Guide to Selecting the Right Moving baits for Fall
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Distinguishing by ease of keeping swimming depth
- 3. Distinguishing by casting distance
- 4. Distinguishing by water clarity
- 5. Distinguishing by snag resistance
- 6. Conclusion
1. Introduction
As the extreme summer heat subsides and autumn arrives, the water temperature range that is comfortable for bass expands, necessitating a search over a wide area. This makes fall the season when moving baits shine. However, there are various types of moving baits. In this article, we will focus on explaining how to use crankbaits, lipless-crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and bladed-swim-jigs.
2. Distinguishing by ease of keeping swimming depth
When retrieving a lure, the ability to maintain swimming depth is essential. When fishing an unfamiliar body of water or when the depth at which the bass are located is undetermined, it is necessary to trace and search at specific depth ranges. Crankbaits excel at being retrieved at a constant depth. Except for the initial dive and rise, they can be retrieved at the targeted depth, allowing you to visualize the underwater conditions as you fish. Our store recommends the MEGABASS Deep-X as the first search bait to use in unfamiliar waters. It has action from the start of the retrieve, making it easy for crankbait beginners to use. Additionally, its action is not as aggressive as other crankbaits, reducing the risk of disturbing the area when the conditions are unknown.
We have a separate article that explains the use of crankbaits in autumn in more detail.
3. Distinguishing by casting distance
When searching a wide area, the casting ability of the lure becomes crucial. Spinnerbaits and bladed-swim-jigs have more components, making them susceptible to wind resistance and harder to cast as far as intended. Although crankbaits can also be cast far, lipless-crankbaits, in particular, can reach farther due to their lack of a lip, which reduces wind resistance. The MEGABASS Vibration-X Dyna, despite its small size of 2 inches, weighs 3/8 oz, allowing it to fly stably with minimal air resistance and enabling long casting distance.
4. Distinguishing by water clarity
When using moving baits, it is necessary to consider the combination of water clarity (whether the water is clear or murky) and the lure's attracting power.
First, when the water is murky due to rain or other factors, it is best to use crankbaits. They are generally said to have the strongest appeal among the four types of moving baits discussed in this article. There are round-bodied and flat-sided crankbaits, with the round-bodied type being able to move more water and attract the interest of bass. The MEGABASS Griffon 3rd Generation features a distinctively round body that displaces a large amount of water as it swims, providing an appeal that can compete even in murky conditions.
For shallow and murky waters, bladed-swim-jigs are the choice. Bladed-swim-jigs are made by combining a blade and a skirt, and the sound emitted by the blade is different from the rattle of crankbaits, producing an intense, aggressive noise. The volume of the skirt and the choice of trailer can effectively appeal to bass even in murky water. The basic technique is to cast within the angler's field of vision and control the lure while watching its movement, so avoid long casts and retrieve at depths ranging from 1 foot to 6 feet at most. For those new to bladed-swim-jigs, we recommend starting with the Jack Hammer, jointly developed by Z-MAN, U.S. company that originally created bladed-swim-jigs, and Evergreen International. It is said to be the best-selling bladed-swim-jig in the world, making it suitable for basic use. The standard blade is stainless steel, but a stealth blade is also available for times when you want to reduce the aggressiveness, such as in slightly clearer conditions.
On the other hand, when the water is clear, it is necessary to avoid being easily detected by the bass. While crankbaits mainly create attraction by moving water, spinnerbaits are often more suitable for clear and tough conditions as they can flash and quietly yet effectively appeal without making noise or creating much hydraulic pressure. The IMAKATSU Zinx Mini Super Blade reduces hydraulic pressure while maintaining high blade rotation, ensuring the lure's strong resistance is felt by the angler while delivering a natural action in the water.
5. Distinguishing by snag resistance
When retrieving, getting snagged is a significant source of stress for anglers. The risk of getting snagged varies depending on the fishing spot, so choose lures accordingly.
First, crankbaits excel in hard bottom conditions, where anglers often prefer to bump and grind the bottom while retrieving. Generally, the longer the lip, the less likely the lure is to get snagged. There is even a technique of using a crankbait designed for 3-foot depths in 6-foot ranges. Additionally, choosing a highly buoyant crankbait allows the lure to float up on its own when the retrieve is stopped, helping to avoid snags. The MEGABASS IXI Shad series is known for its snag resistance. When the lure contacts an obstacle, it assumes a front-flipping posture to avoid the obstacle, and its straight-swimming stability allows it to be retrieved straight even in rough bottom conditions.
| [IxI SHAD series] | Diving depth |
|---|---|
| TYPE-R | 1m(3.3 feet) |
| TYPE-3 | 2.3m(7.6 feet) |
| TX | 4m(13 feet) |
For weedy areas, lipless-crankbaits can be a good choice if the weeds are not too dense. In terms of pure snag-resistance, crankbaits have the advantage. However, when retrieving over sparse weed cover, crankbaits tend to dive down as you try to avoid the vegetation, whereas lipless-crankbaits will rise to the surface, making them a better choice in such conditions. Targeting the reaction bite of bass when a lipless-crankbait gets caught in weeds and then breaks free can also be effective. The previously mentioned MEGABASS Vibration-X Dyna features a strong wobbling action that allows it to continue swimming even if it picks up some weeds, making it suitable for use in light weed cover.
In heavily weeded areas, spinnerbaits truly shine. Crankbaits and lipless-crankbaits have treble hooks, making them more prone to getting caught. Advanced techniques like skipping a spinnerbait with a trailer soft-plastic near cover can also be employed. The DEPS B-Custom, born in Lake Biwa, known for its weed beds, has a small blade rotation radius, reducing the risk of entanglement even when retrieved through weeds. The subtle vibration caused by the fine rotation can approach even large bass that have become accustomed to the movement of blades.
Bladed-swim-jigs also have a role to play in weedy areas. As an advanced technique, we recommend trying a slow roll with a bladed-swim-jig. In deep, uneven weed beds, following the contours tightly with the lure allows you to present the bait directly to bass that are nestled close to the bottom in late autumn when the water temperature drops. Bladed-swim-jigs allows you to adjust the blade’s water resistance and the weight, enabling you to retrieve it slowly while getting it as close to the weeds as possible with extreme precision.
The JACKALL Super Break Blade 3/8 oz features a wire guard to prevent snagging and has high straight-swimming stability, providing excellent maneuverability for aggressively targeting weeds. If you find the 3/8 oz too heavy for slow retrieves, switch to the smaller Super Break Blade Fine or the NORIES Hulachat 1/4 oz. The Hulachat comes with a dedicated trailer that helps maintain a horizontal posture even when retrieved slowly.
6. Conclusion
As discussed above, each type of autumn moving bait has its own characteristics, and it is necessary to select them according to the fishing conditions. The key points to consider are the ability to maintain depth and casting distance for quickly searching a wide area, as well as the lure’s level of attracting attention and snag resistance based on water clarity and cover such as weeds.
| For Ease of keeping swimming depth | Crankbait |
| For Long Casting | Lipless-crankbait |
| For Muddy Water | Crankbait, bladed-swim-jig for shallow water |
| For Clear Water | Spinnerbait |
| For Hard Bottom | Crankbait |
| For Weeds | Spinnerbait, Lipless-crankbait for sparse cover, Advanced Technique: Slow Rolling with a bladed-swim-jig |
By understanding these key points, you can develop a strategy for using these baits effectively. We hope this article serves as a reference for mastering the use of moving baits in the fall.