Today’s post comes from year-round multispecies angler and writer Ashley Rae of SheLovesToFish.com.
Fall is the absolute favourite season for many anglers.
It’s no wonder! Although I love summer, I quickly forget I’m missing the heat when fall bass action rolls around.
There are tons of reasons why now is a great time to get out on the water and chase Large-mouth and Small-mouth Bass. Below, I’ve included just a few reasons why you need to get in on some fall bass fishing action, like now!
Fall fish are fatter
Cool water slows down the metabolism of bass. In preparation for winter bass will feed and bulk up.
Bass feed opportunistically throughout the year, and some days will always be more productive over others for catching them.
Cool fall temperatures put bass into binge-mode to pack on the pounds in order to survive the upcoming winter months. This doesn’t mean they’ll be jumping in the boat necessarily, but if you can figure out an effective pattern you can certainly capitalize on this behaviour.
This seasonal feeding frenzy is not just limited to bass, either. Fall is a great time to fish for a variety of species.
Less boat traffic, more serenity
You won’t see too many people waterskiing or tubing at this time of year! With the drop in water temperatures, I can’t say I blame them. Brrr!
Many boats have been winterized already, resulting in a noticeable decrease of traffic out on the water. It’s quite nice having the whole lake or river all to yourself.
Not to mention that the parks provide a spectacular backdrop to your adventure, and your photos will be more beautiful than ever.
Where there’s one bass, there’s typically more
Bass can often be found in groups throughout the year. However, during fall, they consistently stack up.
This is especially true following the lake turnover. This is when the water temperature becomes uniform from top to bottom.
Both Large-mouth and Small-mouth hunker down in areas that provide what they need, and they won’t stray too far from their essentials. As the season progresses, bass will preserve their energy so having everything they need nearby is handy.
Bass become more predictable
In the fall, bass are found in locations that provide easy access to structure, and deep and shallow water. An example would be a deep weedline or structure with adjacent shallow water nearby.
They’ll move along the points from deep to shallow, and if you find these areas you can intercept them. Once you’ve discovered the types of areas holding bass, you can duplicate your success in similar locations.
It’s a fun puzzle and once you get a few pieces in place, you’re well on your way to a great day on the water.
Looking for a starting point for a fall bass fishing adventure? Start by visiting the Parks Locator to see which parks operate during the fall season.