Anglers that concentrate their efforts searching for schools of baitfish -- as our lakes begin to cool --, will always have better results than when no baitfishare around at all.
Bass such as largemouths, smallmouths, spotted bass and striped bass all have a built in, "need to feed" system and they need to fatten up for the upcoming, winter months ahead. This means eating daily on a regular basis.
It also means they stay in the same places for weeks at a time...that is,as long as the baitfish stick around. For when the meals move, the bass must follow or be left behind searching for much harder to find meals.
Finding these schools ofbaitfuish merely means just keeping a keen eye out for baitfish schools, individual baitfish (often seen fleeing for theirlives) or lastly, busting bass.
After finding and catching bass consistantly, likeon several consecutive trips, you now know where to start your day without a lot of looking everywhere on the lake...knowing now, where the baitfish are, so are the bass!
Start your day with topwater lures like zara spooks, pop-r's, prop baits and buzzbaits. Throughout your day experiment with different lure sizes and various baitfish colors of lipless lures like rattletraps, red eye shad, rattling spots or rattlin' raps.
Also try anything that will get a strike! In line spinners, jigging spoons, tail spinners, shallow to mid-diving crankbaits, both floating and suspending model hard bodied jerk baits and soft bodied jerk baits. Experiment until you find the correct lure!
Like always said, "find the baitfish and you will find the bass"
Thanks and good fishin'!
Reed Montgomery Owner of Reeds Guide Service Birmingham, Alabama Website www.fishingalabama.com "Alabama's oldest professional guide service guiding on all Alabama lakes for over 40 years."