'Tis Time To Throw Out the Rule Book

That's the suggestion of some anglers when it comes to September. Often referred to as a transition month, this is the time when summer temperatures begin giving way to the coolness of fall. A break from the sauna of summer sounds nice on the surface, but more times than not, this is a time when many bass anglers struggle. The problem? Bass leave their deep-water summer haunts and start moving around...and become difficult to find.

Historically speaking, records of bass tournaments usually start showing declining weights during September, as bass start moving shallower and shallower. It's a situation where you may find them in the morning, but they'll be gone in the afternoon. The problem is that baitfish haven't committed to any specific location. Instead, they move around, and the bass move with them.

The solution to this unpredictability is throwing out the rule book. Pattern fishing is basically out the window.

A key to making the most of opportunities is being prepared to make quick lure changes. As one pro explained, "I keep 20 rods on my deck. I'm going to have a variety of lures ready to go that will cover the whole water column, from topwaters to bottom structure-fishing baits. I might have four different crankbaits tied on, but I'm still prepared to change to other baits because I know the reputation of fish in September."

Anglers often can take take advantage of schools feeding on the surface, but electronics become a big part of the strategy. The shad still are balled up, and without a doubt, that's the main search. Whether you're on a flat, a ledge, or a brushpile, you want to find the shad.

The transient nature of baitfish and bass demands a willingness to make regular moves. "It's time to run and gun," said the pro. "You have to keep an open mind and be willing to move when the fish disappear. However, that doesn't mean running long distances. Instead, cover all water depths within a given area to make sure you haven't overlooked nearby pods of bass. If I'm fishing a creek, I'm zigzagging in and out, I start deep, then maybe move to 15 feet of water, and just keep moving to shallower water."

Wind also is an important factor, because it allows anglers to focus their search.

"If you get a fairly windy day," continued the pro, "those baitfish are subject to getting hung up on a bank or ledge, or on the edge of grass on the windy side of the lake. That means you can ignore the lee side of the lake and concentrate on those windblown areas."