It's not that lures like lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, walking topwaters, and the like won't catch fish in autumn. However, there are other moving baits without treble hooks that can draw some pretty vicious strikes. One in particular, especially if your fishery has grass, is a topwater hollow-belly frog.
Said Smith, "More than likely, you won't catch a pile of bass on this bait...it's not something you want to throw if you're looking for 2-pound bass. But if you're looking for a sure-enough giant or a few 5-pounders, I can't think of a better way to catch 'em.
"I suggest looking for irregularities in the vegetation," he continued. "Whether it's a small point (the size of a dinner plate) or a small indention in an otherwise straight grass edge (the size of a basetball), cast that frog around these areas. Don't get discouraged if you don't catch one on your first few stops. That's totally normal. If you stay focused, you're going to experience some unbelievable topwater explosions that rival anything you've ever seen."
Further, Smith took note of the fact bass anglers in general appear to have been trained to put away soft-plastic baits when fall rolls around.
"We throw 'em a lot in the spring and summer, but they tend to get the backseat once cooler nights start happening," he explained. "I'm here to tell you, though, to keep a few packs of soft plastics in your boat or tackle bag throughout the fall months.
"While shad or some other type of baitfish tend to be the most prevalent forage in most fall fisheries, not all bass are going to chase them to the backs of creeks. Just like humans, I believe each bass has its own preferences and appetite. You might love a big ribeye, but your neighbor might like spaghetti instead. I think it's the same thing with bass.
"You'll see plenty of anglers flock to the backs of creeks in the fall, and they will catch plenty of bass. However, one thing that tends to plague those anglers is small fish. If you're willing to sacrifice quantity for better quality, stick your favorite flipping or pitching bait in your hand and go pick apart some thick cover. Big bass tend to want to 'own' a piece of cover, and they don't play those games the smaller and younger bass play. They understand they can just sit on their favorite stump, laydown or grass bed and get more bang for the buck.
Granted, everyone's goals and preferences are totally different, but said Smith, "if you're specifically targeting big bass, I strongly encourage you to fish some shallow cover near deep water. I think you'll be blown away by the results."
Smith went on to say that he believes overnight lows are much more important than daytime highs in the fall.
"While it certainly changes, depending on your location," he said, "I like to see those overnight temperatures dip into the 50s for several hours at a time. That's a quick way to get the water temperatures cooled down, and it makes those bass more active.
"I know we're all used to looking at that top row on the 10-day forecast, but this time of year especially, make sure you're keeping a close eye on that bottom row, too."
Any time of year but fall, it seems like the words "cold front" scare the ever-loving crap out of anglers. After all, who wants to fish with high barometric pressure, finicky bass, bluebird skies, and lots of wind?
However, cold-front days in fall are the ones that Smith circles on his calendar.
"I always try to get on the water during the first day or two of a cooling trend," he said. "These cold fronts can offer some incredible fishing days.
"I've noticed that I don't catch a bunch of big bass on these days. But if you're sick of slow, tough summer fishing, who cares? Sometimes you just want to get your line stretched a little bit, and these cold fronts offer you that opportunity.
"I wish I had some really smart-sounding, biological explanation for you, but I honestly don't. Based just on my personal experience, I feel like these little early-season fronts simply wake up the bass, just like they do for humans.
"While I'm certainly not the best fall bass-fishing angler on the planet, I definitely have learned some things over the years, and I think these lessons can help you enjoy this time of year even more. Dig out your favorite hoodie, smell that two-stroke smoke, take in that cool morning breeze, and savor that cup of coffee. Fall is here, and the bass are biting," concluded Smith.
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