Early to Mid Fall: Finding Bass in Transition
As early fall arrives and water temperatures begin to drop into the mid-60s, both largemouth and smallmouth bass enter a transitional phase. Weed lines begin to decay, baitfish begin to roam, and bass become scattered. In these conditions, locating fish is half the battle.
By Will Nalley
Utilize side imaging to scan expansive flats, points, and remaining green vegetation. Mapping tools—both pre-loaded lake charts and live mapping can help pinpoint high-percentage areas such as isolated rock, submerged wood, or the inside edges of grass lines which can be absolute fish magnets.
Bass may be anywhere from 3 to 30 feet deep depending on forage and cover, so be prepared to adjust. As water temperatures cool further into the high 50s, fish location becomes more predictable, especially where weed beds thin and bait consolidates.
Tactical Options: Yo-Zuri Tools for Every Depth and Mood
Yo-Zuri’s lineup offers versatile and effective options for this dynamic season. For covering water, the Yo-Zuri 3DB Deep Crank (Citrus Shad or Prism Baby Bass) is ideal for reaching fish suspended along deeper breaks or bluff edges. In shallow water, the 3DB Squarebill (Real Bluegill or Sexy Shad) excels in deflecting off cover, while the 3DB Wake Prop (Bone or Black) draws reaction bites over grass and wood in less than 3 feet of water.
For finesse presentations on those cool mornings, tie a drop shot rig with a natural-colored bait like smoke or green pumpkin and pair it with 8-10lb Yo-Zuri SuperBraid 9 and SuperFlouro in 6–8 lb for low visibility, excellent sensitivity, and long reaching casts.
Ned rigs also shine especially on rock flats and transition zone rigged on 1/10–1/8 oz heads just dragging, hopping, or strolling.
In the fall period, bass will often target the largest bait available. Don’t overlook soft-bodied paddle tail swimbaits in the 4-6 inch range on 1/4-3/4 oz heads, especially around weed edges and secondary points. Run the same braid/flouro program as the drop shot, but step up to braid to 15-20lb, and the leader starting at 12lb. This combination will give you confidence to fish from shallow to deep.
The Topwater Connection: Capitalizing on Late-Day Heat
Topwater isn’t just a summer game. In fall, particularly in the 55–65°F range, topwater lures can trigger explosive strikes. Often conditions become more favorable late in the day when the sun at its hottest. As the sun warms shallow coves and flats, baitfish move up, bringing bass with them. This is a great time to fire up the topwater program.
The Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil (Bone or Prism Shad) remains a fall favorite. Its walk-the-dog action mimics injured baitfish, and it excels over submerged grass, shallow rocks, and open water.
Keep your eyes open - diving gulls or surface disturbances often point to feeding schools. It’s a great time for the long-casting Yo-Zuri Pro Series 110 MID (Matte Ghost Pearl Shad or Natural Ayu) or 3DB Twitchbait (Bone or Real Bluegill) which fishes masterfully sub-surface. These lures shine when fish are keyed in on crushing forage, but they don’t want to fully commit to breaking the water’s surface.
It's true that any time is a good time to be fishing, however fall is a season of change and great opportunity to catch outsized bass, and numbers of fish.
With the right tools at your disposal, a strategic approach, and a sharp eye for signs of life, both largemouth and smallmouth bass can be targeted successfully from fall transition right to ice up.
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