7 Best Early Fall Bass Lures to Catch Bigger Bass Now!
Are you ready to take your fall bass fishing to the next level? With the cooler water temperatures, bass become more active and aggressive, making this a prime time for anglers to get out and land some trophy catches. But what’s the best lure to use in early fall?
We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll go over some of the top bass lures for early fall fishing that will help you catch more fish and bring in the jackpots.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, there’s something here for everyone. So, don’t wait any longer – get ready for a successful fall fishing season with these top lures! Ready to learn more? Read on to find out the best early fall bass lures.
Table of Contents
Best Bass Lures for Early Fall Season
1- Crankbaits
Two lures that are particularly effective during this time of year are square bill and lipless crankbaits.
Square bill crankbaits are great for resembling forage and covering water, making them a top choice for fishing around shallow visible cover or through schools of shad.
The Luck E Strike Series 3 squarebill crankbait is a particularly effective option, known for its ability to search out and attract bass in various water conditions. To make the most of this lure, try deflecting it off natural cover such as wood, brush, and rock.
Lipless crankbaits are also a valuable tool for fall bass fishing. Their tight shimmy action is particularly effective in cool water, and they can often get bites when other lures fail.
Fishing lipless cranks shallow on windy days is a sure bet, especially when you find grass. It is also highly recommended to use minnow, shad, and sunfish patterns for the best results.
Read this article to learn more about: Top Picks: 5 Best Bass Lures for Shore Fishing
When choosing colors for your lures, consider the water clarity. In clear water, natural colors are ideal, but in stained water, incorporating shock colors into the pattern can be effective.
Additionally, retrieve speed should be adjusted based on water temperature. In 60-degree water, a fast retrieve can be used, while in cooler temperatures, a slower-rolling action is more likely to attract bass.
To help you make the most of your fall bass fishing, be sure to check out these related articles from trusted sources:
- 6 Best Square Bill Crankbaits 2023
- The Best Lipless Crankbait Color for Muddy Waters in Spring
- Crankbait for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide 2023
Square bill and Lipless crankbaits are highly effective lures for fall bass fishing. By fishing them around shallow visible cover, through schools of shad and incorporating the right colors and retrieve techniques based on water conditions, you can improve your chances of landing big bass this fall.
Don’t forget to check out the related articles provided, they will help you to optimize your fishing experience.
2- Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits are a versatile and reliable bait for anglers of all skill levels. Whether you’re fishing in clear or stained water, or in windy or calm conditions, spinnerbaits are a great choice.
The willow leaf and Colorado blades are the most popular types of blades to use, and they can be fished effectively in a variety of ways.
One of the most effective ways to fish with spinnerbaits is to bang them off of cover, such as docks and wood. This can trigger strikes from fish that are hiding in these structures.
When fishing in open water, try giving your spinnerbait some twitches and pops to create an irregular retrieve. This can help to attract fish that are looking for an easy meal.
A 1/2- or 3/8-ounce double willow leaf or Colorado/willow combo spinnerbait is a great choice for fall fishing. This size and blade combination is perfect for imitating the smaller shad that are usually present during this time of year.
If you want to be even more effective, try downsizing to a 1/4-ounce spinnerbait. This smaller size will better mimic the shad and can be fished with an erratic action to better imitate an injured baitfish.
One thing to keep in mind when fishing with spinnerbaits is that it’s important to match the hatch. This means using the right size and color of spinnerbait to imitate the type of baitfish that are present in the water you’re fishing.
For example, if there are a lot of shad present, using a 1/4-ounce spinnerbait with a willow leaf blade in a silver or white color will be more effective than using a larger or differently colored spinnerbait.
When fishing with spinnerbaits, it’s also important to pay attention to the water temperature and depth. As the water cools in the fall, fish will move deeper and will be less active. This means you’ll need to fish your spinnerbait deeper and slower to be effective.
spinnerbaits are a versatile and reliable bait that can be fished effectively in a variety of conditions. By matching the hatch, using the right size and color of spinnerbait, and paying attention to water temperature and depth, you’ll be able to catch more fish this fall.
For more information, check out these trusty sources on google:
- How to Fish for Bass Like a Pro: Spinnerbait Tips from Kevin VanDam
- How to Fish a Spinnerbait: A Complete Guide for New Anglers
3- Topwater Bass lures For Early Fall
Fall is the perfect time to break out your topwater lures and hit the water. The “golden window” for frog fishing, as Ish Monroe puts it, falls between 62 and 75 degrees, and this temperature range applies to all topwater lures. Early fall is the ideal time to throw frogs and walking baits, particularly around grassy cover, which is commonly found in shallower pockets.
Read this article to learn more about: 6 Best Weedless Lures for Bass
When it comes to selecting the right topwater lure, there are many options to choose from, but buzzbaits and walking style baits are particularly effective during the early fall. Buzzbaits are great for fishing around shallow cover, while walking baits can be fished around shad schools or over deeper vertical cover.
One of the best ways to generate more bites in the fall is to downsize your buzzbait. A 1/4-ounce buzzbait on a baitcaster or even a smaller buzzbait on a spinning rod is a great way to do this.
Downsizing isn’t just about getting more bites, it’s also about targeting bigger fish. Some of the biggest bass caught in the fall have come on a 1/4-ounce buzzbait when larger baits weren’t getting any bites.
There’s something about a small buzzbait that appeals to bass in the fall, whether they’re relating to shad on a shallow flat or bluegill along a grass line. The crisp, quiet purr of the small prop is just enough to draw their attention without being too aggressive.
To optimize your chances of catching big bass in the fall, try downsizing your buzzbait and fishing around shallow cover, shad schools, and grassy cover. Also, check out these trusty resources for more information on fall fishing:
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to catch big bass in the early fall, try out these tips and techniques and happy fishing!
4- Jerkbaits
Fall is the perfect time to break out your suspending jerkbaits and target bass in cold water. The erratic, vulnerable action of a jerkbait imitates a wounded or dying baitfish, making it irresistible to bass. As the weather drops and leaves start to turn, the shape, cadence, and action of a suspending jerkbait become even more effective.
One tip to keep in mind when using jerkbaits during the fall is to vary your retrieve. The traditional “twitch, twitch pause” retrieve will work most of the time, but if you notice fish not fully committing, try experimenting with different speeds and pause lengths.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to really rip your jerkbait hard, as the added flash and distance created can force fish into eating.
When the acorns start falling from Oak trees, it’s a sure sign that JerkbaitSZN has arrived. So bust out your favorite jerkbait and start crushing those green and brown bass.
For even more tips and tricks on using suspending jerkbaits during the fall, check out the following trusted resources:
Now that you have all the information you need, it’s time to put it into action. Head out to your local lake or river and start catching those fall bass with your suspending jerkbaits.
6- Jigs
Early Fall is one of the best times to catch bass with jigs. During this time, it’s best to use a hybrid jig that can be used for many different techniques.
You can drag, hop and slowly swim the jig around areas likely to hold large bass.
Suggested sizes to use are the ½-ounce and ¾-ounce models depending on the depth of the water.
You can use the jig both shallow and deep and it is effective around cover, grass, and on structure. With the right jig, you can have a great chance at catching a big one.
Read this article to learn more about: The 5 Best Cold Water bass Baits for Winter Fishing
6- Swimbaits
Swimbaits are a versatile and effective lure for early fall bass fishing. They mimic the appearance and movement of baitfish, making them a great choice for reaction baits. However, it’s important to select the right size and color of swimbait to match the hatch for the best results.
When fishing with swimbaits, I prefer a smaller, finesse profile and clear water conditions. This allows me to present the bait in a natural and realistic way, increasing the chances of a bite.
To match the hatch, I recommend taking a close look at the size and color of the local baitfish population and selecting a swimbait that closely mimics those characteristics.
In addition to matching the hatch, it’s also important to consider the retrieve speed and technique when fishing with swimbaits.
Slow, steady retrieves tend to work well, as they give the fish more time to inspect the bait and trigger a bite.
Experimenting with different retrieves and techniques can help you find the right approach for the conditions and fish you’re targeting.
Visit a website that sells high-quality swimbaits, such as Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s, for a wide selection of colors, sizes and styles.
For additional information on the Swimbaits. Check out these trustworthy review of different types of swimbaits.
Swimbaits are a great choice for early fall bass fishing and can be highly effective when matched to the local hatch and used with the right retrieve speed and technique.
7- Finess Baits for Early Fall
Finesse fishing is a crucial technique for anglers during the fall season.
A- Finesse Worms
One of the most versatile baits for finesse fishing is the finesse worm, which can be rigged and worked in a variety of ways.
Whether you’re fishing shallow or deep, on a Texas-rig, Carolina Rig, or Shaky Head setup, a finesse worm can help you trigger extra bites when the bite is tough.
B- Fluke
Another effective finesse bait for early fall is the Fluke. This timeless bait, such as the Zoom Fluke, imitates a baitfish very well and has a subtle but lifelike action on the fall.
A go-to rig for this bait is to throw it weightless and it will often get smashed on the initial fall after your cast. A few twitches every now and then will give it an almost wounded action, making it hard for bass to resist.
C- Finesse Swimbaits
Another great baitfish imitator for finesse fishing is the finesse swimbait, such as the Strike King Rage Swimmer.
Rigging this bait weightless and fishing it similar to a fluke, by casting it out, letting it fall naturally, and slowly twitching it every now and then, can be very effective.
It’s important to choose the right colors and profile size based on the baitfish in the system, as a smaller profile is often your best bet for finesse techniques.
D- Drop Shot & Caffeine Shad or D-Shad
In addition to these baits, the drop shot is always a good option. Although it’s usually stationary, I like to retrieve it slowly every now and then to give it a more baitfish-like action.
Another great option is the Caffeine Shad or D-Shad, which are slightly heavier soft baits packed with salt that imitate baitfish. The falling action on these baits is superb and they’ve become a favorite among anglers.
Final Note
| Water Type | Lure Types |
|---|---|
| Clear Water | Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits, Finess baits, Topwater lures |
| Stained Water | Jigs, Crankbaits, Finess baits |
| Shallow Water | Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits, Finess baits, Topwater lures |
| Deep Water | Jigs, Crankbaits, Finess baits |
| Warm Water | Topwater lures, Finess baits |
| Cool Water | Jigs, Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits |
| Weedy Water | Jigs, Finess baits |
| Rocky Water | Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits |
As a final note, don’t forget to share with us your best early fall bass lures in the comments below and don’t hesitate to reach out for more information.
