Where Do Bass Go During The Fall Transition? (And How To Catch Them)

Fall is fast approaching and the bass are already on the move.

If your fish are starting to disappear and you don’t know why, we’re here to help! As the nights get cooler the bass fishing changes over night, stumping many anglers.

The offshore fish begin to gather and the shallow fish abandon their Summer cover in search of new spots. If you’re not ready for what comes next it can leave you scratching your head.

The Fall Transition comes much earlier than most anglers realize. Its not a slow progression, the bass will begin their movements overnight. One day you’re on an awesome topwater bite, the next you can’t find a fish. When this happens its time to step back and look at what is motivating these fish to move.

Whether you’re targeting shallow bass or deep, the bass’ next movement is motivated by the baitfish’s location. As the bait begins to gather, so will the bass. If your fish are out deep, expect them to begin gathering on the best structures. Expect to find them on corners of ledges with deep water access, long tapering points that break to deep water, and later you can expect them to transition toward the backs of deep coves.

Shallow fish will abandon the scattered weeds in favor of thick weed clumps and hard structures. As the seasons progress these fish will begin bunching up along ambush points and pockets.

Below is a breakdown of the gear we recommend using during these conditions.