 Finally,
a break from a long, hot and dry summer has arrived. We
humans are certainly glad to see the temperatures fall
and receive a little bit of much needed rainfall. Hopefully
the wildlife in our area will benefit from it, also.
This has been an unusual summer to say the least. We
went over 70 days without rainfall, had one of the hottest
summers on record, and for one reason or another, the
bass fishing at Richland-Chambers reservoir was horrible.
In fact, it has been the worst I've ever seen. Perhaps
the cooler temperatures will spark a change in the fishing.
Let's hope so.
In order to find bass to catch as they make the transition
from summer to fall, it is important to understand their
lifestyles and habits. If we can figure 'em out, we
can catch 'em, hopefully.
Generally speaking, at our two closest bass fishing
lakes, Richland-Chambers and Cedar Creek Lake, summertime
means the bass can be found on main lake points and
humps, such as submerged stock tank dams. The fish can
be on the bottom of the lake, but usually they are suspended,
making them even more difficult to catch. They feed
on large schools of shad living in the same general
areas.
As cooler temperatures arrive as a result of cold fronts
ushering in from the north, the shad will begin their
journey to the mouths of the creeks and later venture
farther back into the creeks as the shallower water
in them tends to cool down. Naturally, the bass will
follow the shad into the creeks much like I would move
to the back yard to eat supper, if that is where it
was served.
Historically speaking, once in the creek, the bass
get easier to catch. They are beginning to gorge themselves
in anticipation of the upcoming winter months. My goal,
is to give them something to eat like a spinnerbait,
a jig or a crankbait.
If I find bass grouped up in the creeks feeding on
shad, I like to throw a chrome or gold colored ½
ounce Rat-L-Trap on a 6'6" medium action composite
crankbait rod from Quarrow rods (www.Quarrow.com). I
prefer to use an Abu Garcia TP3000 reel for fast or
slow retrieves, spooled with12-15# P Line (www.p-line.com),
depending on the amount of cover. The thicker the cover
(more trees and stumps) the larger the line. The composite
crankbait rod is limber enough not to rip the crankbait
out of the fish's mouth, yet light and strong enough
to get the job done. It will be on the market after
the first of the year. Look for it at your local tackle
dealer.
If the sun is bright, the fish will often be holding
tighter to cover in the creeks. A bit of flippin' and
pitchin' is in order. Rigged on a 6'6" or 7' medium
heavy action Quarrow rod, outfitted with an Ultra cast
4600 reel from Abu Garcia (www.abu-garcia.com) filled
with 20-25# P Line you'll find two of my favorite fall
baits; a white Bulldog jig and a Strike King flippin'
tube, also in white or smoke.
I'll pick the cover apart alternating from the jig
to the tube. I usually rig the ¼ ounce or 3/8
ounce jig with a Zoom plastic pork chuck to increase
the bulk of the bait. I like the smaller jigs because
they fall slower staying in the strike zone for a longer
period of time. When using the tube jigs, I always use
a tube rattle from H&H Plastic rattles (www.bcity.com/plasticrattles).
They are made especially for tube baits and really make
a difference in the number of strikes I get on the tubes.
If fishing is slow on the jig, I'll also use their clip
on jig rattles to entice more bites.
Once the water has really cooled down, into the low
70's, I like to throw a white or white/chartreuse, 3/8
ounce Bulldog spinnerbait on a 6' medium action, pistol
grip Quarrow rod. I've started using more and more pistol
grip rods while fishing spinnerbaits and other small
sized baits. The shorter handle allows me to flip cast,
underhanded, for more precision casting.
With the cooler water, the bass tend to move even shallower
in the creeks to ambush baitfish. The spinnerbait can
be a deadly choice when the time is right. Again, keep
in mind that the bass are feeding, getting ready for
winter. They gorge themselves, while they can, before
the water gets too cold and their metabolism slows to
the point where they don't run around chasing food.
Now is the time to take advantage of their lifestyles
and habits to help you catch more fish. Besides, the
temperature is again in the comfortable range for fishing.
I'll be enjoying fall bass fishing later this month
at the Skeeter-owner tournament, with my father, at
Lake Fork. Early next month, I'll be fishing the B.A.S.S.
Central Invitational tournament at the Red River in
Shreveport, Louisiana. I hope to see you on the water,
too. If you have any questions or comments about fall
bass fishing, please visit my new web site. Until next
time, enjoy the Texas outdoors, and take a kid along
with you.
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