Bass-Addict

What are you go-to topwater baits

Downstream?

In-line spinners it safety pin? And why does clear water demand moving baits?

I have a friend whose judgement and advice I generally trust. He is adamant about not using anything larger than what you see in the water. In other words, using a 2.75” soft plastic paddle tail rather than a 3.25”. How accurate is this? I have seen people catching big smallmouth on giant 6”+ glide baits, is that different being a reaction strike?

Do you think flurocarbon is necessary in ultra clear river water like this?

Nice, yeah and with the full moon Sunday craw seems ideal. You think TRD craw or different profile?

Interesting, so you find creature/craw type profiles produce better than traditional TRD stick baits in fall? For river smallies?

Yeah, honestly my PB came on an upstream retrieval of a whopper plopper. Granted those are almost purely reaction strikes, clearly if a 20” fish isn’t deterred or “spooked” by this then there are no hard and fast rules.

I’m having a tough time with the fall bite. It started strong but this erratic yo-yo weather, with overnight lows suddenly plummeting into the 30s creating temperature shock and going on a month drought has the water extremely low, slow and ultra clear. Add to that the days have been clear, bright bluebird skies and so the high pressure combined with the visibility has made it very tricky. Water is now around 55, but it is going to heat up over the next couple days with highs in upper the 70s. When this happens, especially the extreme clarity + bright sun, do you think the fish move deep? It would make sense as you rarely see bass under any conditions being ambush predators. Prior to this, when it was overcast I was finding them in 3-6 ft below riffles, moderate current. Now they are ghost. I’m wondering if Ned rigging deep holes could be an option worth exploring or if they only hit moving stuff this time of year as people keep saying?

Which do you suppose is more effective in rivers?

And you don’t think there’s anything to retrieving upstream being “unnatural” as people say?

Sounds miserable, we need some rain.

Haven’t had a drop of rain in weeks, my river is extremely low, slow and gin clear. The fall bite is on, but I noticed when I floated Sunday I could see clear to the bottom, and saw a number of bass swimming. Which can only mean they saw me. I did ok, but for how hot the bite is and how aggressively they were feeding I should’ve done better. I can only imagine I missed a good number of fish who spooked when they saw me. I was long casting downstream, throwing paddle tails, spinnerbaits and whopper plopper in monkey butt (translucent) but I’m not sure this was enough. Additionally, I have heard upstream retrieval is unnatural as baitfish do not swim up current. What is your secret for these conditions?

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/pro-tips-stop-lip-grip Common sense really if you think about it, these are animals that spend their entire lives in very low gravity. Suddenly suspending them by their tiny lip and having their entire body weight pull on their fragile jaw at an awkward angle can permanently disable their ability to properly feed.

Anyone

Why or why not?

I’m thinking silver double willow with a shad/mouse skirt in 1/2 or 3/8 but unsure if this is the ticket or not?

Would you recommend Rico or Rio Rico?

You’re referring to plopper?

I thought it was a creature bait?

I imagine because they are the most fragile when caught, many die on release due to stress from the fight, esp if the water is over a certain temp.

I’m honestly not sure, but I believe high 60s. I thought water temp wasn’t relevant to fall bite and that it was triggered by daylight hours/autumnal equinox? Interesting, mostly craw patterns. So you don’t buy the whole “strictly minnow imitations” sentiment so many adopt for fall? Yeah I have been throwing a paddle tail. I just got a Rio Ricos, you think that would be more effective than WP?

I had multiple fish hit my Ned on the retrieve yesterday, as I was reeling it back in to recast they hit it 2 ft from the boat. This made me stop and think about what I was doing, are they almost exclusively up in the water chasing baitfish now? I still caught a decent number on the bottom w the TRD, but I wish I could figure out a consistent reliable fall pattern. The Ned has become my confidence lure, so I’m having trouble abandoning it when it’s still catching fish. I see everyone catching big fish on topwater, yet I can’t seem to get a sniff. Paddle tails and spinnerbaits only producing minimally still. What do you find most success with in the fall? I hear some people say they’re in current, others that they are already making their way to their winter holes. I hate the confusion, I want a decent challenge but this is a lot to unravel.

Gotta upsize your hook to a 1/0 EWG

It doesn’t bother you when people abuse and potentially kill fish and damage your fishery?