generated from the dam, and follow the shad to the tributaries. While some of these general rules apply, crankbait fishing and bass fishing, in general, can be completely different for us on the West Coast. i have applied lessons from fishing in the south and west, as well as through interviewing touring pros to develop an approach to fall crank- bait fishing.
Find the bAit And “Up A CReeK”
Shad are a major part of the diet for bass across the country, but the mass migration of shad to the backs of creeks is not as pronounced as it is in the rest of the country. all of the major articles mention the shad moving to the back of creeks, but what if you don’t have shad or a creek to go to? Where i live in the Northwest, we do not have shad, so instead i target areas that are likely to hold schools of baitfish like perch, small bass and even crawfish that tend to congregate on the remaining grasslines or on the first deep drop off of the bank. on many manmade and natural lakes in our region, the major tributaries are not the same as they are in the rest of the country, but the backwaters, sloughs and creeks will hold fish all summer and as it starts to cool those fish will begin to move to deeper water for the winter months. The first point or the start of deeper water adjacent to them is prime areas to catch fish as they funnel out towards the main lake. one added benefit is the fact that those same baitfish are exiting the areas and the bass are there to follow and
FOllOW the CURRent
There are very few power generated dams on the West Coast that produce current like the famed tennessee river lakes of the south, but the basic principle applies. instead of looking for current from the dams, i hope for wind and actively search for it. Windy conditions do the same thing as current originating from power operation; it stirs up the water and positions the baitfish. By looking for the wind and welcoming it, instead of hiding from it, i am able to find bass that are in the feeding mode. Windy days during the fall are a perfect time to throw a crankbait.
fall 2013
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