Get your might bite lures ready:Fall bass fishing heats up as weather cools

Fall bass fishing heats up as weather cools

As the season changes get your mighty bite lures ready for some bass fishing. reported today from reporternews your abeline online

t’s time to dance a jig.

The final week of October has most of us who enjoy outdoor pursuits antsy for the first Saturday of next month, which will provide the first chance to treat a lingering case of buck fever. However, don’t overlook the scaly potential swimming around in our state’s lakes and reservoirs, specifically largemouth and smallmouth bass.

October is prime time for many bass die-hards, and it’s easy to see why. Boat traffic is almost nonexistent on most good waters and this transitional month holds great potential for finding lots of hungry fish in a variety of ways. Because most forage has been somewhat pared down from the spring and summer, hungry bass are apt to take a number of lures mimicking bait fish and other big food sources such as bluegills or crawfish in preparation of colder weather.

The No. 1 lure in the fall angler’s tackle box long has been the spinner bait, which can be fished in a number of ways. Most bodies of water aren’t as clear right now as they are during the summer, but that still won’t deter bass from schooling up in search of bait fish such as shad, and even in cloudy water the fish often will come up relatively shallow. This is where the fluttering action of a spinner bait comes perfectly into play, and instead of zipping the lure back like you would do in clear water, you should vary your retrieves, jerking and darting the lure every so often to resemble a wounded bait fish.

The spinner bait also is a great choice right now because it can be fished easily throughout the water column, including near the bottom when bass are staging somewhat deeper. In fact, you should look for areas with lots of cover and vegetation, and then target humps, ridges and drop-offs nearby, especially on cloudy days or if the wind picks up causing large disturbances on the surface.

Other baits to include in your arsenal when you’re tempting bass with what appears to be a wounded food source are jerkbaits and swimming jigs. They also can be used in a number of ways, and some of the most fun I’ve had bass fishing has come around docks and other structure this time of year with jerkbaits. The key to finding consistency often is giving the lure enough action so that bass will find it irresistible but also not pausing too long. Most days you’ll have to experiment with what the bass want, but when you find the right mix it can be downright amazing.

One thing to consider when using larger baits is how well a fish is hooked. With a lizard or other creature bait, bass often will gulp it down and you can really put a lot of pressure on them. However, if you’re using a lure with multiple trebles it can mean that a fish may not be hooked that well. If you put too much force on a fish that’s not hooked deep, it doesn’t take long to lose it.

One lure that many anglers often overlook in the fall are topwater baits, including buzzbaits, but some of the best fishing on top occurs this time of year, especially with aggressive fish. The easiest time to switch to a topwater is if you see birds feeding near the surface or even better, when you actually see shad or other bait fish busting on top, and on many good bass lakes you often will find stripers or hybrids near this kind of activity, too.

When it comes to smallies, fall is a great time to find lots of aggressive fish, especially around rocky areas and other locales such as back creek channels and coves. The No. 1 bait choice is anything resembling a crawfish, including crankbaits or sassy shads, and Carolina-rigged baits bounced near the bottom can be the ticket to finding smallmouths whether there’s bait fish around or not.

If you happen to find yourself a lucky angler catching a true lunker, don’t forget about the Toyota ShareLunker program, which is in its 25th year and runs through April 30. The program accepts largemouths 13 pounds or larger to use in a selective breeding program at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. For more on the program, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker.

 

Will Leschper is an award-winning member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Texas Outdoor Writers Association. Visit www.examiner.com/x-4397-Dallas-Hunting-and-Fishing-Examiner for more hunting and fishing news.