Tactics

[mlvaj]

What's your guys favorite fishing tactics this time of the year? I'm trying to figure out a good pattern as I have a tournament coming in the next week on the Croix. I never fished this late in the season so I'm kind of lost here. Should I go with minnow type lures/worm type/crawdad? Should I be throwing bigger baits since it's later in the season? Any help is appreciated.

[Cecil]

minnow, cooler water and river. No need for bigger baits yet...

[bemidjibasser]

Baby 1 minus has been good for me lately, as have brush hogs, jigs and dingers. I have also been getting fish on poppers and spooks... Find some fish with a fast approach and then slow down with a jig or plastic presentation and work the area over thoroughly.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

It might be 'late' in the season but the temps have been unseasonably warm. Actually its been the longest warm stretch of the summer so far this year. Fishing today I was still using my summer tactics to catch largies in a lake.

The times Ive targeted bass this year on the Croix Ive had best luck with heavier but small profile spinnerbaits (trim the skirts to just behind the hook and smaller blades) crankbaits in shad colors and footbabll jigs with paca craws (plastic craw).