Fall 2023
®
F
all time smallmouth bass fishing can be some
of the most exciting fishing that bass fisherman
can partake in across the country. As the days get shorter, and water temperatures drop, smallmouth will
begin putting on that fall feedbag for the approaching cold
weather.
One of the best ways to target these ferociously
feeding fall smallmouth is with topwater plugs. Not only is
a smallmouth exploding on a topwater bait an exciting and
fun way to fish for bass, but it is often the most effective
way to cover water.
PRIME WATER TEMPS
Smallmouth likely have been hitting on topwater all summer long, however in the warm weather that often occurs only during their short feeding windows, or during the low light hours of the day. Once fall rolls around, this topwater bite can last all day, and once water temperatures get close to 60 degrees, this is the prime topwater
fall fishing, and will
Prop Baits
stay good until water temperature falls below the 50-degree mark.
LURE OPTIONS FOR RETRIEVE VARIATIONS
There are different styles of topwater baits for targeting
fall smallmouth bass, and sometimes one style of topwater
bait will shine over another. Other times, any topwater bait
style will work.
Fishing a topwater bait isn’t always a straightforward
approach, sometimes smallmouth can be finicky, even
when they are putting on the fall feedbag, and the chosen
topwater could play a big role in getting strikes.
Knowing the possible retrieves for topwater baits, and
a possible topwater bait rotation will prepare you for any
conditions, or smallmouth behavior.
Topwater plugs
not only mimic
the baitfish that
bass are feeding
on, but they allow
you to cover a lot of
water and identify
potential spots that
are holding a school
Top-to-Bottom: Super Spook Jr, One Knocker, Super Spook
of bass. If you are fishing a river system, or a lake
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