Top 5 Must-Try Lure 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
- Effective in Murky Water with Sound and Rubber Skirts - Bladed Swim Jigs
- The most finesse Moving Bait?! - Mid-strolling
- 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 |
DEEP-X 100LBO
See DetailOn 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.
IK-800 R2
See DetailThis 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.
TN60 TRIGON
See DetailThe MEGABASS Vibration-X Series is also recommended for its high depth-holding ability and versatility, performing well at both slow and fast retrieves.
VIBRATION-X DYNA (Rattle-in)
See Detail3. 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.
We recommend two options: the MEGABASS SV-3 for fast retrieval and aggressive swimming action and the IMAKATSU Zinx Mini for slower, finesse-style presentations.
4. Effective in Murky Water with Sound and Rubber Skirts - Bladed Swim Jigs
Bladed swim jigs, featuring a blade attached to a rubber jig, excel in attracting bass with the sound, vibration, and flashing produced by the blade. They can be a game-changer when the above moving baits fail to draw in bass. Based on their swimming action, they can be broadly classified into two types: straight-swimming and erratic-swimming. For tackling challenging courses or fishing tight to cover, opt for the straight-swimming JACKALL Super Break Blade 3/8oz. For an erratic, wobbling action to trigger reaction strikes, try the IMAKATSU Mogulla Moth Chatter Monster 3/8oz.
5. 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. Our recommended soft-plastic is the EVERGREEN Last Ace 128S. The upward-curling tail facilitates the rolling action, supporting the challenging mid-strolling technique.
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
- Chatterbait that combines sound, vibration, and flashing for maximum attraction
- [Advanced] Power Mid Strolling for ultra-finesse search
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.
