Still summer patterns but fish starting to push shallow. Topwater still good early AM. Lipless cranks in grass.
Best month of the year. Bass chasing shad into coves and creeks. Reaction baits all day. Cover water fast.
Fish moving deeper. Jerkbaits, lipless cranks, and finesse. Transition to winter patterns below 50°F.
Follow the Shad
Fall bass fishing is entirely about following baitfish — primarily shad. As water temps cool, massive schools of shad move from deep summer haunts into the backs of coves, creeks, and shallow flats. Bass follow them. Find shad, find bass. It's that simple — and that consistent.
Look for shad dimpling the surface, birds diving on baitfish, or visible schools of small fish near the surface. Where shad are stacked, bass are underneath. This pattern produces some of the most explosive action of the entire year — multiple bass busting the surface on every cast.
Best Fall Lures
⚡ Lipless Crankbait
The #1 fall lure. Match shad size and color. Rip it through grass, yo-yo it on points. The Rat-L-Trap in chrome is a fall staple.
🔄 Squarebill Crankbait
Deflects off cover in the shallows. The KVD 1.5 in shad colors hammers fall bass pushing into shallow wood and laydowns.
🌀 Spinnerbait
Willow blade spinnerbait in white or shad mimics schooling baitfish perfectly. Wind it fast over submerged grass and through coves.
🌿 Jerkbait
As temps drop below 60°F, slow down with a jerkbait. The Megabass Vision 110 or Rapala Shadow Rap on longer pauses is deadly in late fall.
Where to Fish in Fall
Start shallow and work deeper as the season progresses. In early fall, fish the backs of coves and creek arms where shad are most concentrated. In mid-fall, expand your search to the main lake points and secondary creeks. In late fall, bass begin stacking on the last major depth change before deep water as they prepare for winter.
The Northeast Fall Timeline
In Massachusetts and southern New England, the fall shad pattern typically kicks off in mid-September and peaks in October. By early November, water temps are dropping through the 50s and bass are transitioning to winter holding areas. The window is shorter than in southern states — don't miss it.