Follow the Bait Fish

Follow the Bait Fish
As we move closer to the fall bite, one of the biggest tips I can give you is to follow the bait fish. The bait will move to the open bays and the bass will follow them as we move forward. Where the bait fish are the bass are there with them, they may be suspending waiting on the water to cool and oxygen to build into the deeper water, but you can bet the bass will be with the bait fish.

As this bait fish move becomes more prevalent the fall migration will start and the bass fishing will change considerable. You will move from slow moving baits like jigs and worms and start fishing with rattle baits, spinner baits and top water buzz baits. You will be back getting the bait ripped out of your hand like it was pre-spawn again. The lake will be changing right in front of you; the key now is searching the bays and open areas with your Lowrance Structure Scan! Find the bait look where it is positioned and start fan casting the area with reaction baits and find the fish.

It’s important to make mental notes during this time as the keys will tell you many things; are the fish near the banks, are they in the open mouths of the creeks. These are just a few of the mental keys that will lead you the rest of the way through fall fishing. Your targets will change, your presentations will change and fall fishing will be the norm!

One thing I tell customers is it is time to make long casts, bass are followers, they will follow your bait until it causes them to react. Presentation will mean everything, a yo-yo of a rattle bait might be the reaction you need to get a bite. Stop, drop, yo-yo, pause, rip it through the grass, anything thing you can do to get that bass to attack will cause a bite, and be key to fall fishing.