Late fall vs ice out——-

 

So let’s say we’re talking water temps of 55° and below — would you say the fishing styles stay pretty similar between late fall and early ice-out? For example, are baits like a bladed jig, blade bait, or lipless crank still effective in both periods, or do you adjust your approach once it transitions out of winter? I know baitfish patterns play a big role in the fall, but I’m curious if lure selection or overall presentation changes much between those two windows.

I think at ice out a warm wind pattern works well for big bass.  A shallower flat off of a channel will be the place to fish a spinnerbait or shallow jerkbait, etc.  This doesn't apply in late fall in my opinion.

The difference is in spring photo period is getting longer as opposed to late fall and a warm wind in spring has a more pronounced effect than in the fall.

I'm talking about a good, stiff, warm south wind.  If you have no warm wind and 45-50 water in the spring, winter tactics will still work.

Late Fall fish are on a feeding frenzy before winter comes… find the bait find the bass.. 

 

 Very Early Prespawn iceout fish are feeding up but also moving towards spawning grounds.. 

Lakes go through 2 turn overs the ice out and fall, both shut down fishing until the ecosystem settles down another factor to consider.

Bass are cold blooded animals and metabolism slows as the water gets cold.

The bass willingness to chase down lures increases with warmer water.

Proven lures like very slow moving jerk baits, long pauses between jerking the lure, jigs and worms crawled along structure and slower swimming wake baits work good as the water transitions from cold to around 50 degrees.

50-55 degrees is pre spawn and the bass are aggressive feeders.

Tom 

37 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

Lakes go through 2 turn overs the ice out and fall,

Occasionally you can get a double-turnover in the fall. If the water gets warm enough, you'll have an initial turnover, then later when the near-surface temp approaches that magic 39-degree mark you can have another turnover as it finally settles. It happens here, not regularly, but often enough to be noticed.

It does.  With water temps trending down, metabolic rates are slowing so bass slow and become more selective.  They may ignore fast moving or erratic baits.  With water temps trending up, their metabolic rates are increasing and they become more aggressive, less selective and more willing to chase.  So their behavior at 50° in the fall is different than their behavior at 50° in the spring.  While their metabolic rates may be similar at 50° in the fall and the spring, their behavioral adjustments differ as they are responding to the direction of temperature change and its meaning for what’s to come.

The reason I like to fish in late fall is because fish are moving from all over the lake to specific winter spots.  So, you are fishing AT more fish.  Metabolic rate is slower but the advantage of casting to more numbers in fewer places is a good thing.

In pre spawn fish are moving away from winter spots and spreading out.  They are eating more as their metabolism is increasing with the warming water and increasing day light.

But I love a November day with water temps in the 40's.  Call me crazy.

I am gonna be the odd person who says that in fact - yes - bass are doing very similar things in the fall and spring.  Obviously fish the conditions you’re presented with but as the water gets into the mid 50s - I’m doing a lot of the same things in a lot of the same places during both seasons.

I agree with @Pat Brown. Currently, I’m casting small paddle tails on light jigs for big smallmouth. That’s the exact same thing I did to start the year lol. Water is in the mid to low 50’s and slowly falling, but the bite and fish are still around to be targeted effectively for now…

On 11/2/2025 at 11:19 AM, Lottabass said:

I think at ice out a warm wind pattern works well for big bass.  A shallower flat off of a channel will be the place to fish a spinnerbait or shallow jerkbait, etc.  This doesn't apply in late fall in my opinion.

The difference is in spring photo period is getting longer as opposed to late fall and a warm wind in spring has a more pronounced effect than in the fall.

I'm talking about a good, stiff, warm south wind.  If you have no warm wind and 45-50 water in the spring, winter tactics will still work.

Yea springtime that first warm stretch to kick the water out of the 40s and bring some heavy winds is usually lights out for me. I feel like the answer there is more the typical "spawn" pattern of being near flats that connect to deeper water access and being there at the right time. It feels like the fish are more "real estate" driven if that makes sense.

 

In the Fall it feels like the fish are locked in on the bait or clinging to key areas as the vegetation dies. Sometimes these might feel the same as those spring locations but they might be there for different reasons. 

Fall down Spring up the difference between seasonal periods. The bass migration routes could be similar behavior is very different, slowing down vs speeding up.

Tom

I throw a lot more cranks in fall than in spring. A Bomber Model A Is a proven producer. If I get back out this year I will be giving the Model A a go.