Keep Moving, Fall Fishing Is All About The Bait

This article was written by Mark Lassagne, professional bass angler and editor-in-chief of Bass Angler Magazine.It's that magical time of the year, yes, magical mainly because you can literally pick the way you want to fish and catch fish doing that. Top water, crank baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, swimbaits or even drop shotting all work. Basically, everything in your September Mystery Tackle Box will catch bass!As the water cools the fish start moving from their summer migration routes to their fall migration routes. Summer bass travel from the main lake to main lake points. Fall bass will travel from the main lake to the creeks and then to the backs of the creeks and finally back to the main lake for the winter.Sounds easy enough just find the creeks and find the bass. But hold on, there is a reason fish move to the back of the creeks, just as there is a reason they don't. Fall fishing is all about the bait. Find the bait and the bass are sure to show up.There are several ways to find the bait. You can find it either schooling in a cove or a creek, you can see birds diving or fish busting the surface or you locate it on your electronics. The first two are pretty easy, but finding bait on your electronics can be challenging. Most times bait will look like a mass off the bottom, if the mass is touching the bottom it's most likely a tree.Once you've located the bait, search for cover (trees, points, rock piles etc.) where the bass will have an opportunity to ambush the bait fish. Even if the bait is deep, there are times when bass will be near it in shallower water.When choosing your baits for this time of year, think bait fish - shad, minnows, smelt, herring light colored and shiny. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, walking top water baits are all good choices.During most of the fall, the bass are eating, so don't wait for them to come to you, go get 'em. Keep moving until you locate the fish, catch 'em there until they stop biting. Then, move again.If you are finding the bait but can't get the fish to go, get the fall issue of Bass Angler Magazine and read Jody Only's story with Russ Meyer on spoonin' for shallow or deep bass.Good Luck!To read more great articles from Mark Lassagne and many others, make sure you order your subscription to Bass Angler Magazine!