Late Summer to Fall Bass Fishing Rod and Reel Set-Ups

By: Captain Ty Mooney

As the seasons change so do our tactics and gear for catching bass on the lakes and rivers.  Below you will see a fly rod and spinning rod set up I would recommend for targeting bass as we reach the fall season. 

In the fall you will find bass starting to move toward shallow water to feed on smaller bait forages.  Targeting summer bass on a fly rod can be difficult, but that is not always the case in the fall.  A great rod for the job is going to be a Temple Fork Outfitters LK Legacy 9 foot 6 weight, paired with a Hardy UDLA 4/5/6 reel.  This set up is going to give you a lightweight rod to fish long days with a powerful backbone to fight aggressive bass.  Spool this up with some Cortland Bass specialty series floating line.  The key for this floating line will be fishing for schooling fish or fish more apt to feed looking up for small bait.  A great way to coax these fish is a white double barrel slider.  Fish the slider on a loop knot connection.  Give it erratic action like a fleeing baitfish when near active fish.  When you are searching for active fish, fish the slider slowly with longer pauses after a cadence of multiple short strips.  On the lake target flats in front of creek mouths in the 5 to 15 foot depth range.  If you struggle to find fish willing to come all the way to the surface to feed, change out your line to a fairly moderate sink rate sinking line.  Fish small baitfish flies in the 3 to 4 inch range,  mushmouth in a natural shad pattern is a great choice.  This will get your fly down in the water column, but keep it above the fish, remember fall fish in our area love to feed up.. Not down.  small shad imitations.  The Pflueger President medium powered spinning rod spooled with a 10 to 15 pound braided main line.

 For conventional anglers on the lake the late summer and fall bite can be fairly finesse oriented trying to throw and a fluorocarbon leader is an excellent combo.  My go to in September to October is going to be a 3 inch paddle tail swimbait on a quarter ounce ball head jig fished over ditches in creek channels or flats at the front of major creek arms.  If you notice fish chasing bait high on the surface switch up to a berkley power jerk shad, twitched along the surface.  As a last resort if fish are being picky, switch it up to a drop shot with a berkley maxscent flat worm in these same areas to trick those finicky bass.  

Captain Ty Mooney, Headwaters Outfitters

Shop online at Headwatersoutfitters.com or stop in and see us to get your fall fishing gear.  From rod and reel to flies and tackle we have got you covered!  If you are looking for more insight on how to target fall bass book a guided trip with us online or in the store.