Photo by Phoenix Moore. - It’s the fall and the kids are back in school. It’s also a great time to get out fishing because the bass are also in school. They’re ganged up heavy as they binge on baitfish, and when you find one bass, you’ll likely find many more with them.
Fishing for schooling bass is one of my all-time favorite ways to catch them and having success all comes down to finding the right areas and paying attention to baitfish – specifically how big they are – so you can select the right lure.
Where to Look
The schooling bite starts going off in late summer and really gets going during the fall. It’s something you can bank on all fall until the water temperatures get too cold as winter begins to set in. The calendar dates will vary based on where you live, but the basic principle is the same no matter where you’re fishing.
In the warmer months, most baitfish will be close to deep water and tend to relate more to river channels. As it cools in the fall, those baitfish will begin to move toward the creeks. I like to fish the channels, humps, and points closest to deep water inside these creeks. These are your high percentage areas to see schooling fish on the surface, or to find them with your electronics.
Once the water gets cooler, you’ll start to see the baitfish migration further into the backs of creeks, and the bass will be right behind them. It’s something that happens every year like clockwork.
How I Catch ‘Em
When the bite is on and the fish are in a frenzy, it’s hard to pick something the bass won’t eat.