Fall is a great time to be on the water because the water is cooling and the fish are moving. There are many different ways to catch them and you can generally fish some baits that produce violent strikes as the bass have feeding on their mind. As fall creeps in, consider some of these must-have baits that include newer items and a handful of proven favorites that have been catching them for years.
Topwater baits
One of the best parts of autumn is the topwater bite; having several options is always a good idea so you can cover your bases for every situation. From walking baits and pencil poppers and frogs, you will get bit this time of year. You should add a plopper like a River2Sea Whopper Plopper or Berkley Choppo into the mix because they are fun to fish and allow you to cover water quickly as you search for actively feeding bass.
For walking baits, there are plenty to choose from. Some of the most effective and easy to walk are baits like the Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil and Berkley J-Walker. Both are reasonably priced and come in great colors, including the staple bone color that works everywhere when bass feed heavily on shad like during the fall months.
For a little more commotion, pencil poppers are a great way to cash in on the best fall fishing. Baits like the ima Little Stik 135 and even the larger Big Stik are great because they cast so well and call fish from long distances. They are dynamite for catching fall bass and will also catch plenty of stripers.
When it comes to frogs, there are many great ones on the market. The bait style's popularity has forced companies to step up their game and there are some great ones from just about everyone now. Companies like Snag Proof have redesigned the popular Phat Frog and Bobby's Perfect Frog while adding Smashmouth, a great popping frog.
Swimbaits hard and soft
Swimbaits are another must this time of year, everything from bite-sized Strike King Rage Swimmers to jumbo hard baits and glides. All will start to work well during the fall months and the bite will improve as the water cools down even more.
One great way to catch bass this time of year is a simple jighead with a small swimbait. It appeals to largemouth, smallmouth, and spots and can easily catch bass. Use a swimbait head and bait like the Rage Swimmer and cast and retrieve anywhere that shad are present.
For those looking for a bigger bite, a glide bait is a great way to do it this time of year. The Deps Slide Swimmer is a popular choice and although the 175 and 250 sizes get the most attention, the smaller 115 and 145 have the same great look and action, just in a smaller profile. They work great in the fall, and the smaller sizes fool fish looking for a smaller meal.
A-rigs and jerkbaits
One of the best parts of cooling waters is the fact that the baitfish and bass get bunched up and an Alabama Rig is one of the best ways to catch them in a hurry. There are some great ones on the market. Pair them with small swimbaits like the Strike King Rage Swimmer and you are ready to catch some cold water bass.
Several companies make them in different versions, with different hook and spring configurations, so you can always be legal based on your state's hook allowance. The colder it gets, the better these rigs work and you can fish them well into the winter until bass start thinking of spawning in the spring.
Another must this time of year to capitalize on the shad feasting action is a jerkbait. They do a great job of imitating baitfish and you can fish them fast, watching your forward-facing sonar or casting to points and other likely areas. A great one with many fans is the Berkley Stunna and it comes in the standard 112 size and the deeper diving 112+1. Stick with proven shad patterns like phenom, shad filet, and stealth shad this time of year.
Fall is one of the best times to be fishing and you can fish fast with fun to fish moving baits as long as you want to and catch fish. It's a time of year when the fish get on the move and start feeding and these must-have baits will help you capitalize on the fall feeding frenzy.
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