Last Chance Largemouths

Photo by Outdoor Life Online Editor

It's time somebody set the record straight
regarding fall bass fishing in the North,
where misconceptions run deeper than a
Minnesota snowdrift in January.

Indeed, autumn arrives much earlier in
the northern-tier states. It brings with
it crisp nights, blustery days and plummeting
water temperatures. Those fabulous feeding
frenzies triggered by cooler waters end
abruptly when lake temperatures flip-flop
and the bass seemingly disappear.

For many anglers, the onset of cooler
weather is a signal to put away their
boats and go hunting or become couch potatoes
until spring rolls around. Too bad, because
they're missing out on some of the year's
best fishing.

Just ask Steve Clapper of Lima, Ohio,
who combines duck hunting with bass fishing.
Or talk to Greg Mangus of Fremont, Ind.,
who fishes year-round, or pro anglers
Kevin VanDam of Michigan and Michael Iaconelli
of New Jersey, who agree that late fall
ranks right up there with early spring
as a big-bass season.

"One
of the biggest myths in bass fishing is
that the fish go deep and dormant when
the water temperature plunges below 50
degrees," says Mangus. "As far as I'm
concerned, that's when the fishing for
quality Northern bass gets good."

Clapper proves that point every November
on Lake St. Clair near Detroit. About
the time Canadian mallards begin to show
up, largemouth bass are schooling in the
man-made cuts and channels off the many
rivers that feed the lake.

"We
shoot ducks in the morning and catch bass
in the afternoon," he says. "We catch
them right against the cattails -- even
in blinding snowstorms -- and 100-fish
days aren't out of the question. People
will think I'm crazy, but it's true."

Misconceptions about late-season largemouths
aren't without substance. Because most
of today's how-to bass literature is based
on fishing experiences in the South, where
bass are highly sensitive to cold-weather
conditions, it's natural for Northern
anglers to draw similar assumptions. But
the truth is, Northern largemouths are
more resilient to winter-like weather.

"No
doubt about it," says Iaconelli, who probes
Northeastern lakes when he's not touring
the Southern bass circuits. "One thing
I've noticed since turning pro is how
Northern bass are more active during cold-weather
conditions than bass are in the South."

It's true that shallow bass activity slows
down following the fabulous fall feeding
frenzy. But the fish don't go far, regrouping
on nearby structure and still making brief
forays onto the flats. And while vertically
fished lures can outproduce the fast-movers
at times, popular summertime lures such
as crankbaits and spinnerbaits may bring
in the biggest fish of the day.

Fishing buddy Mike Cottingham and I discovered
that a decade ago while fishing a small
southern Michigan lake under slate-colored
November skies. Northern winds sliced
through our winter clothes and sleet peppered
our faces. We'd caught a few bass on jigs
tipped with pork frogs, but we'd gone
an hour without a bite.

"Don't
laugh at what I'm about to do," I said
while tying a Rat-L-Trap lipless crankbait
to my line. "Maybe the fish have moved
up and I can make them bite."

My first cast onto the shallow flat produced
a nice largemouth, and then another, and
then a five-pounder. The fish were so
shallow I had to hold the rod high and
crank the reel handle quickly to prevent
the lure from snagging scattered grass
on the bottom.

So much for the theory that bass don't
go shallow or won't chase baits in early
winter.

Follow Fall Movement

Fall feeding binges begin when water temperatures
tumble and bass move shallower. By October,
bass in most Northern states are in varying
stages of the fall migration toward the
banks.

October water temperatures can range from
the low 60s to low 50s, a period when
bass scatter on big flats between the
shoreline and the first major drop-off.
On natural lakes, they're relating to
the weeds, even though much of the heavy
vegetation has begun to die off.

"Fish
know winter is on its way and are feeding
for longer periods," says VanDam, a three-time
B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year. "Cooling
water draws forage shallow, and since
the cover is dwindling, minnows and crayfish
have fewer places to hide. Bass are there
for the easy pickings."

A few fish still can be found in marshy
areas, such as around lily pads and cattails,
especially those adjacent to drop-offs.
However, the majority of the bass will
relate to the shallow side of weeds growing
nearest the drop- off as temperatures
fall. "The most aggressive bites occur
during the middle of the day on sunny
days, or during the low-pressure systems
that occur just as a front is approaching,"
explains VanDam. "Believe it or not, that's
when you can experience some incredible
buzzbait and spinnerbait fishing over
those weeds."

Follow Fall Movement

Fall feeding binges begin when water temperatures
tumble and bass move shallower. By October,
bass in most Northern states are in varying
stages of the fall migration toward the
banks.

October water temperatures can range from
the low 60s to low 50s, a period when
bass scatter on big flats between the
shoreline and the first major drop-off.
On natural lakes, they're relating to
the weeds, even though much of the heavy
vegetation has begun to die off.

"Fish
know winter is on its way and are feeding
for longer periods," says VanDam, a three-time
B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year. "Cooling
water draws forage shallow, and since
the cover is dwindling, minnows and crayfish
have fewer places to hide. Bass are there
for the easy pickings."

A few fish still can be found in marshy
areas, such as around lily pads and cattails,
especially those adjacent to drop-offs.
However, the majority of the bass will
relate to the shallow side of weeds growing
nearest the drop- off as temperatures
fall. "The most aggressive bites occur
during the middle of the day on sunny
days, or during the low-pressure systems
that occur just as a front is approaching,"
explains VanDam. "Believe it or not, that's
when you can experience some incredible
buzzbait and spinnerbait fishing over
those weeds."

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