressively down the tree. Fall fishing can be one of angling's most satisfying experiences. Early fall can be the most productive time and provides fast paced sport for bass fishermen. Late autumn can separate the die hard bass angler from the hobbyist.