Bass
fishing, in the fall, can be some of the most exciting of the year
but with the pressure of bass tournaments and recreational anglers,
bass during the fall can prove to be a very seasoned adversary. In
this article I hope to introduce a few tips and techniques that can
help you outsmart those finicky fall bass.
Smaller
Baits Downsizing
your baits can prove to get more strikes when bass have seen, and
probably have been caught, on the more popular aggressive type baits
like spinnerbaits and crankbaits. This relentless bombardment of
these same type lures all season leaves the bass weary of striking
and a more subtle and natural looking bait may be needed to score
more strikes. My favorite bait to use during the fall, when finesse
is needed for success, is the ZOOM fluke jr. rigged on the ARKIE
U-HEAD jighead.
I use the Super Fluke
Jr. when the water is clear and the Swim' Super Fluke Jr. in stained
to muddy water. The split tail on the Super Fluke Jr. gives off a
subtle action needed in clear water when natural presentation is a
must. The Swim' Super Fluke Jr. is a must in stained to muddy water
where finesse is still the ticket but a little vibration will help
the bass locate your bait which means more strikes.
Downsizing your baits
for finesse usually means downsizing the weights you use. I rig the
ZOOM Fluke Jr's with a quarter ounce or smaller sinker. A split-shot works
great either positioned at the nose of the fluke or a few inches
above it. Positioning the split-shot above the nose really creates a
lively and realistic presentation and is a great rig for fall bass.
Use a bobber stop below the split-shot to keep it from sliding down
the line. Another great bait for this rig is the Berkley Shakey Shad
or the Zoom trick worm. The trick worm gives off a great realistic
action that even picky bass can't refuse.
Below
The Baitfish: When
pursuing fall bass it is tempting to chase the schoolers in the
shallows as they rip apart schools of baitfish. I know it is hard to
do but while you can find wolf packs of good bass within these
schoolers most of the time the bigger bass will linger around and
patiently devour the wounded shad that the schoolers miss. The
commotion above will wound baitfish and they will soon fall out of
the school and like a wolf on a weary deer nonchalantly move in for
the kill.
Big
fall bass are not only cautious about their actions but also
experienced and they know that laying back allowing the young bucks
to do the work will save much needed energy for the winter months on
the way.
Knowing
this bit of information can help you catch more big fall bass and
while everyone is slinging topwater baits and spinnerbaits into
schools of 14 inch bass you can lay back with your finesse baits and
fool those prowling bass below. The trick is to present your best
dying baitfish presentation to the wolf pack below and with few
anglers fishing for them you might find that these bigger bass will
readily smash your bait as they let their guard down in the midst of
their own little feeding frenzy below.
The
fall is a great time to be on the water in search of bass as they
once again show themselves in the shallows. The fishing can be so
fast and furious this time of year that it can be hard to decide what
to throw. So many anglers are throwing spinnerbaits and topwater
baits during this time of year and of course they catch a lot of bass
in the fall. Give these tips a try when the baitfish move into the
shallows and the feeding frenzy has begun with bass busting on top
and you just might find a great way to catch big fall bass as you
enjoy a little feeding frenzy of your own down below all the
commotion. Whether the bass are tucked away in thick brush, waiting
to ambush wounded baitfish, or roaming beneath the massive schools,
waiting for one to drop out, give these techniques a try this fall
and remember that often the road less traveled is often paved with
bigger bass.
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