October bass fishing lures for increased fall success.

As we head into fall, the air turns crisp, and the summer bite ends. Most anglers have put their fishing gear away until spring and have started chasing fowl, deer, and other big game. But some anglers are still getting after it, chasing big bass until they inhabit the water's deepest depths.

Since the bass are still biting in October, we wanted to piece together an article reviewing the top bass lures for October bites.

Finding October bass.

Locating groups of shad as they are often moving to different locations of the water throughout the day can be a key to your October bass fishing success. And, since bait fish are about the only food left for them, using baits and lures that mimic a shad or minnow will help your success. Think white and chartreuse…

Bass will remain shallow for as long as they can during October before the cold weather drives them to the deepest depths. Rocky, sandy humps, docks, laydowns, and stumps reign king and offer some of the best October bass fishing.

A sleeper place to target bass in the early fall months is the banks and cover between docks. Since most docks get hammered by every angler passing, the areas between docks with little cover can hold some rather large, unpressured bass.

Top lures for October bass fishing.

Since there are many brand variations of the lures we are about to discuss, we will use the style and color for the sake of this article.

• Spinnerbaits
• Buzzbaits
• Crankbaits
• Bass Jigs

Spinnerbaits for October bass.

Spinnerbaits are a great, versatile lure that will mimic a small group of bait fish. And, since small bait fish are what bass are after this time of year, spinnerbaits are a must-have in your tackle arsenal.

Spinnerbait size for October bass fishing. Larger spinnerbaits work well in the early fall as the baitfish born in the spring have had months to grow. But, the rule of thumb here is to match the size of your spinnerbait to the size of the baitfish. So, if baitfish are smaller in your local waters, fish a smaller spinnerbait.

Covering water with spinnerbaits in the fall. As fish kick things into high gear, chasing bait fish to fill up for the winter months. Spinnerbaits are great as they allow you to cover more water. Hitting grass, cover, and various structures in the fall will yield good results.

Spinnerbaits resemble schooling fish. As mentioned above, schools of bait fish are what bass are targeting during October. Using a spinnerbait that mimics this will increase your chances of catching bass.

Spinnerbait retrieval speed for October bass. Pick your poison, fast or slow. We've seen both retrieval methods work particularly well this time of year. Try using both and see what the bass you're targeting prefers.

Suggested spinnerbait rod for October fishing:  7' Zell Rowland Signature Spinnerbait Rod

Buzzbaits for bass in October.

At night, throughout the fall, shad will move to the shallow water and cover like tree lines, moss beds, hydrilla, and other types of vegetation for protection. This makes buzzbaits ideal for the early am bite and the late evening as they transition to and from this zone.

Throwing buzzbaits in an area where bait fish are holed up for the night can yield excellent results, as bass will be lying in wait for them to head out to deeper water for the day.

Fish your buzzbaits around tree lines and grassy areas for the best success in October. And, since buzzbaits are essentially weedless, you can usually fish heavier cover with no issues. White and chartreuse colors are a staple in our tackle boxes this time of the year.

Suggested buzzbait rod for October bass fishing:  7' Medium/Heavy Casting Rod

Crankbaits for bass fishing in October.

Crankbaits are fall favorites at Impulse. And no matter the depth, we've had great success fishing smaller, finesse-style crankbaits in the fall. But these finesse-style crankbaits excel in the 3-to-10-foot depth range.

No different than finesse fishing swimbaits or worms, small crankbaits will appeal to a variety of different sizes of bass. Whether they're gorging for the winter or neutral, small crankbaits work on all-size fish and will typically outperform your bigger baits.

Remember also to select a crankbait that you can cast far. Crankbaits are more effective when covering more water, and they are also designed for this. Select a bait with a quality weight transfer system to get the most out of your cast.

Now, pair your crankbait with some light fluorocarbon line with a rod that loads and quickly rebounds, and you'll achieve longer casts. This means hitting the crankbaits max running depth, which increases deflections and bites.

Suggested Crankbait Rod For October Bass:  7' Medium/Moderate Casting Rod

Bass fishing jigs for fall success.

Most, let alone newer bass anglers, don't typically associate jigs with fall bass fishing. But, after a cold snap hit, slower-moving jigs, like a heavy metal football jig, can be one of the best lures in your tackle box.

Swimming a heavy metal  football jig on the sides of docks or flipping into the cover between docks can yield lethargic bass waiting to strike shad that swim by these shallow water hideouts.

Jigs that perform best in October weigh around 3/8 of an ounce and have a larger plastic trailer. This combo will create a slow fall that should coax those finicky bass into biting your jig.

Jig rods for October bass:  7'3" Medium/Heavy Casting Rod

October bass fishing challenges.

October bass fishing has its own set of challenges. Locating groups of bait fish or shad as they move from different locations in the water throughout the day will increase your success.

Keep your eyes peeled for disturbances, small splashes, flickering, or any other water disturbance caused by schooling bait fish. Find the bait fish, and you'll find the bass.