Top 10 Fall Bass Fishing Tips

Fall can be one of the best times of year to catch bass. The water cools, baitfish start moving, and bass feed hard before winter. It can also be frustrating, because the fish move around a lot and a spot that was hot last week can go dead.

These ten tips are for bank anglers and boat anglers alike. They’ll help you find fall bass and pick baits that match what the fish are eating.

1. Follow the baitfish

This is the big one. In many lakes, schools of shad and other baitfish move toward the backs of creeks and coves as the water cools. Bass follow them.

Watch for small fish flicking on the surface, birds diving, or swirls near the bank. If you see bait, stay and fish. If you don’t see any, keep moving until you do.

2. Start in the creeks and coves

If you don’t know where to start, pick a creek arm or cove and work from the mouth toward the back. Fish points, bends, and any shallow flats along the way.

Early in the fall, bass are often in the middle of a creek. As the water keeps cooling, they tend to push farther back. Checking a few spots on the way in helps you figure out where they are that day.

3. Match the size of the bait

Young shad hatched in spring are still small in early fall. A bait that’s close to their size often gets more bites than a big one.

Look at what’s flicking on the surface or what spits out of a fish you land. Then pick a lure in that size and color range. Silver, white, and pale gray are good starting colors when shad are the main food.

4. Cover water with moving baits

Fall bass are often scattered and chasing. That makes it a good time for baits you can cast far and reel steadily. Good options include:

• Lipless crankbaits
• Spinnerbaits
• Shallow-running crankbaits
• Swimbaits on a jighead
• Topwater baits in low light

Make a lot of casts and keep moving until you get bit. Once you catch one, slow down and work that area well. Where there’s one fall bass, there are often more.

5. Keep a topwater bait tied on

When bass are pushing bait to the surface, a topwater lure can draw big strikes. Walking baits, poppers, and buzzbaits all have their days.

Early morning, evening, and cloudy days are the best times to try it. If fish are busting bait and you can reach them quickly, a topwater cast right into the splash often gets hit.

6. Fish the afternoon, too

In summer, the first and last light are often best. In fall, that can change. Cool nights chill the shallow water, and the afternoon sun warms it back up.

That warmer water can make bass more active later in the day. Don’t pack up at 10 a.m. just because the early bite was slow. Some of the best fall fishing happens after lunch.

7. Know the signs of turnover

Many deeper lakes “turn over” in the fall. The warm top layer cools until it mixes with the colder water below. For a little while, the lake can look murky, smell a bit off, or have scum and bits of debris floating on it.

Fishing can be tough during turnover. A few things can help:

• Look for a part of the lake that hasn’t turned yet. The water will look clearer.
• Fish shallow cover like wood, docks, and grass.
• Try a slower bait like a jig or soft plastic.

Turnover passes. If one lake is a mess, a smaller pond or a river nearby may fish better that week.

8. Slow down after a cold front

A strong fall cold front can bring bright blue skies, wind, and a sudden drop in temperature. Bass often get sluggish for a day or two after.

When that happens, switch to baits you can fish slowly near cover. A jig, a Texas-rigged soft plastic, or a finesse worm can pull a few bites when moving baits get ignored. Fish tight to docks, brush, and rock.

9. Don’t skip the grass

Green, healthy weeds hold oxygen, shade, and baitfish. As some grass starts to die off in the fall, the patches that stay green become even more important.

Run a spinnerbait or lipless crankbait along the outside edge. Then work a soft plastic into holes and pockets. If you pull up brown, dying weeds, move on until you find the green stuff.

10. Dress for the ride and the wait

Fall mornings can start near freezing and end warm. On a boat, the wind from running across the lake makes it feel even colder.

Wear layers you can peel off as the day warms. Bring a rain jacket that also blocks wind, plus a warm hat and light gloves. Our guide to layering for a cold morning is written for hunters, but the same system works on the water.

Always wear a life jacket on the boat, especially once the water turns cold. Falling into cold water is dangerous even for strong swimmers. Your state boating agency and the U.S. Coast Guard have good guidance on cold-water safety.

One more tip before you go

Fall bass often hit fast and then vanish. Keep two or three rods rigged with different baits so you can switch without retying. If you need to stock up, our bass fishing tackle box checklist covers the basics. Seasons, size limits, and creel limits vary by state and by lake, so check your state wildlife agency’s rules before you go.