Fall Patterns/Presentation

[catchandrelease]

Hello, this is my first adventure into the bass forum. I was converted to a bass fisherman from a @%^@eye(don't know if that word is welcome in this forum) : ) fisherman 2 summers ago. In 2 years I have stacked up quite the bass arsenol of rods, reels, plastics, jigs, tubes, worms, senkos, flukes, various topwater, cranks, spinnerbaits- you name it. My presentation of choice is definately wormin' or senkin'-so versatile. I have read about bass in the fall and it is supposed to be jignpig, slorollin' spinnerbaits, and cranks. However, the past two fall seasons, I have really struggled. I will catch straggler nice fish but never seem to locate a group of fish-or can never get them to move. What movements do bass make in Minnesota in the Fall, and what has been established as a consistent pattern for you die-hard Bass people out there? Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks, catchandrelease

[Deitz Dittrich]

I could get really long winded on this.. but will wait for others to fill in.. This question really needs a little more information. I talk to some anglers who call this time of year right now as "FALL" fishing.. and yes we have started some fall patterns... However, I call now untill ice is covering the lake.. as "fall"... As the year progresses the fish will become more predicatble and school up tighter in my opinion. The key, green weeds! Find the heathy weeds and dont leave them... The only thing that will pull me off weeds is a decent wind and rocks...

As the weeds start to die back, look for inside turns.. where deep water is closest to shore.. try and cover water.. IE.. spinnerbaits.. rat-l-traps, shallow cranks.. and find "A FISH".. once you catch one.. slow down and see if there are more.. if there isn't I would be VERY SURPRISED!.. as I say slow down.. go back to jigs, plastics(texas rig, carolina rig, splitshot rig)

IMHO true fall fishing has not yet begun!

[Dan Wood]

Welcome to the bass forum catchandrelease! I'm an ex-walleye nut myself... Exudedude has you covered with some great information. I agree that we aren't into fall patterns yet, although this is a very productive time to be on the water. Typically when you start feeling true fall weather patterns - it is still early. The water takes longer to cool and turn.

[sami0115]

a strategy that has worked well for me in the fall is to emulate a frog (green: spinnerbaits w/ twister tails, buzz baits w/ twister tails and jig -n- pigs) the frogs migrate into the lake/river to hibernate in the bottom. seems to work very well. this last weekend while in northern minnesota i caught a few bass that were no more than a few feet from shore in a foot or two of water. i think they were up near shore hitting the frogs as they came into the water.

[This message has been edited by sami0115 (edited 09-10-2004).]

[catchandrelease]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen, I stuck to my guns with the worm action and popped a couple landlocked ultra-clear pit smallies on a local body of water that I fish.