Try Taking Advantage of the Fall Feeding Period

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Where did the summer go? I guess  temperatures in the 80’s for most of September are more than I could ask for. Bass are about to put on the feed bag and make fishing phenomenal for the next couple of months. Here are a few tips to keep you catching while others are sitting in a tree stand or winterizing their boats.
   Flats-  When the water temperature is in the 60’s both smallmouth and largemouth start chasing the bait up on the same flats they used in the spring during pre spawn. Seek out grass flats in the 6-8 foot range and rip rattle baits just over the top of the grass. I like the Excalibur xr50, or a Rapala but anything will work. The key is to get your bait ticking the tops of the grass and when it starts to load up give the rod a good rip to pull the bait up from the grass.  Often times, the bass will slam the bait just as you rip it from the grass.
If the grass bite isn’t on, or you’re fishing a lake with a lack of vegetation, try burning rattle baits around wind blown rocky flats.  Although it’s colder on you, always seek out those flats with some wind blowing across them. It could be the difference between a stellar day and a mediocre one.

Dropping temperatures- As fall continues water temperatures will start dropping into the 50s and 40s. The rattle baits will still work, especially when fished with a slower pumping action, but now you’ll begin to see more action throwing jerk baits and jigs. Those same grass flats will hold numbers of fish, but the action is going to slow some and you should start looking for the bigger fish to move to spots with deep water access like points, break lines, and offshore rock piles. Work the jerk baits around the edges and over the top of these areas and then slowly drag a 1/2oz Black/Blue jig maintaining bottom contact. The metabolisms of fish are starting the slow down with the dropping temperatures, so make sure to work areas a little more slowly and thoroughly, but keep in mind unseasonably warm days can send those fish back onto those shallower flats and into another feeding session.
One last trick- If you’re out on a fall day and struggling to get the bites using the typical presentations try tying on a medium diving crank bait and working it over those rocky flats that have accesses to deep water. Concentrate on the edges, but don’t be afraid to move around until you locate the fish. Now here is the trick… instead of casting and reeling the crank bait, work it back to the boat with a slow sweeping motion of the rod. You’ll want to make a long cast, reel the bait down until it makes bottom contact and then slowly sweep the rod sideways so you can feel the bait bumping bottom. Return the rod to the starting position while reeling the slack then repeat. This slower presentation is a better match for the forage speed this time of year and gives the fish a chance to grab the bait as it starts to float back up as you give the bait slack. Most of the fish will grab the bait as you reel the slack in and begin to pull the bait again. Be ready to set the hook by continuing to sweep the rod and reeling into the fish. No jarring sets are needed for this presentation, with steady pressure the fish will load up on the bait.
This time of year can produce some of the best fishing of the season, so don’t trade your rods for rifles just yet…or at least not everyday! Get out on the water and enjoy some crazy fall action.