This week we’re going to talk about fall bait selection. We’ll concentrate on four traditional baits that almost everyone thinks about when they start their fall bass fishing. Then, in Part 2, we’ll look at four nontraditional baits that I use when the bite gets a little tough or when my gut tells me the time is right for them.
I promise you that I’ll have all eight of these lures tied on when the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship starts next week. They’re that good, and I have that much confidence in them.
Before we talk specifics, though, let’s review two factors that matter when the leaves start to turn. The first one is that the fish are moving shallow. They do this because they are following the baitfish. Depending upon where you live this has already started or it will start pretty soon.
The second factor is the importance of matching the hatch. There are two aspects to this — size and color. Of the two, I’d say size is maybe a little more important but not by much. They both matter.
Spinnerbait
This is the one lure that everybody has in their tacklebox. Mix colors and blade size until you find what they think looks like the real thing.
There’s no one way, or best way, to fish a fall spinnerbait. Fish it slow, fish it fast and fish it somewhere in between. I usually start with a willowleaf model in chartreuse and white. I change things around if I don’t get the bites I think I should.
Crankbait
This is a great fall bait. You can get them in almost any size, color and running depth. Remember something about matching the hatch here, though. A lot of the baitfish are young-of-the-year models. They aren’t very big and very few of them have a potbelly. Keep that in mind when you pick a crankbait to throw.
Topwater
Other than in the summer, the fall is probably the best time of the year to throw a topwater plug. Nearly any design or style will work at one time or another. Poppers, walking sticks, buzzbaits and propbaits are all good. Switch around until you find something they like.
Make sure you match the size of your lure to the size of the baitfish. Size really matters when you’re fishing on top.
Jerkbait
This might be the best traditional fall bait of them all. I know some guys put them away once the water starts to cool because they say they don’t catch very many bass on them. That’s a mistake. Pick one with the right action and you’ll see what I mean.
“The right action” is defined as a lot of movement. I’m a Rapala man, as you know. I love the Husky Jerk when the water is 50 degrees or below. But when it’s in the 60 degree range or above the X-Rap is a much better bait. It has more movement. That’s what you want right now.
Read on to Part 2.
Mike Iaconelli’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website, MikeIaconelli.com.
