6 Ways To Catch Fall Bass

Summer is fun, but sometimes the sweltering heat can take the fun out of a fishing trip. Luckily, fall bass fishing is a killer time to reel in big fish. Bass are on the move, the weather is getting cooler, and conditions are ripe for your next personal best. That said, there’s a few things you can do to maximize your time on the water.

Keep Changing Depth

Picking the right depth is more critical during fall than ever. Baitfish will be moving towards inland creeks, and bass will instinctively follow them in. But that’s not to say some big fish won’t stay behind in deeper water. It’s not uncommon to see bass staging on ledges and dropoffs just in front of those same creeks. Even if you’re getting strikes in 5-15 feet of water, don’t be afraid to go as deep as 30+ feet.

 Jig It Up

Fall bass tend to have a change in diet, come the fall - often times they’ll start feeding heavily on things like crawfish. To capitalize this, work a jig - and throw on a soft plastic trailer. Use natural colors like brown, purple, and green. Use a split tailed trailer, or something similar that will displace the water and have nice action. A slow rising and falling retrieve works best - pull the bait a couple feet up off the bottom, and let it slowly fall back down. Bass will usually nail it on the fall.

 Go Topwater

It’s almost impossible not to see fish smacking the surface in the fall. Walking baits or poppers can be massively effective when bass are boiling, and feeding heavily. Look for shallow water, and schools of baitfish just below the surface - these are guarantees of good topwater conditions. Work it quickly and erratically, while still giving the fish a chance to strike. Throw it long - the further you cast, the better chance you have at fish. Don’t be afraid to reel it in halfway into your retrieve, and cast back out.