Fall Smallmouth Bass
Fall smallmouth bass fishing is almost always dynamite. In fact, if I had to pick one month out of the year to fish for smallmouth bass I would choose the month of October. During the month of October, these fall smallmouths make such great changes, you are going to go through a full spectrum of presentations in a relatively short period of time. We can break the month up into two different periods. The first two weeks and the last two weeks.
Fall is a great time to target smallmouth bass, and in this article, we will explore some tips and techniques for catching these elusive fish. In this video, we join the Lindner’s Fishing Edge team as they fish for smallmouth bass in the fall. They share their insights on bait selection, boat control, and finding the right fishing spots. So let’s dive in and learn more about fall smallmouth fishing!
Bait Selection
One of the baits that the team is using is a spinnerbait with a boot tail. This bait has a unique vibration pattern that attracts smallmouth bass. It’s a compact system that allows for sweeping over a wide variety of different types of habitats. The team also mentions that they have been having success with spinnerbaits and have not needed a trailer hook. They have only missed one out of a half a dozen bites. 
Boat Control
Boat control is crucial when fishing for smallmouth bass in shallow water. The team emphasizes the importance of constantly covering water and looking for active biters. They recommend using a powerful trolling motor and reliable batteries to support it. They also mention the importance of a bulletproof charging system to ensure that you never run out of power while on the water.
Finding the Right Fishing Spots
The team explains that in the fall, smallmouth bass tend to move from deeper water to shallower areas. They suggest looking for areas with rock, as these are often good wintering areas for smallmouth bass. They recommend using a sight imaging unit to quickly cruise areas and look for cover, bait, and fish at the likely depth. They also mention that bottom hugging presentations like a football jig, Carolina rig, swing jig, or drop shot are effective in these wintering areas.
Bait Selection Based on Water Temperature
The team explains that the size of the bait used for smallmouth bass can vary depending on the water temperature. In the fall, when the water temperature is in the low 60s, they recommend using relatively large profile baits. They mention that spinnerbaits with willow leaf blades work well for smallmouth bass. They also mention that swimbaits and crankbaits are effective in targeting big smallmouth bass.
Conclusion
- Fall is a great time to target smallmouth bass, and the Lindner’s Fishing Edge team provides valuable insights and tips for success. From bait selection to boat control to finding the right fishing spots, they offer practical advice for anglers looking to catch smallmouth bass in the fall.
Fall Presentations
During the first two weeks of October, the fish are going to be shallower and tend to be spread out over the structure.
Horizontal baits work their best on a front end of this fall transition, say water temperatures at 65 going down to about 45 degrees. Some good horizontal baits include spinnerbaits, swim jigs, chatter baits, and jerkbaits just to name a few. These are baits you can work relatively fast and cover lots of water with.
Wintering Areas
During the last two weeks of October when the water temperature drops to roughly 45 degrees your presentation shifts dramatically as these fish seem to hit a wall. They’re still aggressive just a little slower at doing it. Many of these fish shift to what we call wintering areas it’s important to understand that wintering areas will differ from lake to lake and from river to river. and reservoir to reservoir. I’ve seen wintering areas from 10 feet deep those and then some as deep as 40ft or more.
A good way to find these locations is to use your side imaging searching for deep rock. You can quickly cruise areas looking for cover, bait, and fish in that likely depth but the key factor of all these locations is going to be rock.
Once you locate these spots you need to slow your presentation down because the bass are less likely to chase down a bait. Some good options include tubes, Carolina rigs, roller jig drop shot, or any other bottom-hugging presentation. These will allow you to stay in the stake zone for an extended period of time.
Whether you’re at a lake a river or a reservoir rock is always around good wintering areas then all you gotta do is fishing with the right baits.
In our neck of the woods up here north-central Minnesota, the bites bite for fall smallmouth starts the beginning of October and runs to the beginning of November. You know if you move down south a little bit it probably starts the end of October and runs through the month of November into December but the movement of the fish, the family of baits, everything we’re talking about applies.
