Story by Hunter Baughman | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Here in the South, we are finally getting an extended break from the heat. This means fall is on the horizon. No need for sweatshirts just yet but the water temps are beginning to drop ever so slightly. I’d like to share a few tips with you to help catch fish through the fall transition.
As the water cools. look for the fish to follow the bait into the creeks. The best way to find the fish is start fishing at the mouth of a major creek and sample stretches all the way to the back. Somewhere in that creek, the fish will be more congregated. You should be able to take that knowledge and apply it to other creeks on the lake.
This late summer/early fall time of year is when the baitfish really start to group up. Consequently, the fish group up with them and there will be schooling activity. It’s the perfect time to break out the topwaters! Obviously, you want a walking type bait. I prefer the Ark Topwater Slider for schooling activity. Look for these fish on main creek points and humps. That’s not the only time to throw a topwater though. This is a great time of year to roll down the bank with a buzzbait. I’m throwing the buzz on lay downs and docks mainly. I like the Brazalo Custom Lures Wee-Whacker for its small and subtle approach. If there is vegetation matted out, then a hollow body frog can be deadly.
Another great tool for those shallow fish is a squarebill crankbait such as the Ark Fishing CT35. You can cover plenty of ground with a crankbait. Just as with the buzzbait, shallow docks and laydowns will be the ticket.
Shallow isn’t the only way to catch fish in the fall though. When the lake turns over, the thermocline disappears, and the fish will scatter. It can be a tough time with fish all over the water column, but it’s a great time of year to utilize whichever tactics you prefer. Last October, my dad and I won a two-day championship in 45 feet of water. Second place caught theirs in inches of water. That’s a prime example of how they disperse after the turnover.
Next time you’re on the water in this challenging time of year, think back on some of these tips. Remember that at any given time, the fish are eating somewhere on the lake. Figuring out where and how are some of the most rewarding accomplishments we can achieve as anglers. The dead times may be a real grind, but those will quickly be forgotten as a school of 50 fish start feeding on shad all around your boat!
I hope this encourages you to get the boat out and go find some late summer/early fall action.
Catch y’all next week!
Hunter Baughman – Angler Profile
