Fishing Fall Bass - Early Fall Fishing for Bass in the Northwest as the Seasons Change

You have just rolled out of bed, poured you coffee and there it is. You knew it was coming, but it is real, it is here. What am I talking about? It's not taxes, the Grim Reaper or even your in-laws coming for an extended stay. It is the first foggy Fall morning. If you have spent any time in the Northwest you know what that means. From here on out the weather will never get quite as hot as it did all summer, and the nights will be cooler. Sure, we may get an Indian Summer and some nice days, but the fact is, things are cooling off. Now it is time to start thinking about what that means for our Bass fishing.

With the falling temperatures, Bass will start to build up their Winter reserves. This can offer some fantastic fishing opportunities if you know what to look for. Big Bass that have been hiding deep all Summer are now moving up and looking for as much food as they can. Their feeding periods will also lengthen as the Sun drops to lower angles. All the better for us!

Most experts would agree that Fall Bass are suckers for the right crank bait. This means you probably will grab lures that are a little bigger than you have been using all Summer. The Bass that have made it to Fall are smart and will be looking for lures that closely match the size and color of the prey fish that spawned in the Spring. Check out what is in your lake and match up to that. Another good choice is to grab your top water lures. Again, the big Bass are looking to load up on food and will be watching for any easy meals above them.

Finding the Bass is of course key. But where are they? The simple answer is, where the bait fish are. These are most likely going to be found in closer to shore than they previously were, hanging out in the shallows and around the green plants. My favorite tactic to find bait fish is to bring along an extra pole rigged with a small jig and bobber and when I am exploring a lake, drop it out in front of me and let it sit on a hole before I start throwing my Bass hooks at it. I also toss it out when I am changing or re-tying lures. If there are bait fish there, then odds are, the Bass are lurking near by.

Important things to look for are areas where there is cover for the Bass to move between their deeper holding areas to the shallow feeding areas. Also remember on cloudy and windy days or in stained water, the Bass may not retreat at all to their holding areas, but may spend the day feeding in the shallows. Pay attention to water that is shallower than you would normally expect to find big fish. I have seen large Bass lurking in water as shallow as one foot.

On bright days or after a cold front has moved in, you will have to go back to their mid-day holding areas to find the Bass. Remember that a cold front will affect the shallow water first and the Bass will most likely hold to the deeper water and its more stable temperatures. In this case, it is time to finesse fish a little bit and work the deeper structure. Remember drop shotting?

Don't think that the falling temperatures means a let up in the Bass fishing. Lunker Bass are waiting for you. Grab yourself an extra pull over and get out there on the water, the fish are waiting!

Chris Cliff is a long time fisherman that hails from the remote lands of Northern Idaho, but has now moved to the big city. He and his crew fish the waters of the Northwest filming episodes of their own web based fishing show 'Fishing with Cliff'. You can find it at http://www.FishingWithCliff.com/ and features more great articles, photos, links and of course episodes of their show. Think of it as a fishing show crossed with reality TV.

---

Making The Most of Your Time - Fishing Safety Rules Everyone Should Know

When you are going fishing, whether nearby your home or... Read More

Back To Fish School....Baitfish 101

Class Is In Session.... Baitfish 101Okay.So you would think that... Read More

Selecting the Right Tackle

One of the most important things to consider when fly... Read More

Bass Fishing? Watch Out For the Gators!

Lakes in certain parts of the country contain more than... Read More

The Things You Wont Look Out For (But Should) When Night Fishing

5 Things To Be Careful of When Night FishingNight fishing... Read More

Monster Hunt: Ledge Lunker Blues Part I

Originally published in Procats Online MagazineSummertime angling for trophy-sized blue... Read More

A Technique To Catch Trophy Size Bass

There is a craze going on that produces big bass,... Read More

Why Water Skiing and Fishing Dont Mix

With the fourth of July weekend freshly behind us, I... Read More

The Joys of Trout Fishing

The thrill of trout fishing! It is the best, isn't... Read More

Care And Repair Of Fishing Lures

Making fishing lures may be easy for the seasoned do-it-yourself... Read More

My Fishing Trip With The Pro

I was in Southwest Florida and was asked to go... Read More

Dry Fly Techniques

Dry fly angling is at the top of any fly... Read More

The Fish Dont Care What You Wear

The fish don't care what you wear.... Read More

The Major Benefit Of Night Fishing

Number One Benefit to Night FishingI think the best thing... Read More

Choosing Steelhead Gear

Steelhead GearLike many things in fly fishing you can ask... Read More

Catch Your Limit With These Fishing Supplies

Great fishing supplies are an essential when it comes to... Read More

The Alaskan Experience

"FISH ON!!"I yelled, as my seven weight fly rod bent... Read More

Make Small Fortune In The Fishing Industry

Make Small Fortune In Fishing Industry.......now there is a headline... Read More

The Challenge of Brown Trout Fishing

Brown trout fishing can prove very challenging. This is due... Read More

Cincinnati Catfishing Bait

Some of the baits I have used for used for... Read More

Why Do I Fish?

As part of an email discussion list I'm part of,... Read More

Fancy Catching Something Slightly Different? How About an Angler Fish?

The true Angler Fish lives in both shallow and deep... Read More

Do You Know How To Clean A Fish?

Now that you have caught your dream fish, do you... Read More

Breeding Crayfish

In the text below I shall try to give a... Read More

Fishing The Henrys Fork - Box Canyon

It is easy to get intimidated by world class rivers.I... Read More

The Hendrickson Mayfly

Mayflies are essential to trout fly fishing. There are still... Read More

Fishing Equipment Tips

Cheap SinkersSpark plugs make excellent disposable sinkers. Need some cheap... Read More

Spinnerbait Tactics That Work

How many fish have you missed?It is said you could... Read More

Fish Cooking Basics - How to Transform Those Fish You Just Caught into a Wonderful Seafood Dinner

Fish Cooking Basics I must admit that I... Read More

Fly Casting - the Overhead Cast

The overhead cast is the most basic fly cast. Learn... Read More

The Way Of A Bass Fisherman With a Fly Rod And The Way Of A Bass With A Fly

-----SIDEBAR------------------------------------------Older fly fishing classics contain a wealth of knowledge for... Read More

Saltwater Fly Fishing in Washington State

When most people think of saltwater fly fishing their minds... Read More

Choosing the Right Fly Fishing Rod

Choosing a good rod is a major decision for the... Read More