Fred Raby
Volbasser@att.net
Pensacola Blue
Angels
Bass Page
hook.
com
"FISHING WITH FRED"
Covering Tidal Waters And Impoundments
Transitions
Summer is almost over and we are all ready for the heat to leave, but what are the bass doing…they are starting to move from their summer patterns.
How do we find fish when they begin to migrate,
and what is migration to a bass?
I want to share some of the things that have made me successful in always finding fish. The biggest thing I see is 'reading' the water and elements. Is the water higher or lower than normal? Is the wind blowing or calm? Are shad moving? Is there activity on top? What is the temperature and water temp? Is the water clear or cloudy or stained? As we start to look at these things we start to find clues to what the fish are doing.
Summer to fall patterns begin when the weather begins to cool. When the night air drops it has a tremendous affect on the water temp. As the winds blow in with fronts the fish change their 'attitude'. Shad begin to school and move into the creek mouths and bass follow. How do we catch them?
Following these signs and some good logic helps. When the shad begin to school and move a shad color crankbait is a great choice. Another good choice is a spinnerbait if there is wind moving the surface. Choose a bait that matches the size of the baitfish and follow their migration pattern.
In our rivers the migration may only be a few hundred feet, in a reservoir that migration may be a few miles. You need to reason that out by looking at the land features and underwater depth channels and creek mouths.
Transitioning fish can be a great opportunity to get your limit. The key is to use your head and present baits in the areas which reveal activity, then to present baits which match the feeding patterns of the bass.
Good luck
Fred Raby
