Learn five river fishing tips for catching bass in the fall. Rivers experience major changes as fall arrives, which affects where and how bass can be caught. A successful fishing trip requires understanding how largemouth and smallmouth bass behave as temperatures drop. Join us as we discuss river fishing strategies for fall bass fishing, fish behavior, and river change. As a bonus, we’ll provide river fishing tips for catching bass in the fall.
How Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Change in Fall
During the fall, largemouth and smallmouth bass bulk up in preparation for winter. Their metabolism slows down when the water cools, but they continue to feed. This behavior prepares bass for the winter months when food becomes more scarce. Largemouth bass go to shallower parts of rivers in search of baitfish close to cover, such as grass beds or submerged logs. Smallmouth bass tend to swim in deeper water when pursuing baitfish that are propelled by the river’s current.
Understanding the behavior of bass during the fall is essential to catching more fish. That’s why these river fishing tips for catching bass in the fall can make all the difference.
How Rivers Change During Fall
Fish activity is affected by seasonal changes that occur in rivers in the fall. Water temperatures begin to decrease and river currents become more consistent. The areas where bass hide and feed are affected by these changes. Bass place themselves where they can easily ambush prey. It’s important to pay attention to where baitfish are moving. The reason is that baitfish swim with the stream in search of warmer water pockets.
Bass positioning is also influenced by the fall turnover, where warmer water rises and surface water cools and lowers. Because of the nutrients that are stirred up by this movement, baitfish are drawn to specific areas of the river. You will greatly increase your chances of catching fall bass if you know how to fish in these places.
Five Tips For River Fishing For Bass in The Fall
Here are five river fishing tips for catching bass in the fall that will help you capitalize on the seasonal changes and bass behavior.
1. Target River Current Breaks and Structure For Bass
Bass frequently hang around objects like rocks, logs, or ledges that interrupt the stream in the fall. Because of these current breaks, bass have the opportunity to ambush prey that are being pushed by the river’s flow. Smallmouth bass prefer deeper rock formations and eddies where they may conceal themselves from the river. Largemouth bass prefer to remain close to plants or submerged timber in rivers during the fall.
Place your lure near these structures and let it follow the river’s flow. Wiggle Sticks, crankbaits, jigs, and spinnerbaits are effective methods for simulating the movements of baitfish.
2. Use River Current to Your Advantage
The river’s current acts as a conveyor belt for baitfish, guiding them to certain areas where bass will be waiting to feed. When fishing in the fall, focus on casting your line upstream and allowing your bait to drift naturally with the current. This technique mimics the behavior of live bait and draws in hungry bass that are sitting downstream.
3. Focus on Deeper Pockets and Channels When Fall Fishing
During the fall, bass often retreat to deeper pockets and channels where the water temperature is slightly warmer. Smallmouth bass like deeper pockets with rocky sections of the river. Use fishing baits and lures that reach these depths. Depending the the mood of the fish, anglers may need to fish slowly to entice sluggish bass.
Current slows around deeper holes near bends in the river. Search for these areas as these spots are prime locations for bass to congregate. Bass in deeper pockets may be more sluggish, but they’re still actively feeding during the fall.
4. Follow The Fall Baitfish River Migration
Baitfish move into shallower water in rivers as they follow warmer temperatures and food sources. Largemouth bass will follow the baitfish, making shallow flats, creeks, and mouths of rivers ideal places to fish. Watch for schools of baitfish during their fall migration. Anglers should also keep an eye on the surface of the river for baitfish activity. Baitfish that are jumping on the surface usually indicate bass are actively feeding.
Use lures and colors that mostly resemble shad and other baitfish that are in the river. We recommend the following:
- Soft plastic worms (Shimmy Shad, Green Pumpkin, and Crystal Minnow colors.)
- Roostertails
- Crankbaits
- Drop shot baits
5. Use Floating Leaves in Rivers For Catching Fall Bass
One unique technique is casting your lure onto floating leaves. This technique uses the leaves as a bobber. The leaves will allow your bait to hang freely underneath, while the current takes it along a natural path. Bass will often strike at these suspended baits as they move along with the flow. This this an effective fishing method for fall river bass fishing.
“One day I was bass fishing a small river during the fall. There were a ton of leaves on top, which made it discouraging at first. But then I got to thinking, what if I used these as a bobber? So, I cast where my Wiggle Stick could be free while the line was resting on the leaves. The results were amazing and I’m glad to share river fishing tips with other bass anglers,” Tim, Red Angle Fishing Products.
Concluding River Fishing Tips For Catching Bass in The Fall
A successful fish outing results from knowing bass behavior and modifying your methods as the rivers change in the fall. You can catch largemouth and smallmouth bass by concentrating on structure, taking advantage of the current, fishing deeper pockets, and paying attention to baitfish migrations.
Comments below with your river fishing tips for catching bass in the fall.
