Fishing Fall Bass
You have just rolled out of bed, poured you coffee and there it is. You knew it
was coming, but it is real, it is here. What am I talking about? It's not taxes,
the Grim Reaper or even your in-laws coming for an extended stay. It is the first
foggy Fall morning. If you have spent any time in the Northwest you know what
that means. From here on out the weather will never get quite as hot as it did
all summer, and the nights will be cooler. Sure, we may get an Indian Summer and
some nice days, but the fact is, things are cooling off. Now it is time to start
thinking about what that means for our Bass fishing.
With the falling temperatures, Bass will start to build up their Winter reserves.
This can offer some fantastic fishing opportunities if you know what to look for.
Big Bass that have been hiding deep all Summer are now moving up and looking for
as much food as they can. Their feeding periods will also lengthen as the Sun
drops to lower angles. All the better for us!
Most experts would agree that Fall Bass are suckers for the right crank bait.
This means you probably will grab lures that are a little bigger than you have
been using all Summer. The Bass that have made it to Fall are smart and will be
looking for lures that closely match the size and color of the prey fish that
spawned in the Spring. Check out what is in your lake and match up to that. Another
good choice is to grab your top water lures. Again, the big Bass are looking to
load up on food and will be watching for any easy meals above them.
Finding the Bass is of course key. But where are they? The simple answer is, where
the bait fish are. These are most likely going to be found in closer to shore
than they previously were, hanging out in the shallows and around the green plants.
My favorite tactic to find bait fish is to bring along an extra pole rigged with
a small jig and bobber and when I am exploring a lake, drop it out in front of
me and let it sit on a hole before I start throwing my Bass hooks at it. I also
toss it out when I am changing or re-tying lures. If there are bait fish there,
then odds are, the Bass are lurking near by.
Important things to look for are areas where there is cover for the Bass to move
between their deeper holding areas to the shallow feeding areas. Also remember
on cloudy and windy days or in stained water, the Bass may not retreat at all
to their holding areas, but may spend the day feeding in the shallows. Pay attention
to water that is shallower than you would normally expect to find big fish. I
have seen large Bass lurking in water as shallow as one foot.
On bright days or after a cold front has moved in, you will have to go back to their mid-day holding areas to find the Bass. Remember that a cold front will affect the shallow water first and the Bass will most likely hold to the deeper water and its more stable temperatures. In this case, it is time to finesse fish a little bit and work the deeper structure. Remember drop shotting?
Don't think that the falling temperatures means a let up in the Bass fishing. Lunker Bass are waiting for you. Grab yourself an extra pull over and get out there on the water, the fish are waiting!
Chris Cliff is a long time fisherman that hails from the remote lands of Northern Idaho, but has now moved to the big city. He and his crew fish the waters of the Northwest filming episodes of their own web based fishing show 'Fishing with Cliff'. You can find it at http://www.FishingWithCliff.com/ and features more great articles, photos, links and of course episodes of their show. Think of it as a fishing show crossed with reality TV.
Latest News
 New York Daily News | Dad Marty McMillan dies in fishing horror New York Daily News, NY - A father-son fishing trip turned deadly Sunday for a Long Island man who was pulled under the water by an anchor rope as his panicked son watched helplessly ... Westbury exec killed in boat mishap off Montauk Westbury man drowns in Block Island Sound accident The son's account of the boating death |
UMPQUA VALLEY FISHING REPORT: Anglers hope rain will boost fisheries NRToday.com, OR - Southwestern Oregon rivers are generally running low and clear, and fishing success for chinook salmon and steelhead has only been fair at best. ... Tuna and halibut offer Oregon anglers options |
Montauk Man Drowns While Fishing Off Montauk Hamptons.com, NY - Montauk - The East Hampton Town Police Department is investigating the death of a 51-year-old man who apparently drown while fishing off Montauk. ... Fisherman drowns after being pulled overboard off Montauk |
Lawsuit means Loch Lomond won't be stocked with trout San Jose Mercury News, USA - By Jondi Gumz - Sentinel staff writer Loch Lomond, which draws several thousand people a year for recreational fishing, is among the 175 lakes and streams ... |
It’s time for the annual ice fishing warning Wahpeton Daily News, ND - Some lakes ice-up before others and he’s always looking for the first place to get out fishing. He is careful, of course, but not nearly as careful as I ... OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK: Several ND refuges open for hunting, Ice safety ... |
Hearing to cover fishing access proposals ABCMontana, MT - By AP HUNGRY HORSE - A public hearing Wednesday in Hungry Horse will cover revised plans to establish a state fishing-access site at Lake Five, near Glacier ... |
Coast Guard finds two bodies on fishing boat off Half Moon Bay San Jose Mercury News, USA - By Howard Mintz Two Milpitas cousins died Saturday morning, trapped inside their fishing boat as it capsized in the choppy and roiling swells off Half Moon ... 2 fishermen capsize, die off Half Moon Bay 2 Missing In Half Moon Bay After Boat Capsizes High surf leads to warning on California coastline |
Amaama fishing season temporarily closes Honolulu Advertiser, HI - The state Department of Land and Natural Resources reminds the fishing public that the season for 'ama'ama (striped mullet) will be closed today through ... |
 Calcutta Telegraph | Investigators Trace Boat's Last Voyage Wall Street Journal - 14, the 45-foot fishing boat Kuber left its home port on India's west coast and headed for the abundant waters near the Sir Creek, a river that runs into ... 50% of fishing vessels on western coast unregistered ‘Fishing boats purchased to guide fishermen, not chase terrorists’ There could be more Kubers on sea |
Dan Haifley, Our Ocean Backyard: Our region was built on fishing San Jose Mercury News, USA - My friend Barbara Karleen often provides suggestions for this column, so when I told her I was going to do a series on the history and state of fishing in ... |
Resources
-
largemouth bass Fishing tips Extreme, guide, lures, expert bass Fishing
techniques
largemouth bass Fishing tips, guide, lures, expert bass Fishing advice for the avid bass angler and the novice angler alike.
-
► Trout Fishing Secrets
Trout Fishing Secrets Revealed - How to Catch A Trout Everytime: When Spinner Fishing Your Favorite Stream Or River!
-
used boat sales and listings on BoatLister.com - Fishing power and sail
Buy and sell boats, kayaks, canoes, PWC, marine engines and parts, small boat motors, boat parts, used sails and other marine items. List your used Fishing, power, sail boats for sale on BoatLister.com.
-
Ice Fishing Secrets - Ice Fishing Equipment Recommendations and Ice Fishing House Suggestions
Affiliates Make 40% selling this great Ice Fishing Book! Earn 40% people download it and pay.
-
Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Techniques and How To Fly Fish
Fly Fishing information from original fly Fishing masters.
-
Fishing Bait Formulas Revealed - Catch More Fish
Secret Fishing Bait Formulas Revealed - Catch More Trout, Catfish, & Carp - Guaranteed
-
Bass Fishing Secrets.
Catch more and bigger bass immediately. We Guarantee it!
-
Make Fishing Lures
Learn how to make every type of fresh and salt water Fishing lure including: spinners, plugs, spin bugs, salt water plugs, spoons, jigs, metal squids, eel and eelskins lures, sinkers.
-
Trout Fishing Basics
eBook for beginners.
-
index
Instructional ebook on how to make your own wooden top water bass Fishing lures.