October 31, 2018 by Cody Kelley
Springtime is known by everyone as the best time of year to go catch tons of bass with the potential of catching some lunkers. Fall, however, is a slightly different story.
Most people agree that the fall time of year is a very tough time to catch bass. The good news is that you can still catch tons of fish and have a great time out on the water by simply changing your lure selection.
Try out my three favorite fall baits next time you find yourself fishing for late-season bass.
1. Lipless Crankbait
The lipless crankbait is probably one of the most popular baits for fishing during the fall, and for good reason. Most people refer to any lipless crankbait as a “Rat-L-Trap,” which is the original lipless bait made by Bill Lewis, but many different companies make great lipless options. The great thing about these baits is their ability to cover water. This time of year is when you want to put as many casts out there as possible. I prefer lipless crankbaits in the 1/4-ounce size to match the smaller shad that you will normally see in the fall. My color will always be something to resemble a shad or baitfish. The very popular “sexy shad” pattern is always a good choice. Simply cast this bait out into the shallows and reel it in on a steady retrieve.
2. Spinnerbait
I normally pick up a spinnerbait when I want to fish around slightly heavier cover. The lipless crankbaits are great, but their treble hooks can cause a few headaches when fishing around laydowns, lily pads and other shallow cover. The beauty of a spinnerbait is how well it resembles a small school of tiny baitfish, which is exactly what the bass are looking to eat this time of year. I prefer spinnerbaits with small willow-leaf blades in the fall and look for a bait that is 1/4 to 3/8 ounce in weight with a white or silver skirt. Throw this bait anywhere in shallow water that has cover. Use a spinnerbait to fish right through the middle of stumps, laydowns and grass. Don’t be afraid to give the rod a hop or bump occasionally to make the bait pop and change directions.
3. Micro-cranks
Everyone loves to throw crankbaits. There are so many different types that, typically, at least one version will be working year round. For fall fishing I set my sights on what I call “micro-cranks.” These tiny crankbaits really don’t look like much, but can trick even the largest bass. It’s important to remember that the bass are eating tiny baitfish in the fall, so it is our job to match the hatch. In order to do that, I really like to throw 1-inch crankbaits in varying shad pattern. Years ago we were forced to use crappie crankbaits and switch out the hooks, but Strike King is now making some cool 1-inch crankbaits. Throw these lightweight offerings around stumps, sticks and rocks in shallow areas. Don’t forget to do your best to run the bait into different objects to trigger strikes. A long cast with a medium retrieve should help get a nice bass on the end of your line.
I hope these baits help you catch a few more fish this coming fall. Remember to think small for big fish!
Tags: fall fishing buzzbait shallow fishing feed bag baitfish cody-kelley fishing-tips-advanced
