I’ve been fishing out of the middlesex area for a couple of years and I have been fishing out of a kayak this past year and the fall bite his been difficult for me. People keep telling me to use reaction baits during this time but I feel in the northeast fish are still active in the winter so reaction bait isn’t as good also with the lack of shad in Mass. Any suggestions on what baits work best up here in the fall when the bass aren’t feeding on shad and bluegill have moved out deep? Also will take suggestions for good spots in the area.

If the bass aren’t feeding on shad, and the bluegill are deep, what are the bass eating? Are you saying that the bass followed the bluegill out deep? 

Mo, I'm fishing in Maine and my best fall bait has been a Yo-Zuri popper. I think any popper would work. As @Glenn advised in a recent video, I use a pop and pause retreat. 

 

However, I also scored big time on Wednesday morning with a walking bait.

1 hour ago, August said:

If the bass aren’t feeding on shad, and the bluegill are deep, what are the bass eating? Are you saying that the bass followed the bluegill out deep? 

Hard to tell either crappie or perch shallow and others must’ve followed the blue gill deep.

Firstly, welcome to the forum. 

 

Though my fall bite's also been off this season, my biggest fish were caught on reaction baits.  I fish primarily South Shore to the Cape.  My best jerkbait is yellow perch colored.  My best crankbaits are mixed, but mostly  bluegill or Rapala's Rootbeer Shad.  Sometimes the smallies like anything chartreuse.

 

When they're not hitting reaction baits, I've caught fish on green pumpkin/red flake jigs and orange/brown Senkos.

 

If your kayak is a pedal drive, try trolling a crankbait around your waters.  You'll locate fish pretty quickly.

 

Read through and follow this thread: 

 

 

It's got 12 years of fishing info in this area, by some very good anglers.

 

Good luck with the rest of the season.  It'll be time for blade baits soon enough.

 

Here are five of the 58 bass I caught on Wednesday morning, along with my two best lures. The bottom bass was the biggest. The Yo-Zuri popper also produced. I tend to use translucent poppers with color here and there. 

 

 

There are some highly skilled Mass anglers who are Bass Resource members. They catch big bass. The linked thread that @DogBone_384 provided is full of info.

4 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

There are some highly skilled Mass anglers

 

Of which I hope to be someday!

 

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

Of which I hope to be someday!

 

 

I'm betting on you. 

Rattle baits are a killer in cold water shallow ponds. 😎