A number of different things contribute to make crankbaits the most productive baits for bass in the fall — baits that I always have tied on. With lots of baitfish migrating into creeks that feed our South Carolina reservoirs, it’s an excellent time to fish a reaction-type bait, either a spinnerbait or a crankbait. A crankbait is probably more consistent all-around, because you can fish it whether the water is clear or stained.
Plenty of things go into catching crankbait fish in the fall. First, you pick a creek. I look for the one that’s holding the most bait, then I try to identify which section of that creek is holding the most bait.
All of the lakes I have fished around here — Murray, Clarks Hill, Santee Cooper, Wateree and Hartwell — I have found that certain creeks are better in the fall than others. I’ve tried to figure out why. Are they spring fed? Is the water cooler? I’ve never come up with anything other than they just seem to hold the most baitfish.
Some people shy away from fishing creeks that are full of bait. They say, “If there’s a million shad, why would one eat my bait?” But it’s more of a reaction bite.
When I figure out where the most bait is — sometimes it’s toward the mouth, sometimes halfway back — I look to see whatever kind of shallow cover is available. Is it mostly rock, wood, grass, or even lily pad stems.?
When I get those three variables worked out, then I pick the crankbait I think will work the best. The cover indicates what kind of bait I will throw. If it’s heavy, wooden cover, I’ll throw a bait with a square bill, because it will come through without getting hung. If the cover is more rocky or sparse, I’ll use a crankbait with a round bill. The most important thing is, you need your bait to come through the cover.
I’ll usually have two or three different crankbaits tied on, baits that will run anywhere from a foot to six feet deep. I really like the Rapala DT-6, which has a round bill, and I like the little Lucky Craft bait that has more of a square bill. I like to fish baits in a shad pattern. I tend toward crawfish colors in the spring, browns and oranges, but in the fall, I keep it basic and stick with shad colors.
I’ll generally work on the baits I get right out of the box, changing hooks. If they don’t have Owner hooks, I automatically change them. And I’ll change sizes. Typically, the smaller baits will come with No. 5 or 6 hooks. I’ll put a No. 6 on the front and a No. 4 on the back, or I’ll put on two No. 4s, as long as the bigger hooks don’t affect the action of the bait. That’s a matter of trial-and-error, seeing which hooks work the best on different baits. It’s also a confidence thing.
I pick my line size depending on the cover, from 10-pound Trilene XT all the way up to 20. You’re usually not worried about getting small baits deep, so line size isn’t important in that regard. You do get better action out of lighter line, but you need to get the fish in the boat. I won’t throw 10-pound test in a forest, but I’m not afraid to go up to 20.
Also, the rod I pick depends on the situation I’m fishing. If I’m making long casts out in the open part of a creek, I’ll go with a 7-foot, medium-action All-Star rod. If I’m casting more to targets — stumps or brush — I’ll use a 6-foot-6 rod for more accuracy.
I use the same reel for all of my crankbait fishing, a Pfleuger reel with a 5-to-1 retrieve ratio. There are a lot of different opinions on how fast or slow you need to retrieve a crankbait. I’ve listened to David Fritts talk about the 4.3-to-1 reel he uses, and he made perfect sense, and I’ve listened to Rick Clunn talk about using a 6-to-1 reel, and he made perfect sense. Those are about the best two crankbait fishermen around. I picked something in the middle.
I try to cover a lot of water with a crankbait, and I keep one eye on my depthfinder. I’m looking for balls of bait below the surface; sometimes, you’ll see them flipping on top.
The first thing I do is fish shallow cover. I usually get only two or three days of practice before a tournament — most weekend fishermen have even less time — so I go for the fish that are easiest to pattern, and shallow fish are easier. I’ll fish visible cover first, and if I don’t get bit, then I’ll move back out and fish creek-channel drops and beds.
One other thing that will help you fish crankbaits more effectively in the fall is knowing that the baitfish will be migrating toward the back of a creek as the fall progresses. It makes them easier to keep up with. They may be a third of the way back one day, and the next, they may be a couple of hundred yards farther back, and in a day or two, another half-mile. That makes it easier to predict where to look.
Remember, in the fall, when you find the creek, the bait and the cover, when you find the fish, stay with them. You can knock out a limit in a short period of time if you locate an area with all the right components.
Davy Hite is a 43-year-old native of Saluda who lives in Ninety Six. He has fished professionally since 1993. He was the BASS Angler of the Year in 1997 and 2002, and he won the 1999 Bassmasters Classic and the 1998 FLW Tour Championship. He is sponsored by Triton boats, Evinrude outboards, All-Star rods, Pfleuger reels, Berkley Trilene, Yamamoto Baits, Owner hooks and Solar Bat sunglasses.
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