The wild-eyed, aggressive hawgs of
late September
Start with green weeds, then work deep
By Jerry Curtis
I consider
September and October great months for fishing bass in the
Midwest, after that all-important, post-spawn period in mid-June.
That statement carries an important caveat: After August, fish
begin to scatter, so you'll find fewer pods of largemouth like we
did that month. By the time turnover occurs in late September,
bass literally could be anywhere in the lake. Finding these fish
is a challenge.
So why are
September and October such great months? For the same reason so
many hunters have that wild-eyed look about them right now. The
days are getting shorter, the mornings a little cooler, and bass
(like their human counterparts) have the desire and energy to
hunt. The harshest, strongest strikes of the year will occur in
the next several weeks.
So let's
tackle the challenging part of that early fall fishing equation:
the search. Last month, I outlined my one simple rule for
late-summer bass, deep weedlines. That location and those tactics
would still work if not for one little problem: The weedlines
aren't there anymore.
OK, that's
an slight exaggeration. The weeds still exist, but some,
especially the cabbage, have died back significantly by now. That
means less oxygen, which is less desirable for baitfish. You know
the rest: No baitfish, no bass.
Weeds begin
greening up in late May and early June and peak by mid-July. By
late July, depending on lake clarity and bottom content, some will
be dying back, especially in the shallows. Bass have fewer ambush
points in dying weeds, so they'll seek whatever green weeds
remain.
So in the
fall, start there. Dig out some topwaters, watch the surface for
baitfish, and cast around some heavy weedbeds. Start with surface
lures, then transition to jig and pigs. Lately, I've worked some
plastics, but I find myself switching more to active lures like
spinnerbaits in 8 to 10 feet of water. Remember, those wild-eyed
bass are more apt to hit now because Mother Nature is telling them
that winter is coming; that triggers feeding and more strikes.
When you
find bass, expect quality fish in the 3 to 3_ pound range.
You'll find scattered fish and fewer schools, but the quality
should be pretty good. They've nearly completed an entire growing
season, albeit a dysfunctional one in 2004, so they're fat and
healthy. When you find a weed pattern, it should run fairly
consistent throughout the lake. A mix of green cabbage (if any
still exists) and coontail is my favorite place to start.
No luck with
that weed pattern? Don't give up, because here's another autumn
location. Let's say things have progressed farther than we first
thought, that the fish are moving deeper already. In Southern
reservoirs, while we're fishing the hard water, jigging spoons are
a winter bass bite lure. They'll drop them down 30 or 40 feet and
jig-crank it like an ice walleye bite. Now, I'm not suggesting we
employ that technique during an autumn in Minnesota, but we can
intercept the bass on their way to winter haunts. How? By fishing
vertical, deep drops.
Deep water
breaks, especially near heavy weed flats, are one of my favorite
areas in late fall. Use your electronics to locate baitfish
schooled on these areas. This could be over water as deep as 25 to
30 feet. Early in the day, I'll often find bass near the edge of a
break, then they'll transition deeper later in the day.
Toss out a
jig worm with a Gopher Tackle mushroom jig, say about 3/32 ounce.
(I'm a firm believer in the lighter, the better.) Bite off a
half-inch of that 7-inch plastic worm, or try the same jig with a
Senko. Cast it toward the break and follow the top line back down.
Even in autumn, quite often, all you'll feel is extra weight when
the strike occurs. Watch your line for a flick or jump, and set
the hook.
Want one
more, exciting option? Target the frog migration! All those
amphibians are moving around and heading for the shallows to
settle in for winter. Work the surviving lily pad fields near
swampy or boggy areas for bass chasing small frogs. Start with a
jig and pig in a black-and-blue, three eighths to half-ounce ounce
jig, with a black/blue trailer. This is a bit like dipping
milfoil. You're making short casts, even pitching, not far from
the boat in about 5 feet of water. Bites will be fewer and farther
between using this tactic, but when they hit, you'll know it.
I've
outlined several techniques here simply because the conditions
demand versatility. Come fall, you'll find me in many lake
locations chasing bass, even casting to the occasional dock if any
green weeds remain in the vicinity.
It's a great
time of year for catching bass. You can even sleep in a bit since
the colder water means a later bite. Yeah they're scattered, but
when you find Œem, their aggressive attitude will remind you of
why we call them "hawgs."
Jerry Curtis
is a bass tournament angler and the 2001 winner of the Minn.
Pro/Am Bass Tour Championship.
