Fall is packed with difficult choices: bass or deer, trout or turkey? Although the hunting may be great right now, fishing has potential to be just as good, if not better with the proper bass fishing techniques. If you are a true sportsman, you might hit a deer stand early in the morning, your local bass lakes in the afternoon.  There is a special set of seasonal circumstances that make for one of the year’s best largemouth bass fishing, right now.

Waters all the way from New York down to Texas are beginning to cool off.  The bass become more aggressive with the temperature change and will often move into shallower water in search of food and some warmer water temperatures. Weed beds are now dying off leaving the baitfish that lived there all summer extremely exposed and vulnerable.  For the savvy anglers who key in on this combination know the proper bass fishing techniques and have adequate bass tackle…..its crankbait time.

The way in which the fish respond to crankbaits will dictate a few basic bass tackle needs. Some of the bass will absolutely hammer the lure while others will just nibble or bump the bait and become lightly hooked around the edge of their jaw. Unfortunately, this means that the hook could be easily pulled off during an intense struggle. There have been new crankbait rods designed which have more flex than normal in the tip and along the mid-sections.  These new rods cushion the battle a bit and will solve most of your problems with hooks slipping off when largemouth bass fishing.

Bass fishing techniques require anglers to choose the right fishing line in order to have a good set of bass tackle.  When largemouth bass fishing the basic bass tackle to have is 12-pound mono or fluorocarbon line, a baitcasting rod/reel, and a good set of bass tackle. You can opt for heavier fishing line when you are fishing for larger bass or in thick cover. When using a thinner line your lures will have less water resistance and will help any crankbait run deeper. On the other hand, stronger lines cause your lure to run shallower, yet they will help hold bigger fish away from snags and debris.

This bass fishing technique will require you to carry three different crankbaits which are based on depth.  You will want a shallow (down to 4 feet), medium (8 to 10 feet), and a deep diving crankbait (15 to 18 feet).  Almost all lure manufacturers offer all three depth varieties and you will want to try to stick with a single brand. Why? Because baits like the Bandit 100, Bandit 200, and Bandit 300 series crankbaits will behave consistently at their respective depths. That consistency will allow you to learn how to fish these baits a lot faster than if you were working with bass tackle comprised of multiple brand crankbaits.

Not only largemouth, but also smallmouth bass are often feeding in small moving schools during the cooler fall and winter months, and you might have to try multiple spots before you find the fish.  When largemouth bass fishing, the areas you want to look for large groups of fish are lake points and the backs of reservoir feeding creeks where shad may congregate throughout October.  No matter which location you choose be sure to cover more water by fishing at multiple depths. After all, this is the reason you brought all three of those crankbaits.

When largemouth bass fishing along the newly brown and dying weedlines, you will find there will still be patches of green vegetation that are magnets to baitfish. When fishing live vegetation areas, work the outside edges of the greenery and be sure to start with the shallowest-running crankbait. Crankbaits have a very distinct vibration that you can sense during the retrieve which makes these bass fishing techniques very easy to learn. When the crankbait action feels dull, the lure is more then likely picked up some weeds or debris. Jerk the lure hard with the tip of your rod once to remove the weed, and then keep on cranking.

Purposely bumping structures with your lure is another crucial approach to bass fishing techniques, which works due to the fact that most crankbaits have large bills. Largemouth bass fishing with this method works well because the bill will strike the stump or rock before the hooks do. When the lure strikes the debris allow it to float upward to clear the obstacle, then you may start reeling again. This bump-pause-dart routine is one of the best possible bass fishing techniques to trigger strikes from otherwise reluctant fish.

One last thing: I have changed my mind from what I was saying earlier. You most definitely should go hunting all day, leave your bass tackle at home, and skip the lake.  I will miss seeing you on the water, of course. But there will be plenty of largemouth bass fishing to occupy my time, and I guess I will muddle through somehow.

Do you have any fishing tips and techniques that you would like to share with other anglers? Please leave a comment below on the outdoor news section and find all your fishing sporting goods at PoorFish Outdoors.