Northwest Fishing Reports

So I've never fished for bass this late in the year. I know the fall bite is suppose to be awesome, but I'm having a hard time finding the big fish. I've caught a bunch of dinks my last 2 outings with the biggest being about 16" LMB and a 15" SMB last week.

Do the fish go deeper? How deep is deeper? I've been majority of my fish lately along pads near docks. I havent gotten a nibble from any decent fish from the docks except from those pesky perch since late Spring.

What sort of structure or cover am I suppose to be looking for? My local lake is basicly a bowl lake.

I've been throwing lipless, shallow cranks(2-4'), mid cranks(4-8'), and deeper cranks(10-16'). Maybe I need some really deep cranks. Also throwing plastics. Worms and minnow imitations. Dragging them in 10-12' of water.

Maybe it's not me and all the fish were taken out, since it's a smallish lake.

Good question. I've been wondering about that myself...I've read that they will move a little more shallow before in the fall before heading deep for winter. All the fish I've caught this year have been in pretty shallow water.

Fall time, bass are pretty active. Typically wanting to fatten up for the winter. Reaction baits work well, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits are ideal for this time of year. Bass will be where the food is at in your lake, typically chowing down on smaller fish in the shallow or suspended. Smallies will be after smaller fish and they love crayfish this time of year, look for any rock piles and drag football heads.

Another good fall time bait for largies is a buzzbaits, use to get some vicious strikes with buzzbaits.

This time of the year, you should think bigger baits as well. Baitfish spawned in spring and are bigger this time of the year.

Good luck out there!

Deep, shallow, outsde weed edges, inside weed edges, over the submergant weeds.

Topwater, shallow cranks, deep cranks, spinnerbaits, dropshot, Carolina rig, worms texas rigged deep and shallow, in and along weed edges, swimming worms weightless.

Drag a jig on the bottom, hop the jig, swim the jig, long trailer, short trailer, try it all, EVERYTHING will work this time of year, just gotta find what the fish want TODAY, and this TIME of 'today'.

The bass ARE under the docks, sometimes, but you'll have to let the worm/tube/senko/grub sit there and soak sometimes - 30 seconds, even a full minutes sometimes. Sometimes the bass will grab it quick, sometimes they won't and you have to let the lure soak.

Slow down the cranks, speed up the cranks, try it all. This year has been 'different' on 'that lake' as well as on Sawyer. That is why a jerkbait can be so good, a combination of quick/slow/soak, all in one cast.

Hehehe, I guess I did find some afterall. :o
4lb 1oz
Fatty fish.

Nice work, he's a fatty!

Nice piggie, guess you didn't need any help!

Yup, THAT'S a fattie!

Find the forage, you'll find the fish. This time of year could be shallow, could be 35 ft., but until the water gets cold, they will still be out following the food around. Sometimes the big fish will be suspended in open water near schools of baitfish, not even near to a place that you would normally fish. It can be challenging, but also rewarding. My p.b. smallie came last October, just happened upon a big girl chasing baitfish along the break line in a bay right before dark. Toally unexpected, but in the right place at the right time. Good luck!

Try a dark color spinnerbait with a dark blade. Slow rolling around all the same spots your fishing. As always it's hit or miss!

And don't forget swimbaits this time of year. This is when the best bass are often taken on 6 or even 8 inch swimbaits, soft or hard.