Fall Bass Fishing: The Ultimate Guide to Catching More Bass

Fall bass fishing is one of my favorite times to be on the water. As the temperatures drop and the leaves start to turn, bass behavior shifts in exciting ways and if you know what to look for, you can land some of the biggest fish of the year. In this guide, I’ll walk you through my proven tactics for bass fishing in the fall, covering seasonal patterns, lure picks, and gear tips that work across different regions. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a serious angler, there’s something here for you. You’ll also find more tips on riversiderelics.com.

Key Takeaways:

Fall is All About Transition: Bass move from deep summer haunts to shallower feeding zones, following the baitfish.

Water Temperature is Everything: The "sweet spot" is when water temps drop into the 60-50°F range. This is the peak feeding window.

Follow the Food: Your primary goal is to find the baitfish (shad, bluegill). Where they go, the bass will follow.

Power to Finesse: Start with fast-moving "power" lures to cover water and switch to slower "finesse" techniques as the water gets colder.

The 3 Stages of the Fall Transition: Your Roadmap to More Bass

After years of chasing bass, I’ve learned the secret to fall fishing is understanding it’s not one season-it's three distinct stages. As the water cools, bass make predictable moves. Master these three phases, and you'll stay on the fish from the last days of summer to the first hard frost.

Stage 1: Early Fall & The Initial Cooldown (Water Temps: 70s down to 60°F)

Where to Find Them: Bass are just beginning their migration. They haven't stormed the backs of the creeks yet. Instead, focus on "staging areas"-places they stop on their way shallow. Look for main-lake points, secondary points leading into creeks, channel bends near flats, and the mouths of major tributaries.

Best Lures & Tactics: This is prime time for power fishing. Your goal is to cover water quickly to find active, aggressive fish.

• Lipless Crankbaits: A 1/2 oz. model is perfect for ripping through dying grass and burning across flats. The intense vibration and sound trigger reaction strikes. Pro Tip: Try Chrome/Blue in clear water and Rayburn Red in stained conditions.

• Spinnerbaits: A top pick for windy days. A 3/8 oz. to 1/2 oz. model with a combination of willow and Colorado blades creates flash and thump. Pro Tip: White or white/chartreuse mimics baitfish on overcast days, while shad patterns excel in clearer water.

• Topwater Lures: Incredibly effective during low-light hours (morning/evening). A walking-style bait like a Zara Spook or a sputtering buzzbait pulled along grass edges is irresistible to bass looking up to feed.

Stage 2: Mid-Fall & The Feeding Frenzy (The Sweet Spot: 60-50°F)

Where to Find Them: This is it the main event. The migration is in full swing. Bass are now actively ambushing massive schools of baitfish in the backs of creeks, coves, and on shallow flats. Look for ambush points within these areas: channel swings that cut close to the bank, laydown trees, dock pilings, and the first major drop-off inside a creek arm.

Best Lures & Tactics: The fish are aggressive and feeding heavily to bulk up for winter. This is the prime time when the best fall bass fishing lures truly shine, allowing you to use more targeted presentations while still covering water to find active schools.

• Jerkbaits: Absolutely deadly in clear water when bass are suspended and chasing bait. The "twitch-twitch-pause" cadence of a classic model like a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 in a color like Ghost Minnow or American Shad is a must-have. The pause is when they bite!

• Flipping Jigs & Creature Baits: When you find a concentration of fish near cover, it's time to slow down. A 1/2 oz. black-and-blue or green-pumpkin flipping jig with a matching craw-style trailer pitched into a laydown can entice the bigger, less active fish in the school.

• Shallow-Diving Crankbaits: A squarebill crankbait is the perfect tool for targeting those specific ambush points. Banging it off stumps and rocks in 2-6 feet of water is a classic pattern.

Stage 3: Late Fall & The Pre-Winter Lull (Water Temps: Below 50°F)

Where to Find Them: The frantic feeding slows, and the bass bunch up into tight schools. They vacate the shallows and position themselves on deeper, vertical structure that offers easy access to deep water. Think steep bluff walls, deep rock piles, standing timber on channel edges, and the very ends of long, tapering points.

Best Lures & Tactics: It's time to shift to a finesse mindset. The bites are fewer, but they are often from the biggest fish in the lake.

• Blade Baits & Jigging Spoons: When bass are holding deep and vertically, nothing beats a 1/2 oz. to 3/4 oz. blade bait or jigging spoon. Let it fall to the bottom and use short, vertical "yo-yo" hops to trigger strikes from lethargic fish.

• Finesse Rigs: For tough, post-frontal conditions, a Drop Shot Rig with a 4-inch finesse worm or a Ned Rig with a 2.75-inch stickbait worked slowly near the bottom can save the day.

• Football Jigs: Slowly dragging a heavy 3/4 oz. to 1 oz. football jig with a bulky craw trailer across deep, rocky bottoms is a proven technique for catching stubborn, cold-water giants.

Fall Bass Fishing Cheat Sheet

Pro-Tip: Regional Adjustments

• Northern Natural Lakes: The fall transition often revolves around the last remaining green weedlines. Bass will use these deep weed edges as ambush points for bluegill and yellow perch. A suspending jerkbait or a swim jig can be deadly here.

• Southern Reservoirs: The migration is typically a massive movement following schools of shad. Focus heavily on the creek channels. Your electronics are your best friend for finding the baitfish. Lipless crankbaits and jigs are key players.

My Essential Gear Checklist for Fall Bass Fishing

Having the right gear ready to go allows you to adapt as quickly as the fish do. Here’s what I have on my deck every time I go out in the fall.

Rods & Reels:

• A 7' medium-heavy casting rod with a high-speed reel for spinnerbaits and crankbaits.
• A 7’3” heavy casting rod with braided line for flipping jigs and swimbaits.
• A 7' medium-light spinning rod with an 8-10 lb fluorocarbon leader for finesse techniques like drop shots.

Must-Have Lures:

• Moving Baits: Lipless crankbaits, squarebills, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits.
• Subsurface: Jerkbaits, swim jigs, small swimbaits on jigheads.
• Bottom Contact: Football jigs, blade baits, jigging spoons.

Essential Extras:

• High-quality rain gear. Fall weather turns in an instant.
• Good polarized sunglasses to spot baitfish and submerged cover.
• A digital thermometer to track water temperature changes throughout the day.
• Gloves and layered clothing. You can always take a layer off.

Not sure which rod to choose? Check out our complete guide on How to Select the Perfect Bass Fishing Rod.

Timing the Bite: How Weather & Conditions Win the Day

Figuring out the best time to fish bass is just as important as the "where" and "what."

• Best Time of Day: In early fall, low-light hours (early morning and late afternoon) are best. As water cools into the mid-fall sweet spot, bass will often feed throughout the day, especially on overcast days.

• The Power of Wind: Don't fear the wind; use it. A steady breeze pushes baitfish into predictable areas (like wind-blown banks and points) and breaks up the surface, making bass less wary.

• Fishing After a Cold Front: High-pressure, bluebird skies after a front can make for a tough bite. Bass will often shut down and hold tight to deep cover. This is the time to downsize your lures, slow your presentation to a crawl, and have patience.