Can you catch smallmouth bass in the fall?

Published by Anaya Cole on

Can you catch smallmouth bass in the fall?

When the water starts to cool down in mid to late September, the fall smallmouth start to feed up for the winter months. Fall smallmouth can be found across the United States and Canada and the fishing can be absolutely awesome through the month of October and sometimes even into November, depending on the weather.

Where do smallmouth bass go in the fall?

Wing dams, islands, sand drops and mouths to backwaters all provide excellent areas for baitfish balls to group up and create ambush points for schools of smallmouths. Those same large eddies become wintering locations for smallmouths so they don’t have to move much and are often found in water less than 10 feet deep.

What do smallmouth like in the fall?

Why they work: Smallmouth bass love to clobber a fast-moving spinnerbait. As water temperatures drop, fish will be actively chasing down prey — and this lure mimics their food of choice perfectly. I like to use spinnerbaits in the fall as a search lure. They can cover a lot of ground and help you locate fish fast.

How do you catch smallmouth in early fall?

The author’s favorite early fall baits for lake Smallmouth Bass (left to right from top): swimbait on a fish head spinner, dog-walking topwater lure, swim jig, soft jerkbait and suspending hard jerkbait.

Do smallmouths move shallow in fall?

Fall is one of my favorite times to catch smallmouth, because the fish move shallow and they’re super aggressive. With the days getting shorter and water temperatures starting to drop, they put the feed bag on, and it gets to be a blast.

How do you catch a smallmouth river in October?

River smallmouth in the fall will move to the shallow gravel banks to feed on minnows in the early morning so Smith will tempt these fish with spinnerbaits, Jewel Bait Company Gem Blades 2.0 rigged with swimbaits, Flukes and topwater lures.

How deep are smallmouth in the fall?

As September surrenders to October and beyond, smallmouths move deeper still. Their love of structure turns into a passion, as they hold on vertical drops from 10 to 20 feet deep.

How do you catch Late fall river smallmouth?

Guide Tommy Bench’s three favorite lures for river smallmouth in late summer and early fall are a buzz bait, Fluke, and jig-and-craw combo. The Missouri angler slowly drags the jig along the bottom with 20-pound fluorocarbon line. “I want to feel every rock, crease, crevice, and log or anything on the bottom,” he says.

Does Lake Erie smallmouth bass fishing slow down in the fall?

Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass fishing does not slow down during the summer months as some may think; fishing tactics merely evolve. Smallmouth Bass fishing on Lake Erie turns into a feeding frenzy again in the fall months as they prepare for the winter. Captain Cory has been Bass Fishing Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay his entire life.

Where can I Fish Lake Erie for smallmouth?

Major League Fishing pro Dave Lefebre finds spawning Lake Erie smallmouth along the sand flats in Presque Isle Bay. Tournaments have proven Lake Erie is a smallmouth bass factory. During the major tournaments on Erie, the top contenders consistently catch limits of brown bass in the 18- to 20-pound range.

What is the record for smallmouth in New York State?

The last five New York State record smallmouths have come from Lake Erie, with the current record standing at an impressive 8 pounds, 4 ounces. Smallmouth bass are the most frequently caught fish species in Lake Erie and fishing trips for smallmouths make up about 25% of all Lake Erie fishing trips for the entire year.

When is the best time to catch smallmouth bass in Pennsylvania?

Spring Smallmouth Bass fishing heats up as the fish enter Presque Isle Bay in April. Water temperatures become ideal during May for spawning. As water temperatures rise during the month of June, Smallmouth Bass will begin Lake Erie Bass Charters are a Smallmouth Bass anglers dream. Trips depart from Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania.

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