Mid Sept tactics

[poncho]

I'm planning a week long trip on Ten Mile by Hackensack during the week of the 10th of Sept. I am targeting LMB and Smallies. Typically, can I figure on catching LMB in the lilypads this time of the year? I figured the water would be cooling enough that some of the bass should be moving back into the shallows, am I wrong?

As far as smallies go, would they be found in the flats with boulders? I usually catch them in this type of structure in early June, during the pre-spawn time. I have been told by some people that both LMB and Smallies should be heading to the typical pre-spawn haunts this time of year. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[sicheneder]

our club was there at the end of september a few yrs. ago and the best bag came out of the reeds oin the big bag by on the west side of the lake. when i was there in the beginning of sept. the fish were really on docks, but it depends on what the temps and timing are like if the fish will stick to the docks.

[cheektowaga]

Agreed: too early to tell really. I fish a place near Hack a lot and last sept we did really well off of deeper weedlines in early Sept. Cranks or plastics produce bigger fish off of weedlines in 8-15 fow. But again, a nasty weather pattern could push fish anywhere, too early to tell.

[Lunker]

Although it is too early to get specific, you can generalize pretty well. Banking that the water will be cooling(and since we're farther up north, thats a good bet) the fish will be feeding before the winter doldrums and moving out of there summer haunts. Meaning look shallower. Won't be shallow like in the spawn, but relatively shallow. Although I will fish docks year round(in the morning in summer), spring and fall are generally your best bets for those. The weedline cannot be forgotten, and those tranistion areas from deeper summer haunts to shallower areas can be good. And yes, can't go wrong with a frog over the pads or a wacky rigged worm on the edges. Sep 10 is a bit early for true fall patterns though, so don't write off your summer tactics if it ends up being 90 degrees and sunny. But then again, they are fish, so who realy knows?