By Capt. Tyler Woolcott, Florida Big Fish Adventures
When the leaves start to turn and the water temps dip, bass anglers know what time it is: the fall feed. Bass are chasing bait like crazy, and it’s one of the best times of year to put big fish in the boat. The trick is knowing what to throw as the season shifts. Here are five proven fall baits that will help you stay on the bite no matter what the lake throws at you.
Spinnerbait: Few baits scream “fall” like a spinnerbait. When the wind picks up and shad push shallow, it’s hard to beat a double willow blade flashing through the chop. The flash and thump imitate a school of fleeing baitfish, and hungry bass can’t resist. Target windy points, creek mouths, and shallow flats anywhere the bait’s getting pushed around.
Lipless Crankbait: This one’s all about covering water. Fall bass are constantly on the move, and a lipless crank lets you find ’em fast. Burn it over grass, rip it free when it hangs up, and hold on! That reaction bite is what fall fishing’s all about. Red or chrome patterns are money this time of year, especially when bass are chasing shad.
Jerkbait: Once the water clears and the temps drop into the 60s, it’s jerkbait season. Work it with a twitch-twitch-pause cadence, and you’ll mimic dying baitfish to perfection. This lure shines around suspended bass that hang off points or creek channels. Just be patient. Sometimes the bite comes right when you least expect it, on that long pause.
Squarebill Crankbait & Swimbait: To round out your fall lineup, keep a squarebill and a swimbait on deck. A squarebill is your go-to for shallow cover: stumps, rocks, laydowns, anywhere bass are ambushing bait in the backs of creeks. Meanwhile, a soft or hard-bodied swimbait is ideal when you’re around big fish feeding on larger forage. Slow-roll it through bait schools or along creek channels for some of the biggest bass of the year.
Fall is all about finding the bait, and these five lures all mimic shad in their own way. Whether you’re slow-rolling a spinnerbait through wind-blown banks or ripping a lipless crank across a flat, the fish are feeding and it’s your job to get in on the action. Grab a few of these baits, follow the shad, and enjoy one of bass fishing’s most exciting seasons!
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide.
