The “calendar” month in the bass’s world is of no importance. Seasonal periods are what drive bass to behave and react in particular ways. Anglers must base our approach, tackle options and techniques to appeal to these seasonal fish patterns if we want to achieve success, regardless of what month we find ourselves standing on the bank. Bass, being “cold-blooded” creatures, simply react biologically to whatever water conditions they find themselves in.

Bass don’t head across the lake to warmer waters like retirees to the warmer states; they head to certain areas for biological reasons. These could be food sources, upcoming spawning conditions, oxygen content, etc. The reasons vary; just don’t think of them in human perspectives. Get it of your mind that bass are “happier” during the warm-water summer months as opposed to under the ice; they don’t care!

Transitions from one season to the next happen throughout the year. For example, let’s start with winter. Lakes go from very cold water—in northern states, time under the ice—which is our cold-water season. Then they transition into an early spring after ice-out, which takes several months and is a somewhat slow process; sometimes agonizingly slow if you’re a warm-weather angler. The spring and early-summer seasons bring on more favorable weather conditions, at least temperature-wise. Once again, it’s more comfortable for anglers, but of less importance to fish—except during their spring spawning periods.

Next, we enter the warm-water season of summer, consisting of the highest water temps of the entire year. These warm-water months span a several-month period, which leads us into fall, and eventually back to the cold-water season.

These seasonal progressions are rather vague and provide a general concept of what happens underwater in the bass’s world. You can actually break down the individual seasons into more intricate periods, which we don’t have time to discuss, but you get the general idea. But there is one transitional season that sets itself apart from the normal, and we are entering into that transition just as you are reading this article: and that’s the late-summer/early-fall time period.

There is not another season throughout the year that draws me to the bank more than the fall. I don’t think there is another transition period that is as accelerated. We basically go from the beginning of this transitional period, around early September with the remnants of the “dog days” of summer still in our midst, to getting pelted by ice balls as Trick or Treaters invade our doorsteps. I refer to this as a “hyper-transitional” period, because it certainly takes bass habitats from one seasonal pattern to the next in quick succession.

What draws such interest for me this time of the year is the need to constantly adapt to whatever current water conditions and behavioral patterns that bass find themselves in. You might start off this period with techniques and baits that you were having success with in July and August, but I guarantee that you’ll have to make some huge changes in your presentations within about a 60-day span if you want continued success.

Let’s look at two behavioral patterns for bass during this time of year: one being bass location, and the second some bait presentation suggestions.

Seasonal bass locations

Early during this time period, bass are in their end-of-the-warm-water-season locations—primarily in the depths, along deep edges of weed lines, and along bottom structure or cover. But as water temps begin their downward journey, bass begin sensing the changes that their bodies are programmed for once the temps head the other direction. An increased need to feed has already triggered their natural instincts to begin preparation for the cold-water season ahead. Bass are on the move now, and not restricting their movements to the warm-water depths.

Bass begin to roam, searching for concentrated areas of baitfish. To remain successful, you must search the depths, often top-to-bottom, and be willing to move around your body of water until active fish are located. This is definitely the heaviest feeding period for bass—even more so than post-spawn. It often brings bass from the depths into close proximity to bank anglers; and for that reason, it’s time to leverage their seasonal patterns to your advantage.

During this time, bass will be in a heavy feeding mode, up until the later stages of this transitional period when waters approach the cold-water seasonal temps found under the ice. Bass are packing on the pounds during this time period; it’s when I’ve caught most of my heaviest specimens.

Transitional baits

Don’t overcomplicate your bait selections. Bass seek larger portions, so go with a bit larger bait profile during this time of the year. Forage fish colors and profile presentations are my normal choices, but on certain waters, crayfish imitations work as well. While working worms on the bottom or through the weeds might kick off my bait choices in the beginning of this period, as the water cools, fish imitators definitely become my go-to presentations.

As for lure selections, basically use baits that allow you to cover as much water as possible, I’ll throw out a few that I use, but I’m sure you have your favorites.

As the temps begin their drop, topwaters can be awesome choices as they allow you to cover massive amounts of water. I normally throw more open-water surface baits like buzz baits, poppers, plopper-style prop baits, and walk-the-dog action baits.

Crankbaits with various running depths are staples during this time of the year and are perfect search baits. Spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs also appeal as forage presentations and allow you to cover all the depths in search of active fish.

My number one bait for this fall transition period is a soft plastic swimbait. The Senko used to be my favorite and still produces right up to first ice; but a swimbait allows me to cover a bit more water, and I can adjust bait size to duplicate the area’s forage offerings. While not new baits, soft jerk baits are making a rebirth in my presentations—the perfect baits to mimic a wounded or struggling baitfish.

My best advice is to pick a handful of search-style baits that resemble forage in your particular waters and stay on the move; covering as much water as possible is critical this time of year in your search for active bass.

Adapt as the season progresses. Be mindful as water temps drop and conditions change. As the season moves along toward the cold-water period, bass behavior will adjust appropriately. Baits and presentations that produced at the onset of this transition period might lose their effectiveness as the transition to cold water sets in for the next season.

For more insight and tips for fishing throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.