Im looking for different ways to catch fish in the fall. I normally use crankbaits around offshore structure. Not having much luck got any ideas.

I will go with spinnerbait, crankbait, jig and I never leave home with out my plastics.  Bass have their own agenda, but they should start following shad to the backs of creeks.  I like the spinnerbait for this and the crankbait.  I know here in VA the bass seem to be in transition out of their summertime pattern.  For me anyway they seem scattered.  I do know they are starting to school.  You just need to find those schools!  Easier said than done, at least for me right now.  I have been finding them shallow in the mornings.  But the weather is changing daily now so be ready to be versatile and move.  Good luck!

If you're targeting big bass, try the Lucky Craft Rick Clunn 3.5 crankbait. I've had great sucess w/chart & blk. The only place I've found this lure is BassPro. The cost is about $15 but in the past two wks. I've caught a couple of 4lber's and a 3 lber. If you go to the Lucky Craft web site and read the article written by Clunn, He

(Clunn) helped develop this lure for big bass in spring & fall. It only dives to 4'.Good luck, Irishrover.

Depending on the water color I always start using my jerkbaits in the fall. Also I will use buzzbaits more than I usually do.

Hammer

Jig and Pig (or craw) - sweet beavers work well as jig trailers too.

Fall is a great time of the year. Fish can be caught on lots of baits this time of the year. As water cools down more, i say that because we are still in the 80's on surface temps here. I like shad colored excaliburs, white and wht/chart. spinners and buzzbaits, Chrome blue back for now, later black back rattle traps and rattlinrouges. Flukes, tubes, and other plastics all catch fish also. As the water temp drops, colors change, firetiger, clown, parrot and hot mustard work. As the fall passes and winter takes over, I throw more lures with reddish colors as the lakes get clearer. I have found that the red traps don't work as well in lakes void of vegitation.  On lakes void of hydrilla, I have used the Bomber A firetiger with great success for deeper fish and the rogue for shallower fish.  This year I will be throwing the Yozuri red trap (milo) in the dead of winter.  I was outfished by one 3 to 1 over bill lewis traps.

Try a spinnerbait, jig, and a shallow running crankbait up in the creeks instead of offshore.

Follow the bass up the creeks and throw t-rigged tubes, shallow running crankbaits, white buzzbaits, and my favorite a white/chrome Smithwick Rogue jerkbait.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. I will try all of it.

It's all been said but spinnerbaits,shallow crankbaits,floating and suspending Rogues(chrome/black,chrome/blue,gold/black with orange),jig/pig(blue w/natural pig,black w/blue pig,brown w/orange pig),and plastics.The bass will be following the bait fish into the backs of feeder creeks and coves,so go shallow.

Try the Norman Fat Boy, bluegill pattern. I caught my PB on this lure last month and a 7-8 lb last Saturday. Yep, I like this lure...A lot!

Thanks, not many fisherman give the name and size of bait. I will add that to my tackle.

jig,jig,jig,jig,jig

LOL! I got ya.

In the lake I fish shad are starting to ball up and be the main focus of bass.  I hammer them all day long with a 1/8 Stanley Wedge spinnerbait.  Also, small crankbaits and Rat-L traps work very well.  The bass aren't really relating to the structure, just the huge balls of shad.

Ive been looking for shad. Havent found the balls of them yet when I do Ill try that spinner.

Thanks

OK, do you have all this! Thought I would make a list for ya of what all everyone has suggested so far.

1. T-rigged soft platics

2. Spinnerbait

3. Crankbait

4. Jig

5. Plastics

6. Lucky Craft Rick Clunn 3.5 crankbait

7. Jerkbait

8. Buzzbait

9. Jig w/sweet beaver trailer

10. Shad colored Excaliburs

11. Chrome blue back Rat-L-Trap

12. Black back Rat-L-Trap

13. Black back Rattlinrouges

14. Flukes

15. Tubes

16. Bomber A firetiger

17. Yozuri red trap (milo)

18. T-rigged Tube

19. Shallow running crankbait

20. White Buzzbait

21. White/chrome Smithwick Rogue jerkbait

22. Floating and suspending Rogues(chrome/black)

23. Floating and suspending Rogues (chrome/blue

24. Floating and suspending Rogues (gold/black with orange)

25. Jig/pig(blue w/natural pig)

26. Jig/pig(black w/blue pig)

27. Jig/pig(brown w/orange pig)

28. Norman Fat Boy, bluegill pattern

29. Jig,jig,jig,jig,jig  (that's from LBH)

30. 1/8 Stanley Wedge spinnerbait

31. Small crankbaits

32. Rat-L traps

LOL...  In other words take eveything you own, plus buy some more and throw it all at 'em.  I'm making fun of myself here to guys so don't get mad.  LOL!

I fish a spinnerbait (slow roll), jig and pig(pork)(slow fall), swimming jig (slow roll), suspended jerkbait points (long pauses), tight wiggle/medium wiggle crankbaits fished medium to slow retreive.