Entry 326-2

Catching Transition Bass and Dodging Fishing Pressure in the Fall with Chad Brauer

Part 2: Take the Temperature in the Bass’s House

Question: The second-most-important factor to consider at this time of year you’ve said is water temperature. How does water temperature affect where the bass are positioned, and the lures you use to catch them?

Brauer: When the water temperature gets cooler, the bass will become more and more active.

Question: How are you determining water temperature? Are you only reading water temperature at the surface, or are you using a thermometer to learn the water temperature at different depths?

Brauer: I just look at my depth finder to get the surface temperature. When the surface water starts to cool, it becomes more dense than the water below it. The denser, colder surface water will sink until the surface water gets cold enough to drop below the thermocline. At that point, the water below the thermocline will be warmer than the water above the thermocline. But the surface temperature that’s most important to me in the fall will be shallow water.

I like to look for shallow water with a temperature in the mid-to-low-60-degree range at this time of year. I like shallow water in the backs of pockets, coves, creeks and backwater areas in that 60-degree range. When I can find water temperatures like this at this time of year, I know that the bass will be feeding on the baitfish in those shallow-water regions, and there will be several-different ways to catch these bass, depending on specific weather conditions and water clarity.

Question: When you find the right water temperature in those shallow-water areas, what lures will you use to catch the bass?

Brauer: When I find water temperatures that are 65 degrees and below at this time of year in shallow water, I’ll have four different lures tied-on, and on any give day, one of these lures should be the magic one. #1 – The Strike King Pro-Buzz spinner bait. #2 – The Strike King Pro-Model Series 4S square-billed crankbait or the Strike King Series 1 crankbait. The size of bass I’m fishing for will determine which of these crankbaits I’ll use. I use the Series 1 when I’m fishing for smaller bass or if there’s a lot of small baitfish in the area that I’m fishing. #3 – A Strike King Denny Brauer Flip-N-Tube with either a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce slip sinker. And 95% of the time, I’ll be flipping a green-pumpkin in clear water or a black neon in stained water. #4 – A white jig.

Question: Wait a minute, Chad. At this time of year, everyone knows you should be fishing a black jig or a blue jig, or a black-and-blue jig. Worst-case scenario, a green-pumpkin jig. Why are you fishing a white jig?

Brauer: First of all, the white jig looks like a baitfish, and that’s primarily what the fish are feeding on in the fall – shad or some type of baitfish that looks like shad. The other advantage I have when I’m fishing a white jig is exactly what you’ve said in your question. Everyone else is fishing those other-color jigs. The white jig gives the bass a different color to look at, especially in places where other fishermen are fishing crankbaits, spinner baits, buzzbaits and darker-colored jigs.

The white jig gives the bass a look at the type of bait they’re feeding on in a different action and a different color than they’ve already seen presented by other fishermen who’ve fished that same region. By using the white jig, I can catch bass that other fishermen aren’t catching. The white jig is an excellent choice when you’re fishing community-fishing holes that everybody fishes. The white jig is especially good for tournament fishermen, when you’re fishing a 3- or 4-day tournament, and you want to give the bass a different type and color of bait at which to look.

Question: All right, Chad, are those your four choices?

Brauer: I’ve lied. I’ll have one more lure tied on a rod at all times at this time of year, and that’s the spinner bait. The spinner bait is just a hard lure to beat when you’re fishing in the backs of creeks, coves and backwater areas, and the water temperature is down below 65 degrees. The spinner bait allows you to cover a lot of water quickly. Also, the spinner bait is a great lure to use on really-windy days, when the water’s a little-more stirred-up and the bass are more excited.

Next: Rain, Water Clarity and Bass

Contents:

• Part 1: Finding and Catching Transition Bass
• Part 2: Take the Temperature in the Bass's House
• Part 3: Rain, Water Clarity and Bass
• Part 4: Bass When It's Blowin'
• Part 5: The Lonely Fall Fisherman