Fall is here, the water temperature has dropped into the 60s and the bass have moved shallow! If you are like me, you are tired of this warm, cold, warm, cold weather. November is finally here and the fall bite is here to stay . . . at least for a little while. During this month, you can hit the lake, cast fast-retrieve baits and catch tons of bass.
Some of my most productive baits during November are Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater baits. These baits offer the best resemblance of the shad that have moved into shallow water; its erratic motion triggers strikes, hence why I think the most productive color pattern for me is some type of shad pattern.
Another key ingredient for November fishing is the location where you use these baits. Not all areas of the lake will be productive; fishing in shallow areas between 2′-6′ is where you will have the most success.
Whether you choose to throw Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, spinnerbaits or topwater lures (I recommend trying all of them throughout the day), there are things you can do to increase your success. The first thing you need to do is make sure you have a full spool of line. As I have stated in previous articles, when fishing fast-retrieve baits, cover as much water as you can. One way of doing this is by have a full spool of line with the lowest lb test you can possibly have, while still having the strength you need to fight a big fish. I use 10-12lb test for these lures. Look at it this way: if you can get an extra 10 yards a cast and take 200 casts a day (which is very low), that is 2,000 more yards of water covered! I would confidently say that you are going to catch more fish per trip if you cover 6,000 more feet of water a trip.
November is one of my favorite times to bass fish. I save so much gas, time and stress simply because I know that the bass are shallow. Now don’t get me wrong, you can still catch bass in deep water, but the majority of bass are shallow. If I can set my mind only on shallow water, then all I have to do if figure out what they want to eat. I am convinced that if you use the pointers covered in this article you will catch more fish and be able to enjoy each time out on the water during the month of November. Remember, if the water temperature is in mid 60s to upper 50s, the bass are eating somewhere, so do not spend too much time in one area if you do not see bait present.
I wish you the best of luck out on the water. Beware! The water is cold now and you need to take safety precautions. Life jackets always need to be on, and blankets are a great idea in case someone falls in the lake.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the information in this article, or if you would like to get out on the water with me to experience a great day of fall bass fishing, you can reach me at briancarper.com or (615) 278-6311.
God Bless,
Brian
