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C
overing water is synonymous with fall fishing.
While primetime feeding areas often remain the
same each year on your home body of water, finding these magical spots on other lakes and rivers are
frequently found by being curious. One of the best ways to
find active fish who are feeding up for the long winter ahead
is by using squarebill crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and
jerkbaits in areas that are new to you.
Let’s break down the best time for each bait and the
locations in which will yield greater results.
While I mention certain brands and manufacturers,
there are differences in the way some baits sound versus
another. Details such as rattles can make a huge difference
in getting bites. I like baits that have higher pitches
whenever the water is cooling and that’s how I generally
start each trip. Of course, if I’m not getting quality bites, I’ll
start to change color and sound options. In my experience,
changing the size of the presentation (squarebill vs jerkbait)
for example is most important. Then I look to details such as
color, sounds, and so forth.
1
SQUAREBILL CRANKBAITS
There’s something special about these baits that keep the fish coming back for more. The first couple of cold snaps
in fall are a green light for all types of fish in the system
to prepare for winter. Putting on weight is the
only goal in the beginning of fall. Many of the fish
will remain shallow, but you may notice more
aggressive strikes, multiple fish being hooked on
one bait, or an increase in size from those fish
you were catching in late summer.
LURE CHOICE: Things are changing and square bill crankbaits like the KVD 1.5 should be a mainstay on your deck. Color patterns aren’t that important.
TARGETS: I’ve found that targeting shallow wood and/or docks to still be the best location for these baits. I lose squarebill crankbaits so often that I don’t really change out the treble hooks any longer, but if you’re fishing a body of water that has limited cover, upgrading treble hooks will certainly help keep fish buttoned. My key depth is anything with wood in less than six- feet of water. Reel them fast and reel them often.
RETRIEVE/ACTION: Wobble is key in attracting the most aggressive fish in this stage. Movement is good, noise is better and that is why I think the color selection isn’t even that important.
2
LIPLESS CRANKBAITS
LURE CHOICE: Color choices with lipless baits aren’t as
important here either; but, I do tend to stick to perch and
crappie colors. White, yellows and black-back baits have
helped me catch a lot of memorable fish come fall. When
it comes to 1/2-ounce models, there are many brands and
paint schemes available. When fishing beyond 12-15 feet, I
like to go up to a 3/4-ounce to eliminate down time.
TARGETS: Lipless crankbaits are going to excel around vegetation this time of year. From ticking the tops of weedlines to fishing parallel to rocky banks, these lures can do many things well. Add in their excellent castability and it’s a win-win for
any situation involving wind and incoming storm
fronts.
I tend to use lipless crankbaits around
drop-offs, because of the
vegetation that grows just on
the top side of flats. A main
break can be a magnet for
bass that are schooling,
so increase your odds
by fishing these high
percentage areas
quickly with a lipless
crankbait.
RETRIEVE/ACTION:
My retrieve is usually
fairly steady; but, a quick
pause or two during the retrieve has worked well too. If those feeding fish are on a lipless crankbait bite, you’ll be able to duplicate the pattern around the lake; so, take note of key structure and cover.
3
JERKBAITS
One of the most addicting fall bites comes
Fall 2018
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