How to fish the bass in the Late Fall to Early Winter -What is the best baits-
- Introduction: Bass in Late Fall to Early Winter
- Targeting Bass 1: Bass Seeking to Feed
- Targeting Bass 2: Bass That Have Already Moved to Deeper Waters
- Summary
Introduction: Bass in Late Fall to Early Winter
As water temperatures drop to more comfortable levels across entire fisheries in fall, bass tend to scatter and inhabit various areas. As you know, when the season progresses and winter arrives, bass - being poikilothermic - seek out and stay in deeper, warmer, and more thermally stable waters to overwinter. Late fall, the transitional period from fall to winter, is the time when bass prepare for winter.
Medium to large-sized bass often still have a high feeding drive as they prepare for winter, and they position themselves in areas with gradual depth changes and less structural variations, where water temperatures are more stable, waiting for opportunities to strike. These gradual depth changes are also important for bass as they provide easy access to deeper areas when sudden temperature drops occur. On the other hand, relatively smaller individuals often move to deeper waters early on, and their activity levels gradually decrease.
In other words, as late fall arrives, it becomes necessary to develop a fishing approach that considers two patterns:
- Bass targeting prey in areas with stable water temperatures
- Less active bass that have already moved to deeper waters in preparation for dropping water temperatures
Targeting Bass 1: Bass Seeking to Feed
When searching for bass that are still relatively active and looking for feeding opportunities in late fall, the key is to determine the right fishing approach based on the structure and presence of bait. Since these still-active bass during this period of falling water temperatures are expected to be of good size, they are worth targeting.
Structure
During this period, it is crucial for bass to be able to protect themselves from dropping water temperatures. Areas that are less prone to water temperature fluctuations include calm water flow areas without sudden water inflows, weed beds, reed edges, standing timber, and rip-rap.
Bait
For bass that want to eat as much as possible before winter, the presence of bait in these areas is important. As water temperatures drop, crustaceans disappear, and small fish start forming large schools. Therefore, it is a good idea to develop a fishing approach using baits that imitate baitfish.
With this in mind, let's consider fishing techniques and baits suitable for different situations in the following sections.
- 1_1. Fishing in Weed Beds
- 1_2. Fishing Near Cover
- 1_3. Fishing in Clear Water
1-1. Fishing in Weed Beds
Weed beds are one of the first areas that come to mind when thinking about spots that protect bass from temperature changes. When fishing in weeds, it is recommended to use a swim jig with an upward-facing hook, which helps reduce snags. As weeds start to wither and tangle in late fall, the ability to slide through them becomes even more important. The Megabass Uoze Swimmer is known for its excellent sliding ability, and its calculated head shape and eye position allow it to swim at a constant depth at speeds that are neither too fast nor too slow. Rather than retrieving it in the upper water column, cast it into the gaps between weeds, let it sink to about half the height of the weeds, and then start retrieving from there.
For the trailer, use one with strong hydraulic pressure to lift bass out from deep within the weeds. Using Jackall's paddle tail swimbaits according to the situation can cover various scenarios. Start with the versatile and well-known Rhythm Wave, and if you feel that the bass are not chasing it, switch to the Dead Slowler and retrieve slowly. Both feature paddle tails that displace a lot of water and strong wobbling action, which is characteristic of swimbaits.
1-2. Fishing Near Cover
Next, let's consider targeting bass near cover such as reeds, standing timber, and rip-rap.
Fishing with jerkbaits allows for efficient catches of bass that are somewhat more scattered than in mid-winter. As a general guideline, use floating jerkbaits when the water temperature is above 50°F (10°C), and switch to suspending ones when it drops below that, considering that bass are less likely to rise in colder water.
The basic action is two jerks and one pause. As the water temperature drops, it is recommended to make the pauses longer. You can even try pausing for about 10 seconds.
First, there's the standard jerkbait, the Megabass Oneten. It is easy to use even for beginners and allows for darting action while keeping the travel distance short, making it ideal for precise fishing in specific spots.
The Jackall Rerange 110 is another jerkbait that allows for longer pauses. You can remove the front hook to make it a floating type. Its pausing posture resembles a realistic baitfish, and it follows along even when moved slowly, making it an easy-to-use lure for slow fishing.
For targeting deeper areas, the Dowzvido 90SP with its long bill is suitable. Although it is slightly smaller than the Oneten and Rerange mentioned earlier, with a diving depth of about 6 feet (2 meters), it can draw to bass with strong hydraulic pressure while keeping the traveling distance short.
There's another reason for choosing jerkbaits during this period. As water temperatures drop and bass activity decreases compared to mid-fall, bass may have a weaker strike. Using jerkbaits with treble hooks allows for securely hooking even subtle bites. Since most strikes occur on the tail-side hook, removing one front hook from the Rerange, as mentioned earlier, is not a problem.
1-3. Fishing in Clear Water
As winter approaches, turnover settles, and the water becomes increasingly clear. The clearer the water, the better the bass can see, and they may not strike aggressive lures like crankbaits. However, using soft-plastics is not efficient enough because bass are not yet fully concentrated in one spot. This is where so called Shad-bait(compact minnow shaped crankbait), which have a more baitfish-like appearance and less aggressive action, come into play. As mentioned in the previous section, running them near cover, especially hard cover adjacent to deep water, can evoke the image of small fish quietly moving from cover to deeper areas, enticing bass to chase after them.
The recommended Shad-bait is the Megabass SHADING-X R62. It is a versatile lure that can handle various actions, from fast to an extremely slow retrieve. When bass are not reacting to crankbaits but aren't so passively feeding, use the Megabass IXI SHAD. It has an action that does not break down even when bumped into obstacles and retrieved erratically, and its high-pitched rolling action allows it to be used as a slightly weaker crankbait. On the other hand, when the water clarity is extremely high and a more natural movement is required, try the Jackall Soul Shad. Start by retrieving it straight to gauge the response, and if that doesn't work, add darting action or twitches.
Targeting Bass 2: Bass That Have Already Moved to Deeper Waters
Let's consider the case of targeting bass that have already moved to deeper waters and are enduring the dropping water temperatures. Bass in low water temperature periods may have a narrower field of vision, and if the bait moves too erratically from side to side, they may not be able to keep up with its movement and lose sight of it. While side-to-side movement was used to trigger bass in the summer, as winter approaches, it is important to shift the focus to steady and straight. The key is to move the bait in a way that does not leave the bass's field of vision and appears easy for them to strike.
Even when simply referring to bass that have moved to deeper waters, there are several possible scenarios to consider:
- 2_1. When small fish that serve as prey for bass are also schooling in deep water
- 2_2. When bass are tightly glued to the bottom with their gaze directed downward
- 2_3. When bass are gathered at a specific spot, such as rocks on the bottom
In this article, we will use these three situations as examples and consider the appropriate fishing approach for each.
2-1. Fishing When Schools of Small Fish are in Deep Water
As fall progresses, baitfish also begin to move deeper to cope with the cold. In such situations, it is recommended to use a spinnerbait in deep water to mimic a school of small fish. Drop the spinnerbait near the bottom and retrieve it slowly so that it enters the bass's field of vision. For example, use DEPS B Custom 3/4oz with a heavier weight that can handle an extremely slow retrieve, or Megabass SV-3 3/4oz with a compact silhouette that can make even non-feeding bass bite. Spinnerbait fishing with an extremely slow retrieve in deep water is a standard pattern to keep in mind during this season.
2-2. Fishing for Bass Glued to the Bottom
When you sense that bass are completely glued to the bottom with their gaze directed downward, use a deep diving crankbait to tap the bottom. The moment the lure bounces off an obstacle is the perfect timing for a bite. The Megabass Deep-X 300 features a quick-diving ability, allowing it to swim at the desired depth range immediately after starting the retrieve, making it possible to thoroughly search for bass. Among deep-diving crankbaits, its action is relatively agile.
The Jackall Digle has high straight-swimming stability and does not deviate to the left or right even when tapping the bottom during retrieval. If you feel that the Megabass Deep-X is moving out of the bass's line of sight, switch to the Digle. Use the 3+/4+/5+ series according to the diving depth. When bass activity is low and crankbaits seem too aggressive for them to bite, use the IXI SHAD TX, which can reach depths of up to 13 feet (4 meters) despite its small 2.25-inch (57mm) body. Even in deep water fishing, it is important to have the option of switching from crankbaits to Shad-bait.
Although it may be too early for late fall, it is reassuring to have the Imakatsu IK-800R2 on hand when you need to target extremely deep areas. It is a deep-diving crankbait that can reach depths of over 16 feet (5 meters) with a regular cast and up to 26 feet (8 meters) when used for trolling. Its shape is also more rounded compared to the two manufacturers mentioned earlier, making it effective for adding variation when other crankbaits fail to entice bites.
2-3. Fishing for Bass Gathering at Specific Spots
When fishing from a boat, if you spot from above a point where bass are gathering or baitfish are lingering in a flat area offshore, it can be interesting to focus your fishing efforts on that specific spot. Bass may be gathering around a lone rock or boulder on the bottom.
In such situations, drop a heavy drop-shot-rig from that spot and observe the response. Drop it straight to the bottom, and once it touches down, lift and drop it repeatedly in a lift and drop motion. For the soft-plastic, the Megabass Hazedong Shad 3-inch is recommended. Despite its small size, its flat tail, which is thinly processed vertically, displaces water effectively, allowing it to make a strong impression with just an up-and-down motion. Adjust the leader length according to the depth range where bass are lingering, or make it longer if there are concerns about snags at the spot.
Another technique is to drop a small rubber jig and shake it. Using a smaller size can entice even bass that have moved deep and have slightly decreased feeding activity to take a bite. When bass are gathered around vegetation such as weeds, you can slide range it to the bottom, and even if it seems like it might get snagged, shaking it up and down while dropping it allows it to reach the bottom without getting caught. However, be aware that small jigs do not have much weight, so they take time to fall and may result in less detectable bites. The IMAKATSU MC Hanger Jig, despite being a small rubber jig, has the standout presence of a full-sized jig. Its snag-resistant design allows for bold casting in any location without worry. Focus on a single spot and shake, sometimes for longer durations of about 10 seconds.
Summary
We considered fishing techniques for late fall, dividing them into two options: Bass that still have an appetite and Bass that have moved to deeper waters early on.
For bass that still have an appetite, the key is to use baits suitable for the specific spot while creating feeding opportunities by pausing in areas where bass are likely to gather, adjacent to deep water with stable water temperatures.
- Weed beds: Fish with a swim jig that slides through easily, paired with a paddle tail swimbait.
- Near cover: Fish with jerkbaits, incorporating longer pauses and jerks.
- Clear Water: Catch Efficiently with Subtle Presentation Using Shad-bait(Compact crankbait)
For bass that have moved to deeper waters early on, it is necessary to consider their lower activity levels compared to feeding-mode bass and fish slowly or target specific spots.
- Schools of small fish: Fish with a spinnerbait using an extremely slow retrieve.
- Bass glued to the bottom: Fish by tapping the bottom with a deep diving crankbait.
- Bass gathered in one spot: Fish with a heavy drop-shot-rig focusing on a single point.
By considering these points and determining the state of the bass in the fishery, you can master the fishing challenges of late fall, often considered a difficult season.