What we throw in October

October; What a time of year to be a bass angler. Many anglers stow their rod and reel and pull out their bow or deer rifle. Others give up on pursuing bass after a lackluster September and opt for Saturday college football instead. But the rest of us, the die-hards, still head out on the water. And when we get there, we find fewer boats, more shallow bass, and a cool breeze on our faces. What a wonderful time of year to be a bass angler.

Today we will discuss some of the baits we use in October. I’ll take the Southeast and no doubt mention a few baits that work in other parts of the country this time of year. But I’ve also enlisted the help of a few hammers in the North, West and Deep South to give everyone something to grab hold of, no matter where you live. Clifford Perch, Jeff Gustafson and Scott Martin will all be reflecting on what October will look like back home. Here’s what we’re hosting in October.

SPINNERBAITS, SPINNERBAITS AND MORE SPINNERBAITS

October is the perfect time of year to throw one Spinnerbait. Bass push shallow across much of the country, seeking whatever cover they can find to lie in wait for passing prey. Whether the bass are stationed on docks, rocks or seawalls or hiding in vegetation and treetops, a spinnerbait is the perfect tool to target them. The Nichols catalyst proved to be one of my favorites last year.

In autumn there is often a bit of wind and/or a bit of color in the water. In either case, the spinning and tumbling blades of a spinnerbait closely mimic shad and other baitfish, and the slapping and flashing of the blades acts as a homing device to help bass focus on the bait. Add to that a spinnerbait’s fantastic hook ratio and propensity for big bites, and you can see why this is my favorite fall bait.

SURFACES

As we work our way through October, the water is really starting to cool down across much of the country, and the first few nights when the temperature is near freezing can really take a toll on the headwaters. Still, you’ll want to keep a topwater on deck until the last minute because this is still one of the best months of the year to cast BuzzbaitsSpooks, poppers, ploppers, Frogs and the like.

Shad and other baitfish congregate near the surface over deep water while schools of them simultaneously flood the shallows. This increased activity near the surface makes for world-class topwater fishing. Choose a bait that mimics food well and best suits the fish’s coverage and position. For example, if you’re targeting bass that are out in the open, a walking topwater that you can bombard is best. However, if the bass are hanging on the edge of a grass line instead, you’ll find that a buzzbait, toad, or hollow-bodied frog can traverse the terrain better than a bait with dangling treble hooks.

FLAT SIDED SQUAREBILLS

Although many associate shallow wobblers Since the water is extremely cold later in the winter, they are also great for fishing in the fall. There’s something about the profile, size and shine of a flat squarebill that really triggers bass exceptionally well in October. These baits, like that Jackall Bling For example, they still get through cover very well like a traditional squarebill, but can also dive a little deeper.

This is a great combination for the fall when the bass are in transition from deep to shallow water and may be a foot underwater at the base of a laydown area and then deeper in the branches of the nearest tree. The bling in particular has been one of mine and my dad’s fall favorites for over a decade. This lure casts really well, comes with a great set of hooks, and runs perfectly right out of the box.

LIPLOSE CRANKBAITS

The lipless crankbait is synonymous with fall bass fishing. In October the bass are scattered all over the water in 30 to 20 or more feet of water. And there really is no other lure that can traverse this vast water column as well as a lipless crankbait.

Where ½- and even ¾-ounce Rat L-traps, Red-eye shads While other lipless plugs shine particularly well in early spring and the pre-spawn period, in the fall you will often find that a ¼ ounce lipless plug is most productive. While you can still definitely catch bass with a ½ ounce trap, going with a ¼ ounce lipless trap will usually imitate the bait better and give you the best chance of catching more fish while you At the same time also attract big bites.

AROUND THE COUNTRY

Now let’s take a look at the patterns that are emerging across the country. Here are some tips from professionals who know these regions best, directly from their own experience.

FLORIDA: SCOTT MARTIN

The best tip for bass fishing in October in Florida is to look for running water. As everyone knows, hurricane season is in full swing this time of year. We get a lot of rain and the water levels in our lakes tend to rise quickly.

Look for canals and pumping stations that pump water into or out of these lakes. There are huge schools of bass in these areas. Wobblers, topwaters and Carolina Rigs and even large swimbaits can produce some of the best bites.

WEST COAST: CLIFFORD PIRCH

October is a fun time of year because there are a lot of things that work. The bass are everywhere in the water column. But I’m definitely leaning towards a top. The water is super clear (on many lakes in the West) so they have to travel a long way to find headwater. So I just throw it (a Rio Rico Popper) in coves around deep grass and man-made structures, things like that.

A brightly colored dropshot worm also works really well in the fall. They’re great for baitfish and I prefer bright colors, so my Big Bite Baits Cliffhanger in Cranberry or Polluted Dawn gets really good from mid to late October.

These are two large specimens that I have on deck that allow me to target fish at any depth zone, even suspended fish in dropshot with this bright worm. Of course, if you see them cooking, you can catch them on top. But they tend to do that one minute and go down to 40 or 50 feet the next minute. So it gives you two options to cast at them.

TO THE NORTH: JEFF GUSTAFSON

I’m spending October at home, Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake. These are the typical large bodies of water in smallmouth country. Smallmouths begin grouping on rock piles and flats offshore where they will spend the winter, but do not eat much once the ice forms. So you’re in full swing with feeding right now.

You can still catch fish with crayfish-mimicking baits, but most fishing in the north really focuses on pelagic baitfish like smelt, alewives and herring, so baits that imitate these are the best. I’m a big fan of it Northland Smeltinator Jig provided with a tip Z-Man Jerk ShadZ. I choose the size of my bait based on the size of food the bass is spitting out, but my choice is usually a 3/8 oz, 2/0 jig with a 4-inch bait. Flutter spoons, hair jigs, drop shot rigs and umbrella rigs are also effective.

GET BITTEN THIS OCTOBER

One of the most important tips for fishing in October, no matter where you live, is having the right hatch. You hear this phrase a lot when it comes to fall fishing, so it’s become a bit of a cliché. However, it’s really important to not only look for areas where bait is present, but also to do everything you can to select a bait that looks and behaves similarly to the real thing. This will definitely help you get more bites this fall.

What Martin mentioned about the importance of running water in Florida is really something good that we should all keep in mind. Bass tend to hang out in moving water most of the year, but especially in the fall when water changes in many lakes can cause oxygen levels to deteriorate. Running water not only provides the fish with food, but it also aerates the water, just like the aerator in your aquarium. So that’s something else you should definitely look for.

Have a bait that closely mimics the forage in your area and look for areas where the bait is widely available. If you just start with these two simple tips, you’ll be able to implement them pretty well across the country come October.