I generally put the rods down and pick up the bow in October. I've got a day to burn at work and the wife is heading out of town next weekend. I'm thinking I should head out to lake for a long weekend  and try for some those big fall Smallies . Water temp should be in the high 50's maybe low 60's but I'm guessing high 50's. 2 weeks ago we had some success but nothing like I was hoping for. I know  that had a lot to with my 2d sonar be out. A rock hit my transducer on the drive in. Anyway what should I look for? I'm thinking deep rock piles near bait. Drop shots and tubes. They definitely weren't shallow. Had some success shallow on swimbaits and rattletraps but IMHO it was marginal at best. Water temps were in the low 60's. Never fished in mid October so any tips would be appreciated. Tight Lines Rob in Montana

I'll be out on Wednesday. Mid Atlantic winds were strong enough yesterday to to bag it. I love this time of year for river smallies. Have my routine planned from topwaters, crank baits, jerk baits, to plastics. Feel real good about a nice one. 

I don't know any lakes in Montana, but for me, success fishing for smallies in the fall is mostly about figuring out the baitfish.  Craws, darters, sculpin, etc imitations can all work, but in my experience, smallies tend to feed more on larger, schooling forage this time of year.  Perch, trout, alewives, and shad tend to be better patterns for me.  Still, it's rare that I don't have at least one rod with a tube tied on.