Top 5 Best Bait Categories for October
0. October Fishing - Searching with Moving Baits
As the scorching summer heat subsides and October brings a true taste of fall, the entire lake becomes comfortable for bass, making it difficult to determine their location at a glance. The key to fall fishing is using moving baits to search the lake horizontally and vertically.
For those who find themselves lost among the vast array of moving bait genres and products, even when told they are effective in October, we introduce five must-try moving bait genres.
- Stable Performance Even When Casting Blindly -Crankbaits
- When You Need Distance - Lipless Crankbaits
- Attracting with Light and Versatile Movement – Spinnerbaits
- The most finesse moving Bait?! - Mid-strolling
- During turnover, bass gather in cleaner water - Bluegill pattern & swim jig
- Conclusion
1. Stable Performance Even When Casting Blindly -Crankbaits
The main strength of crankbaits is their ability to maintain a steady depth. Anglers can feel the depth they are currently tracing, making it easier to visualize the underwater conditions. This makes crankbaits a great choice for searching unfamiliar waters or lakes with sudden water level changes.
First, we recommend the MEGABASS Deep-X Series, a classic crankbait line. Its steep diving and long casting distance allow you to trace your target depth for an extended period. Although various types have been released throughout its long history, the following four are currently in the market. The LBO series stands out for its subtle, toned-down action that offers just the right level of finesse.
| Product Name | Diving Depth |
|---|---|
| DEEP-X 100LBO | 3.3 to 9.8 ft |
| DEEP-X 200LBO | 3.3 to 14.1 ft |
| DEEP-X 300 | Up to 16.4 ft |
| DEEP-SIX | Up to 19.7 ft |
On days with significant temperature drops, when you need to fish deep, consider trolling the IMAKATSU deep crankbait IK-800 R2. It can reach depths of up to 18 ft when casting and 26.2 ft when trolling.
This article provides a more detailed explanation of the various characteristics of crankbaits, which are available from many manufacturers in a wide range of products.
2. When You Need Distance - Lipless Crankbaits
The strength of lipless-crankbait lies in their "long casting distance" and "fast retrieval." Their simple structure and low air resistance enable them to be cast far, and their action remains stable even when retrieved quickly, allowing for speedy searches over a wide area. The reduced bounce-back when contacting obstacles means you can thoroughly search without losing the attention of bass hiding near cover.
The JACKALL TN Series offers a wide range of sizes and colors, providing diverse options for various situations, while minimizing the common issue of snagging associated with lipless crankbaits.
The MEGABASS Vibration-X Series is also recommended for its high depth-holding ability and versatility, performing well at both slow and fast retrieves.
3. Attracting with Light and Versatile Movement – Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits, consisting of blades and silicone skirts, attract bass with the flashing produced by the blades. Sometimes, this can even resemble a school of baitfish. Since the primary attraction is the flashing, there is less risk of spooking bass with unnecessary sounds, allowing for a smooth retrieve even in highly clear and challenging conditions. By changing the weight, you can easily manipulate the lure to pass over the bass or make it fall, and its resistance to snagging, even when directly contacting weeds, makes it an undeniably user-friendly moving bait.
Our top recommendation is the B Custom by DEPS.It produces a more subtle vibration than typical spinnerbaits, making it especially effective against pressured bass that are quick to reject unnatural action.
Even in cleared-up water, you can confidently run it through.
4. The most finesse Moving Bait?! - Mid-strolling
While the four genres mentioned above are considered standard categories for moving baits, they are characterized by relatively high attractiveness to draw in scattered bass. However, when the bass's feeding activity is exceptionally low and they refuse to bite these moving baits, we highly recommend trying the Japanese-originated technique called mid-strolling. Mid-strolling involves swimming a soft-plastic in the middle layer, allowing it to rolling and flutter, enabling an extremely finesse-style "area" search.
Since the ability to attract scattered bass is particularly crucial, using soft-plastics of 5 inches or longer for power mid-strolling is appropriate in this case. The KEITECH Shad Impact features a slightly wider roll, mimicking the natural movement of a real baitfish to draw in bass.
5. During turnover, bass gather in cleaner water-Bluegill pattern & swim jig-
One key factor you can't ignore in fall bass fishing is turnover.
As the surface water cools and sinks, it stirs up the bottom, spreading low-oxygen water and decaying plankton throughout the area. This phenomenon typically occurs in fall when chilly mornings and evenings cause the air temperature to drop below the water temperature.
During turnover, it's best to avoid murky water and focus on spots with incoming flow or areas protected by vegetation.
(Photo by IMAKATSU)
Turnover doesn’t just affect bass—it also impacts their prey, like bluegill.
These baitfish tend to move toward cleaner water, making it a great time to throw bluegill-imitating lures.
The ZOE by T.H. Tackle features an ultra-realistic bluegill profile that bass find hard to resist.
Try a variety of techniques, from straight retrieves to twitches and even letting it sit on the bottom.
Areas with dense vegetation are also less affected by turnover, making them prime spots to target.
Try running a swim jig rigged with the MEGABASS UOZE Swimmer, known for its excellent weedless performance.
For the trailer, the MEGABASS Spark Shad is a perfect match—it offers a natural look with minimal unwanted roll, allowing you to fish it slowly and keep it in front of the bass without triggering rejection.
6. Conclusion
We have introduced five recommended moving bait genres for October.
You can see that the four standard moving bait categories each have their own characteristics, allowing for effective use in different situations.
- Crankbait with excellent depth-holding ability
- Lipless crankbait with long casting distance & fast retrieve
- Spinnerbait with a flashy shine and versatile action
- Power Mid Strolling for ultra-finesse search
- Avoid turnover with a bluegill-patterned & highly weedless swim jig
By understanding these options, you'll be well on your way to mastering moving baits in the fall, so consider adding each genre to your arsenal.
While we have briefly covered the recommended moving baits for October, we have a more detailed article explaining their specific applications.
For a comprehensive overview of fall fishing, please refer to our article that delves into the best approaches for this season. It will undoubtedly help expand your fishing repertoire.
