In many parts of the country, lakes are drawn down several feet in the Fall and Winter. This offers an excellent opportunity to see what you have, and what you could have, been fishing during the spring and summer months. Use a GPS or a video camera to record offshore structure you otherwise would have missed. You can often learn more about a lake in one trip during drawdown than you could in a whole season with standard electronics. Take care, though, as low water can lead to dangerous boating conditions

The next time you encounter a situation that calls for a skipping presentation, such as a boat dock, pier or overhanging branch, try a soft stickbait. When rigged Texas-style and weightless, a Yamamoto Senko or Venom Salty Sling skips as easy as any bait on the market. Additionally, they offer a profile different from the normal skip-baits like tubes and jigs. The combination of better placement and a different look can trigger bass holding deep beneath overhead cover

Though it is true that smallmouths often become finicky and prefer diminutive lures, at times the exact opposite is true, particularly in the fall. This Autumn, try a larger than normal tube, big spinnerbait or mega topwater on your favorite smallmouth waters - you may be rewarded with some unforgettable action

If your not getting bit on your crankbait, try moving back into a depth of water as to get the bait to dig into the bottom. This imitates a crawfish on the bottom and should be just the thing to turn on the bite.

If your throwing a soft jerkbait and getting short bites, try putting on a treble trailer hook. Use a small piece of tubing or a rubber band. You can either let the hook hang free or just stick the bait just enough to hold the hook. This tactic should provide you with a hook-up.