I had to start fishing late today, so I went to a pond near the city (and that's free). I noticed a few fish feeding right away which I thought were bluegills, but it looks like they were small bass. I ended up catching 3 or 4 baby bass and hooked one around 2-3 pounds that came off at the boat. I haven't been catching any bass at all the last few months due to the heat and me not having a depth finder, so I think the cooler nights are getting them more active. I caught most of them on a spoon which they don't normally chase in the summer. It could just be that one pond, but I feel encouraged and will be out early next Sunday on a real lake to see if the bite really is picking up.

I would stay with the free fishing. Start stocking your freezer with fish. If we thank prices are high now; in two more months everything will be off the charts.

My local lake bite has been really good up until the sun got up this weekend. After 8am, it's just a grind. I suspect that will just get better here in the next week or two.

I can tell you Texoma was SLOW this weekend. 25 boat tournament and the winning weight was 10.5ish.
Starting to see a few fish chasing shad in the backs of coves.
I would say in 2-3 weeks, (if it stays cooler) it should be great.

East Tx the small fish are really getting active up shallow. I haven't run into many good ones though. Still have to get deep and go to work for those. I'm thinking any day it's going to get better though.

Pretty much seeing what y’all are seeing. They are getting shallow, but the big fish aren’t there yet.

Caught a few at Murvaul Saturday.. nothing great but active on slow rolled finesse spinnerbait bumped off bottom around bridge pilings in less than 5' water. Couldn't get bit on anything else I tried shallow and deep.. square bills, deep divers, worms or swimbaits.

Ditto, I only took 2 rods to my local pond (shore fishing) Sunday morning, one with a small buzzbait and one with a KVD "fluke". I couldn't get a shallow bite on the buzzbait, NOTHING. I started throwing it further out and letting it would run a few feet deep. I was able to pick up 2 small fish and lost one a little bigger close to shore. Gone with a quick jump and head shake. Ready for some fall topwater action.

Here in Alabama, we have had some cool nights some getting in the high 40's. I took off work last Friday and went fishing and I still find most bass still spread out a good bit. Water temp was around 74 degrees, down from 89 just a few weeks ago.
Usually it will be mid October before those bass start gathering up and heading toward the back of coves chasing shad. Right now I am finding the best spots at mouths of creeks or long flat points off the main channel.

They’re actively avoiding whatever I’m throwing!

Good one. I have the same problem

truth