September is one of those months that will bring in some of your best and worst fishing days. It’s that transition period between summer and fall where you just don’t know what’s up.
Everything you do depends on the weather and where bass choose to hold off on any given day.Some days they are going to go shallow while on others they head out to the deep.It really is a recipe for frustration.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to solely rely on dumb luck throughout the entire month of September. By focusing on a few simple cues you can get a foot up on this finicky month. For more info check out my Ultimate Guide to Fall Fishing
Bass Fishing in September
Well now that I’ve scared you from ever stepping foot on the water, it’s actually not all bad. There is one thing you can do that’s guaranteed to turn up a ton of bass.
Before you can find bass you need to first look for schooling Baitfish. Throughout all of September all fish want to do is feed. They need to get as fat as they possibly can before the long cold winter.
Follow The Baitfish
When all bass are thinking is “bait, bait, bait, bait, bait” at least you know where to look. When the water begins to cool all the shed and little Bait fish start to move back into those tucked away creeks and coves.
Actually finding the baitfish is easier said than done. They are constantly on the move so everyday is a new challenge. Throughout most of the Fall you’ll either have great days where you can’t throw out a jig without catching something, or you’ll have to tuck your tail between your legs in shame. There really is no in-between.
Most fishermen rely on their Electronics throughout the fall. Look for huge balls of bait floating just above the bottom. It should almost look like a large dark underwater tree that doesn’t fully touch the bottom.
Speed up your search by keeping your eyes open for those little signs of feeding bass. Actively feeding bass aren’t the quietest thing in the lake so look for those subtle jumps that signify surface strikes.
With so much action going on under the surface it’s bound to draw the attention of a few nearby Birds. A large group of birds circling above the water is a sure sign of nearby baitfish.
Find The Most Aggressive
It’s an absolute Feeding Frenzy down below the water. Work a fast moving bait to find the most aggressive bass in the pack. If you can find one there’s a great chance you’ve hit the motherload.
With so many baitfish just below the surface you really need to draw some attention to stand out. This is when I like to bring out my big flashy lures and really burn through the water going after the most aggressive in the area.
My Chrome Blue Rat-L-Trap is my primary search bait throughout the fall months. I’m going to cover water with it like crazy and since it’s a lipless bait you’ll rarely get snags. I’ve gone through just about every lipless crankbait on the market and I just keep coming back to the Rat-L-Trap.
Keep things simple when choosing your color schemes. If you choose a white/grey, chrome/blue and chrome/black you’ll really clean up throughout the fall. You’re going to attract spotted bass, smallies and largemouths all with the same lure.
Fishing the fall is all about differentiating yourself from the absolute hoards of baitfish. Don’t just cast and reel in your lure. You need to add a little variety to your technique with rips and aggressive pops. It’s all about going after those reaction strikes and pinpointing those big schools.
Even if bass aren’t fully committing to your search bait you should still be able to feel the occasional nip. Once you’ve got their position switch to that finesse approach to go after the masses.
Know When to Slow Down
Once you’ve found some schooling fish using your searching bait slow things down a bit. Try a few different presentations to see what works. Luckily in a feeding frenzy just about anything should bring in some bites.
Personally I like to bring out my topwaters whenever I get a chance. This is the perfect time to bring out your Booyah Buzzbaits, Sexy Dawg and Rebel Pop’R.
Most of the time I’ll start off working my Sexy Dawg to go after those real monsters. Go with a shad style color scheme and slowly walk it across the water. Twitch your rod tip to make the sexy dawg really come to life bringing in those reaction strikes.
Working Vegetation
In the fall months you should find a lot of matted up vegetation where lilypads and matted grass start to die. This is when I like to bring out my hollow bodied frogs and nothing works quite like the Booyah Padcrasher.
Keep an eye out for those holes where bass have pushed through the vegetation. They use these little holes as ambush points and there’s almost always a feisty bass hiding in wait. Slowly work your way through the vegetation thoroughly working the edges.
Bass Move Fast
September really is a crazy month when it comes to fishing. What works in the morning will rarely work later in the day.
The problem is baitfish really don’t want to commit to one location. They’re constantly on the move and bass are soon to follow. There’s really only one solution during the fall.
Throw everything you thought you knew during the summer and throw it out the window. Pattern fishing is basically worthless, so turn on your electronics and throw out a searching bait.
Just remember that it might take a while to find what you’re looking for, but when you do it’s truly magical.
Know When To Change Things Up
You can’t rely on any one strategy from one day to the next. The key to guaranteeing a good spring is knowing when you should make changes.
That’s why I like to keep a few rods on my deck so that I have a wide variety of lures at my disposal. Even if you don’t have a few extra rods on board, you can get your favorite topwaters and bottom structure lures ready to go.
Moving Doesn’t Always Mean The Same Thing
Due to the constantly irregular nature of baitfish you always have to be ready to move at a moments notice. Once the bite stops you need to keep an open mind and be willing to move fast.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not advocating completely ditching an area that’s been productive. Instead try changing up your presentation and moving higher or lower in the water column.
Try starting deep like 10-15 ft of water and zigzagging about until you work your way to shallow water.
My 3 Most Important September Bass Fishing Tips
Throughout the years September has brought about some of my best and worst fishing days. It might be harder to pattern bass, but by following these 3 crucial tips you should have more good days than bad.
- Find The Baitfish: As I mentioned earlier finding baitfish needs to be your top priority through the month of September. Bass are trying to do everything they can to put on enough weight for winter. It’s an absolute feeding frenzy. If you’re fishing a spot that you don’t see baitfish just below the surface it’s time to move on.
- Focus on Weeds: As fall rolls around the foliage should start to die down, but throughout most of September weeds should still be growing. Shallow weeds hold more oxygen which attracts a lot of bugs and therefore baitfish. If there’s signs of baitfish and you cast towards grasslines with a padcrasher or Texas Rigged Grass Pig you’re almost guaranteed to get bites.
- Look For Creeks: Look for those rarely traveled creeks that feed the main body of water. Throughout early fall shad are moving from one creek to the next. With a steady supply of oxygen and the perfect temperature you can fish these small creeks until the water gets cold.