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I
t happens every year, we have changes of seasons
throughout the fishing calendar. These changes
affect many things in diverse ways and just because it is marked on the calendar that a season officially starts
on a certain date it does not always happen as indicated.
The best way to understand seasonal changes is to be on
the water and let the fish tell you what mode they are in.
Some of these changes may start without you even
noticing. You will need look at the current pattern and see
if that still holds true. One of the biggest changes that will
affect your fishing through the year is the summer to fall
transition.
Cooler nights indicate the approaching fall season as
the first sign to the bass that a change is soon to be on the
horizon. When we hit that mark how do you react to the fall
seasonal change?
Let’s cover a few fall staples when it comes to baits, and
how bass may react to these fall changes in your waters.
SEARCH BAITS – SPINNERBAITS & VIBRATING JIGS
I will put spinnerbait and vibrating jig in the same category to start as they are on the same level but can cover different depths when needed. When the bass are on the move you will sometimes have to cover water to make new contact with them as they change locations during seasonal changes.
Spinnerbaits can give the bass a few different looks as you adjust the size of the bait you are using and the blade configuration as well. By changing your blade makeup, you get better control of the depth that the spinnerbait can reach and your bait speed covering water.
When you need to fish your bait over cover grab a Colorado bladed spinnerbait. The Colorado blade has the most lift of all the blade options and will give you better depth control to help keep your bait in contact with the cover that you are fishing.
When you need depth and flash out of your spinnerbait fish a double- willow bladed bait.
Match your skirt and trailer colors to the forage that you are trying to imitate.
When it comes to vibrating jigs, because of the calling power of these baits, carry a few assorted sizes and play with the depths that you fish them at. Many anglers are just using them as a shallow-water search bait, but if you push the envelope a little and fish the ¾ to 1-oz baits, you can
cover deeper water with a bait that the bass only see on rare occasions.
At this point in the season, adjust your presentation speed. I have had days that they want the baits fished with a slow retrieve and others when they wanted a faster moving bait.
Let the bass tell you what they want that day when on the water.
BUZZBAITS
Bass will follow food sources towards shallower water to make a final stand before moving deeper again as fall continues to grab ahold. A buzzbait will allow you to cover water and get to participate in one of the best tactics in bass fishing.
Ask any bass fishermen what’s the top bite going, many will tell you that a topwater strike ranks number one in their book.
Who does not enjoy seeing a buzzbaits plowing its way across the surface only to see the water around the bait get flushed and the bait is gone a second later?
When fall temperatures get colder frogs will start to make their way back to water sources. When these fall air temperatures get extreme, water temperatures will still be warmer than the air giving frogs a haven in which to survive.
Bass key in on this fact and will be on the water’s edge waiting for frogs coming back to the water. Buzzbaits allow
you to cover water helping
Fall 2022
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