Many years back, I was attending a fishing seminar, and the speaker was one of my most respected anglers and angling educators of all time, Al Lindner. Certainly, there’s no need to expand on his accomplishments and dedication to the sport of fishing. Al is a legend and honestly one of the nicest people I have had the honor to meet.

While I can’t remember all the highlights of the seminar itself, Al made one comment that has stuck in my fishing brain ever since, and it was in relation to locating fish. Al explained his scientific theories on where to find fish as, “Fish are either on the top, or on the bottom, or somewhere in-between!” And while it generated a few laughs among the seasoned angling crowd, that advice has stuck with me on every fishing outing afterwards.

While the simplicity of the advice might cause an eyeroll from a few anglers, let’s key on one part of that statement concerning fish location: That part of the puzzle for angling success for our current part of the season is, those fish “somewhere in-between.”

As water temps continue their way downward, there is a point when there is very little water stratification as far as depth. The warm-water season has most bodies of water with the warmer layers near the surface and the cooler waters near the bottom. As the fall progresses, those waters begin to mix or turn over, creating very similar water conditions from top to bottom. With this change, fish become much more scattered, roaming more in pursuit of their pre-winter meals, primarily in the form whatever prey they can wrap their jaws around.

Feeding predator fish now consume local forage, whether that be minnows, shad, small bluegills, perch—whatever the waters offer up. Most feeding fish are not particular at this time of year. With all the ingredients of a fall feeding perfect storm about to happen, and fish not necessarily focusing on either top or bottom bites, “in-between presentation” techniques can be explosive.

While you can run many baits through this mid-range of water, one technique for me has truly stood out among the rest for the next month or so: suspending jerkbaits. Now, whether you go with the theory that suspending baits give the illusion of a dying or forage in trouble, fish are kind of tight-lipped as to explaining why they choose to hit certain baits. But one thing is certain: Most predators have a hard time resisting a moving, then stationary bait.

There are certainly all types and brands to choose from. I vary my types from shallow divers to deeper divers, and some with dressed hooks to some with more flash than others. So, I can’t admit to a “best bait,” as conditions always dictate my choices on every given outing. Color schemes are the same: Sometimes, a more natural color and pattern reigns; other days, obnoxious colors seem to stand out. Thus, my justification for carrying a few varieties. Forage size to me has a little more correlation concerning bait selection than colors and flash. I try to keep my baits close to the size of those local offerings, matching the hatch, so to speak. Most of my baits generally fit in the 3- to 6-inch range.

Use whatever gear you feel most comfortable with. I throw much of mine on spinning gear, but that’s a personal preference. Now, suspending jerkbaits are geared for primarily clear-water conditions, so this is one time where I will be conscious of line type and diameter. Fish often follow and study these baits a bit closer than most standard-moving baits, so thick, heavy lines might cause a bit of hesitation from an interested fish. I I normally fish clear monos, but you can use flouros if that’s your choice.

Concerning where to fish these jerkbaits, I work the mid-depths with various-diving-range baits in clearer, primarily open-water conditions; trust me, these lures are not designed for weedy areas. Simply cast, crank the bait down to its running depth, and with downward pops of the rod tip, work the bait back in this manner. Presentation speed is another variable that you’ll have to discover on the water as weather, temps and water clarity can vary from day to day. Some days, fish prefer a very radical cadence once the bait is at depth; another day, a more subdued retrieve. While it might sound a little troublesome, trying to determine the fish’s mood of the day, trust me, it’s not. Once dialed in, with your bait is getting attention from predators, you’ll experience how exhilarating the fall jerkbait technique can be.

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