Fred Raby
Volbasser@att.net
Pensacola
Blue
Angels
Bass Page
hook.
com
"FISHING WITH FRED"
covering tidal waters and impoundments
Fall Season 'Feast or Famine'
The fall season can be a great time for bass fishing when you find those productive patterns and locate the fish.
One of the first rules of fishing is 'never leave fish to find fish' the question is how do you find those fish. Stick with the basics, fish familiar spots, follow the fall migration of bait fish, watch the wind and current and let nature tell you where to go by watching the bird and bait fish activity. These things can be very subtle, don't look for a neon sign, just pay close attention to the things you do see. Many times the bass will follow a spinnerbait back to the boat and never take it, or you will feel him nip at the skirt and not take the bait. All you have to do is figure out how to make him take the bait. Downsize, slowdown and/or switch to a soft jerk bait to entice the bass into striking.
I recently had bass following my white spinnerbait to the boat and turn away when they saw the boat, I switched to a bright yellow jerk worm. I cast to the same grass line as before but started catching fish instead of watching them follow the spinnerbait. Another technique that produced fish was to put a larger blade on the spinnerbait and slow roll it over the grass edge letting the fish take it on the fall. Once I found the fish and presentations that worked I stayed with them and caught fish the rest of the day.
After a frontal system blows through the fish will naturally be tight to cover. Find those spots where the wood and grass meet with a good deep water escape route, that's where the fish will be. Use baits and presentations you are confident with, you will do much better fishing something you are comfortable with when conditions are tough because you know the touch and feel of the bait you are using, if it feels different set the hook the fish on the other end might surprise you.
Wind will blow plankton and algae into a pocket, the bait fish will follow and the bass will not be far behind. Thoroughly work these areas with small crank baits and spinner baits to locate the bass and remember the bait you locate fish with may not be the bait you catch fish on.
Good luck and let me know if this works for you.
Fred Raby
