Does fishing fast and covering a lot of water sound like something you enjoy doing?
If so, fall is the season for you.
Every year the fall season brings with it moving baitfish and hungry bass.
The water temperatures begin dropping from the higher summer temps to a lower, more suitable temperature for aquatic life which in turn raises fish activity.
For most fisheries during the fall, an angler's success is found by imitating the local baitfish species.
So when you find yourself questioning what lures to throw, consider giving these a try.
Topwater
Since a lot of the baitfish move to the shallower regions of rivers and lakes a topwater baitfish imitation makes for an exciting way to catch bass in the fall.
Early mornings and late evenings remain the best time to catch fish on topwater but also keep on the lookout for things happening on the surface throughout the day.
It's not uncommon throughout the fall season for baitfish to start busting on the surface which gives way to great topwater fishing.
For steady retrieves consider a buzzbait or prop style lure.
For reaction bites consider throwing walking lures or poppers.
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Swim Jigs
Even though swim jigs make a great year-round lure, they really stand out in the fall.
Where lures such as crankbaits and jerkbaits excel around points and harder forms of cover such as rocks and submerged timber, a swimbait can really shine around aquatic vegetation.
Thanks to a single wire hook and weed guard, a swim jig has no issue moving through vegetation and other forms of cover where bass set up to ambush their prey.
For most, a steady retrieve is all that is needed after counting down your lure to the desired depth.
Jerkbaits
It doesn't matter whether you are targeting smallmouth or largemouth bass - a jerkbait consistently produce bites in the fall.
Whether you're using a hard-bodied jerkbait or a soft plastic, fluke-style jerkbait, it's tough to beat the erratic action produced by these lures.
Jerkbaits come in a variety of styles to cater to the needs of the angler.
Some are buoyant and work great in the upper parts of the water column whereas others are suspending and work best in deeper water.
If you know you're around fish but you still aren't catching anything try a different cadence.
Sometimes the switch from a "jerk-pause" to a "jerk-jerk-pause" cadence is all it takes to get the fish to bite.
Umbrella Rigs
Umbrella rigs really came into focus in 2011 when Paul Elias used them to win big at Lake Guntersville.
With his 20 fish having a combined weight of more than 100 pounds anglers around the U.S. began following suit and throwing an umbrella rig.
Yes they require some heavier gear, but they can be dynamite during the fall time.
Once you find the fall rate, an umbrella rig can be fished at virtually any depth.
Before using them, be sure to check your state and local fishing guidance on the number of hooks you can use.
For states and areas limited to one hook most anglers opt for using a hook with the middle lure positioned slightly further back than the other lures on the rig.
To learn more about how baitfish move check out Understanding Baitfish Migrations
Spinnerbaits
One of the most used lures of all time.
Spinnerbaits are also great during the fall thanks to their flash and ability to imitate a small school of baitfish.
When you need to entice a bass with noise and flash a spinnerbait makes for a great lure.
Spinnerbaits can also be fished at any depth which makes them great for just about all situations.
Secondly, they are nearly weedless thanks to their wire body construction and extra overhead protection provided by the spinnerbait blades.
Pair them with a trailer hook to cut down on missed strikes.
Spoons
If you like vertical fishing or know of some hard bottom areas that hold fish give a spoon a go this fall.
When its time for the pros to go after big fish a lot of them will do so using a big spoon.
Spoons have the best results later in the fall and into winter when baitfish begin dying off.
A "Yo-Yo" like retrieval that brings the lure up in the water column and allows it to flutter back down is what creates that dying, end-of-life baitfish presentation.
In Conclusion
Remember, this is the time of year to really imitate the baitfish - whether it be something imitating a single baitfish (i.e. jerkbaits, spoons, topwater, swimbaits) or schooling fish (i.e. umbrella rigs, spinnerbaits).
Do your research as well before taking to the water.
Either find out for yourself or ask some of the local anglers what type of baitfish your fishery has.
Common species found throughout different regions of the U.S. include blue herring, threadfin shad, and gizzard shad.
Knowing what baitfish species your fishery has makes it easy to pick a lure with a similar color and size profile to improve your overall lure presentation.
All the small details will start to add up and before you know it you'll be spending less time fishing and more time catching!
Time to go catch 'em!
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