The wild-eyed, aggressive hawgs of late September Start with green weeds, then work deep
By Jerry CurtisI consider September and October great months for fishing bass in the Midwest, after that all-important, post-spawn period in mid-June. That statement carries an important caveat: After August, fish begin to scatter, so you'll find fewer pods of largemouth like we did that month. By the time turnover occurs in late September, bass literally could be anywhere in the lake. Finding these fish is a challenge.
So why are September and October such great months? For the same reason so many hunters have that wild-eyed look about them right now. The days are getting shorter, the mornings a little cooler, and bass (like their human counterparts) have the desire and energy to hunt. The harshest, strongest strikes of the year will occur in the next several weeks.
So let's tackle the challenging part of that early fall fishing equation: the search. Last month, I outlined my one simple rule for late-summer bass, deep weedlines. That location and those tactics would still work if not for one little problem: The weedlines aren't there anymore.
OK, that's an slight exaggeration. The weeds still exist, but some, especially the cabbage, have died back significantly by now. That means less oxygen, which is less desirable for baitfish. You know the rest: No baitfish, no bass.
Weeds begin greening up in late May and early June and peak by mid-July. By late July, depending on lake clarity and bottom content, some will be dying back, especially in the shallows. Bass have fewer ambush points in dying weeds, so they'll seek whatever green weeds remain.
So in the fall, start there. Dig out some topwaters, watch the surface for baitfish, and cast around some heavy weedbeds. Start with surface lures, then transition to jig and pigs. Lately, I've worked some plastics, but I find myself switching more to active lures like spinnerbaits in 8 to 10 feet of water. Remember, those wild-eyed bass are more apt to hit now because Mother Nature is telling them that winter is coming; that triggers feeding and more strikes.
When you find bass, expect quality fish in the 3 - to 3˝ - pound range. You'll find scattered fish and fewer schools, but the quality should be pretty good. They've nearly completed an entire growing season, albeit a dysfunctional one in 2004, so they're fat and healthy. When you find a weed pattern, it should run fairly consistent throughout the lake. A mix of green cabbage (if any still exists) and coontail is my favorite place to start.
No luck with that weed pattern? Don't give up, because here's another autumn location. Let's say things have progressed farther than we first thought, that the fish are moving deeper already. In Southern reservoirs, while we're fishing the hard water, jigging spoons are a winter bass bite lure. They'll drop them down 30 or 40 feet and jig-crank it like an ice walleye bite. Now, I'm not suggesting we employ that technique during an autumn in Minnesota, but we can intercept the bass on their way to winter haunts. How? By fishing vertical, deep drops.
Deep water breaks, especially near heavy weed flats, are one of my favorite areas in late fall. Use your electronics to locate baitfish schooled on these areas. This could be over water as deep as 25 to 30 feet. Early in the day, I'll often find bass near the edge of a break, then they'll transition deeper later in the day.
Toss out a jig worm with a Gopher Tackle mushroom jig, say about 3/32 ounce. (I'm a firm believer in the lighter, the better.) Bite off a half-inch of that 7-inch plastic worm, or try the same jig with a Senko. Cast it toward the break and follow the top line back down. Even in autumn, quite often, all you'll feel is extra weight when the strike occurs. Watch your line for a flick or jump, and set the hook.
Want one more, exciting option? Target the frog migration! All those amphibians are moving around and heading for the shallows to settle in for winter. Work the surviving lily pad fields near swampy or boggy areas for bass chasing small frogs. Start with a jig and pig in a black-and-blue, three eighths to half-ounce ounce jig, with a black/blue trailer. This is a bit like dipping milfoil. You're making short casts, even pitching, not far from the boat in about 5 feet of water. Bites will be fewer and farther between using this tactic, but when they hit, you'll know it.
I've outlined several techniques here simply because the conditions demand versatility. Come fall, you'll find me in many lake locations chasing bass, even casting to the occasional dock if any green weeds remain in the vicinity.
It's a great time of year for catching bass. You can even sleep in a bit since the colder water means a later bite. Yeah they're scattered, but when you find 'em, their aggressive attitude will remind you of why we call them "hawgs."
Jerry Curtis is a bass tournament angler and the 2001 winner of the Minn. Pro/Am Bass Tour Championship.
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