Most of my White and Hybrid bass fishing has been in the spring and summer (May thru early September). What are the differences in the fall fishing patterns from spring and summer? I fish mostly on LL.

Spring is usually your river side spawning run fishing. On the main lake, you'll get your fish on wind blown points and out deeper. Once the fish come out of the rivers back into the main lake, you will have the birds to show you where they are until they disappear heading into summer.

Summer, and the heat/water temperature, gets your fish to suspend in the middle of the water column. That's why you're trolling (Hel-Pet) works so well. It keeps your bait in that zone. You can find and catch fish in all three zones of the water column (top, middle, bottom). You just have to find the fish, find which zone they're in and then find the way to catch them (present your bait) in that zone.

Fall is without a doubt, some of the best fishing action. As the air/water temperatures start cooling down, the fish will start gorging themselves for the impending winter. You can pretty much eliminate the middle zone of the water column as fish will stack neatly on humps & ledges and surface feed. As the birds start coming back, finding them can be easy and "jump fishing", that is moving from one flock of birds to the next, is fast, furious & fun.
With the birds showing you the way, you can find where more easily also where the fish are stacking up on their humps. Fishing the humps with slabs will be the ticket for numbers and size of fish.

Basically, fall is no different than summer except you can often times eliminate the middl of the water column and spend more time slabbing in one spot and pick up fish after fish after fish after fish.

As the water cools, schooling action will die off. Fish will start to stack up more on deeper humps and points. Electronics will become more important in locating them. Find the right spot and you'll kill 'em on slabs - like fishing in a barrel. Things should really turn on here in the next few weeks and stay consistent until the water temps get below about 50�.

Rebel 1, I think the boys answered you very
well, in my opinion, and you know what opinions
are worth, fall is some of the best fishing time
and I think it is mainly because they are busy
eating everything in sight getting ready for
the colder water, and here in Texas this period
should run into late November at least. But it
is Good fishing.

Jeff Schiller:
You are making my mouth water, I can't wait to get out there. Thanks for your insight. Gene

is there a chance if you are bank fishing?

The surface action will continue probably through late November.

Unfortunately, you'll have to get lucky that the fish will be surfacing on wind blown banks.

Your best bet, although a pain in the backside, is to get on the windy side and fish into the wind. A little praying wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Most of your surface action will happen less and less often as the temps drop, and that will happen over deep water humps.

Here's hoping you get lucky.

hehe.. thanx Jeff, u r always so informative and fast.

Jeff and all, thanks. It sure sounds like the fall is an exciting time. Jeff, do you mainly fish/guide on Grapevine? I think I will give Grapevine a try after reading some of your's and other's post. It's just that LL is only about five minutes away and I have had real good luck there. Thanks again all, the information really helps.

I only guide on Grapevine and I very rarely fish other lakes. Although I am going to start fishing some other lakes next year just to see how the other half lives.

The thing I like about Grapevine is that it's a nice, small, cozy little lake. You don't have to burn a lot of gas to see it all.

The one thing I don't like about Grapevine....no hybrids.

Fall fishing is great It is one of my favorite times of year...everybody is hunting, pleasure boaters are gone, no jet skies and the fishing is great. I change up my lure presentation when the water temps get cooler. I also use a lot of sassy shads. Rebel since Jeff doesnt guide on Lewisville and if you want to hire a guide for Lewisville , try Don The Angler.

That's some pretty great info, can't wait to get back out there. Thanks to all you guys.

Rebel1,

I agree with Jeff on fall and would add a couple of things. Watch the water temps and realize that the fish won't move as fast in late fall making the jigging spoon even better. I've still caught a lot of big sandbass in fall that were suspended on Tailhummers.

I also feel like lake turnover is something to consider that you don't deal with in spring. Once the surface temp dips below 70 degrees, don't be suprised if the fish scatter out for about ten days making for tough fishing. Normally, it's after this period that the humps and roadbeds get really good and the fish get thick as thieves. To me Thanksgiving marks the midpoint of this action, but the lakes turned over late last year.

Thanks again to Jeff and John for making the TFF a great place for everyone. Jeff, I'm taking my son out largemouth fishing tomorrow on Joe Pool - and he's excited.

Ahhhh yes. I remember too getting excited about fishing for lmb's.
Then I got older and realized that's way too much pressure. He'll come around eventually.

Good Luck.

Would love to try Don's guide service but...just bought a boat and my most gracious other half might not understand why I need to spend money on a guide. BTW...where is Don? Have not seen any reports from him lately. He is always very informative and gives good information about LL.