Each year when the calendar pushes forward and the temperatures begin to cool, bass are on the move. The speed and progression of the changes vary based on where you live, but it happens everywhere.
Major League Fishing pro Dave Lefebre lives in Pennsylvania, where the changes are drastic as fish prepare for winter, but he sees some similarities across the country as the seasons change and uses the same approach no matter where he is during the summer to fall transition.
You Can Feel it in the Air
This time of year, Lefebre notices signs in the environment that tells him it is happening.
"It's happening now around me and you can see the leaves starting to turn colors," he said. "Even if the changes are not as drastic in other places around the country, there are some similarities and the bass know it and we know it, things are changing. The lakes are turning over and the bass are focused on baitfish whether it is emerald shiners or smelt around my house or shad in other places."
Lefebre focuses heavily on baitfish imitating lures now instead of the crawfish imitators he uses in the spring months.
"For the most part, it is all baitfish, minnow-y type baits and trying to capitalize on the great schooling activity in the fall," he shared. "It's awesome for topwater, crankbaits and jerkbaits when the seasons start to change."
He uses many different baits that let him imitate baitfish and cover water and has three must-haves for making the summer to fall transition.
13 Fishing Motor Boat Hybrid Prop Bait
The Motor Bait is a unique soft-bodied bait with a rear prop that Lefebre has come to love for fall fishing.
"It comes in two sizes and it is not the same old, same old bait and it catches fish," he said. "I fish a lot of shad patterns and the only real modification I make to it is maybe add a little black dot on the side or chartreuse streak on the side to look more like a shad."
The bait buzzes and spins along the surface and Lefebre is a big fan since you can fish it everywhere.
"It is great for open water, and I like to fish it around pinch points, saddles, the mouths of creeks and places where bass will be focusing on baitfish," he said. "It also works great just flying down the bank or in thick cover like lily pads, hay grass and other vegetation. It casts extremely well and comes through cover very well, you can throw it everywhere and it works when you are retrieving it and also when you pause it and let it flutter down."
There are instances when he beefs up his setup for fishing around thicker grass or fishing lakes with bigger bass.
"I'll swap out the hook for a heavier gauge hook and go up to a medium-heavy rod instead of a medium," he said. "I'll fish the same rod and go up to 50 or 65-pound braid when I need to instead of the 30-pound test I normally use.."
Spin Walker 108MM Topwater
Lefebre's next pick is another unique one, the Spin Walker that looks like any other walking bait except for one glaring difference: a buzzing prop built right in the belly of the bait. Lefebre says this allows you to fish it several different ways and is why he loves it during the transition from summer to fall.
"It's a very innovative design, and I was impressed with how quickly 13 Fishing was able to take it from an idea to an actual product," he said. "I look for the same exact areas as I do with the Motor Boat, but this casts even further. You can fish it with a steady retrieve on calm days and crush fish this time of year or mix it up and walk it; either way, you are showing fish something they've never seen before."
Loco Special Jerkbait
The final of Lefebre's must-haves during this timeframe is a jerkbait called the Loco Special, both the shallow and deep version.
"That jerkbait is special and you get to show the fish a little something different," he said. "I can't put my finger on it, but it works so well when you pause it and the fish have time to inspect it and still hit it on a slack line when it is sitting motionless."
During late summer and into the fall, Lefebre looks for suspending fish over tops of trees and around long dock cables, two high-percentage areas for fishing this time of year.
Fishing during the spring to fall transition can be a little tricky as bass move following baitfish and gear up for the next season. Professional angler Dave Lefebre keeps things simple with baits that he can move quickly while also trying to show them something different than everyone else is throwing.
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