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SEPTEMBER 2026
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PRO FISHING TECHNIQUES
Snook Season Must Haves
F
CAPT. MIKE SMITH
inally, September is here and everyone’s favorite inshore fish is back on the menu. This article will cover the best bait and tackle to hunt down slot-sized linesiders. Check your local rules and regulations before keeping any snook. You can do jail time and get heavy fines by harvesting under- and over-slot snook.
WHAT TACKLE DO YOU NEED TO CATCH A KEEPER SNOOK?
It really depends upon where you are fishing for them. If you are out on the flats or on the beach, then you can get away with lighter tackle. You can land a slot snook with a medium-action rod, a 2500 series reel spooled with 10 pound braid and a 30 pound leader. You don’t need heavy tackle when there is no structure around to get cut off on. If you are fishing for snook around docks, bridges, rocks, mangroves or oyster bars, then you might want to use heavier tackle. A medium/ heavy rod with a 4000 series reel spooled with 20 pound braid and a 40 pound leader will usually do the trick.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BAITS FOR CATCHING SNOOK?
Natural baits usually work the best for snook. Snook love croakers, pinfish, mullet, shrimp and white baits like threadfin herring. The key to using natural baits is using the correct sized hook for the bait that you are using. You wouldn’t want to use a 5/0 hook with a shrimp or a white bait because it’s too heavy to allow the bait to swim. You would want to use a 1/0 or 2/0 hook for those smaller baits. Conversely, you would not want to use a small hook for a large, 10-inch mullet. The small hook would most likely not set properly once the snook ate it. You would want to use a 5/0 or larger hook for a large mullet. You want to match your hook to the bait
4 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2026
size, not the size of the fish that you are trying to catch.
WHAT ARE THE BEST LURES FOR SEPTEMBER SNOOK?
The best thing about September is the mullet run typically begins about then. Millions of mullet will flood the inshore and offshore waters of Florida; a little later for Georgia and the Carolinas. Every marine predator will be gorging themselves on these delicious baits. Mullet imitations of varying sizes will be a good bet when the schools are passing through. The key is to match the size of the mullet in your area. Mullet within the schools might range from 15 inches down to 4-inch finger mullet. Large topwater lures work great around the outer parts of the schools. My personal favorites are Heddon’s Super Zara Spooks in pearl white, but oftentimes they will hit any color that mimics the size and profile of the fish they are feeding on correctly. Another great choice is the D.O.A. Bait Buster Shallow Runner. This is a soft plastic topwater/ subsurface lure that perfectly matches 4- to 5-inch mullet. Go get ’em. Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass Off Charters, has been fishing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass flats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 339-2317, email: contact fishyourassoff.com or visit fishyourassoff.com.
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OFFSHORE REPORT
Best Inshore Fishing
by Captain Mike Able, Contributing Writer
S
eptember! Yes, it’s !nally here! We !nally start getting relief from all the heat, football has started, AND THE BEST INSHORE FISHING is ahead of us! If you love to inshore !sh than this report is for you! Several things factor into why the !shing gets better as we get later in the year, but the main one is the heat, or lack of it. All summer we’ve talked about going early and getting on the bite early morning while it will be at its best. As we approach fall and temperatures start to drop our creek !shery can be great all day long, bearing we have good tides that day. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love a sunrise topwater bite for red!sh and trout. I love seeing either a !rst of the incoming or a mid outgoing tide for that topwater bite. I feel like both tides give me a good opportunity at catching trout, red!sh, and even "ounder on topwater. With water temps dropping it means mullet are on the move heavily, which is another key reason the topwater bite can be so good. Try a Heddon Super Spook Jr in silver mullet color! Once you !nish off the topwater bite mid-morning then you can start to focus on sinking or suspending plastics. One of the easiest ways to catch !sh on an arti!cial lure is !shing a fake shrimp rigged three feet under a "oat. Casting that bait up along the grass edge and “popping” the "oat will give the shrimp erratic action along with the sound of the "oat “clacking.” This entices a lot of trout and "ounder to the bait. Keep in mind color of baits will matter immensely. This month the water can still be a little stained so I tend to go to a gold glitter or even a darker watermelon colored bait. If you caught the tide and clarity just right and the water is super clean, I may cross over to a white or translucent colored shrimp. DOA, Vudu, and Z-Man are all great soft plastic brands. Another extremely universal bait that I love to !sh is a Z-Man Paddlerz, which is a four-inch segmented bait that you can rig weedless. I pair it on a 3/16oz TexasEye jig head. This bait is extremely versatile in the fact that I can do a slow retrieve in skinny water with it, or when !shing slightly deeper in !ve to ten feet of water I can let it sink and slowly bounce it along the bottom, maintaining the weedless aspect of the bait. Again, color can make or break a !shing trip at times. When shopping at Haddrell’s for new baits I would really suggest getting a few different color options. The water clarity changes day to day as well as amongst the tide changes so you want to be prepared for where you end up. Some of my favorite colors in this Z-Man bait are Pin!sh, Redbone, and Pearl. If you inshore !sh and haven’t tried for a tarpon I’d suggest you do it this month for a couple reasons! Once the water temp starts to get below eighty degrees these !sh start to leave and secondly the mullet run happens. This occurs when temperatures start to drop and schools and acres of mullet come down the beach headed south. Tarpon, sharks, and bull red!sh take the opportunity to hammer down on an easy meal! Find wads of mullet on the move and drift or anchor in their path. This requires heavier tackle such as reels spooled with !fty-pound braid and leader material in the eighty-pound line class with 8/0 – 9/0 hooks. In this case you’ll either want to throw large paddle tail baits at them or match the hatch and use live mullet! If you want to learn more in depth about any of the above, please stop in the shop and chat with us! We are more than willing to help and would be excited to see you succeed this fall! You can also check out our helpful !shing videos on our website; haddrellspoint.com 2 LOWCOUNTRY
SEPT 2026
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Capt Mike Able, CCA SC State Board Member Haddrell’s Point Tackle & Supply Since 1983 843-881-3644(Mt Pleasant) 843-573-3474(West Ashley)
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SEPT 2026
LOWCOUNTRY 3
EDISTO FISHING FORECAST
Capt. Ravenel's Report by Capt. Justin Ravenel, Contributing Writer
F
ew inshore !shing experiences around Charleston, South Carolina, compare to watching a red!sh push across a "ooded grass "at with its back and tail showing above the water. When the tide begins to rise and saltwater pours back into the marsh, red!sh move into areas that were dry only hours earlier. For anglers who know how to read the tide, a "ood tide can provide some of the most exciting sight-!shing of the year.
Arti!cial lures are popular for "ood-tide red!sh. A weedless soft plastic can be especially effective because it can be worked across shallow grass without constantly snagging vegetation. Topwater plugs can also produce explosive strikes when conditions are right. For "y anglers, crab and shrimp patterns are excellent choices. The most important thing is not necessarily the exact lure, but presenting it naturally and quietly in front of a feeding !sh.
The key to catching red!sh on a "ood tide is understanding where the !sh want to go. As the water rises over the spartina grass, red!sh leave deeper creeks and drains and spread onto the shallow "ats to feed. The newly "ooded grass gives them access to !ddler crabs, shrimp, small bait!sh, and other forage that becomes available with the rising water. Instead of randomly searching the marsh, anglers should concentrate on areas where !sh can enter and exit the grass efficiently.
Timing the tide is another major piece of the puzzle. The beginning of the "ood can be productive around drains and creek edges, while the higher stages may be better for !sh that have moved deep into the grass. The ideal window varies depending on the location, tide height, weather, and water clarity. Keeping notes on successful trips can help anglers identify which "ats consistently produce !sh on speci!c tide cycles.
Small drains and creek mouths are excellent places to start. As the tide rises, red!sh often use these channels as highways into the "ooded marsh. Once the water gets high enough, they may spread out across the grass "at. Pay attention to points, potholes, small cuts, and areas where two sections of marsh come together. These features create natural feeding zones and can hold !sh even when the surrounding grass looks completely uniform.
Weather also plays an important role. Light winds and good visibility make sight-fishing much easier, while strong wind can make it difficult to spot fish or deliver an accurate cast. Bright sunlight isn't always necessary, but some light on the water can make wakes and movement easier to identify. Cloudy conditions can still produce excellent fishing, especially when fish are actively feeding.
Charleston's extensive tidal marshes offer countless Captain Justin Ravenel opportunities to explore this One of the biggest style of !shing. From the 843-864-5056 advantages of a "ood tide is larger creeks to the shallow RavenelFishingCharters.com the opportunity to sight-!sh. backcountry "ats, the "ood EdistoDolphinTours.com In Charleston's clear, shallow tide transforms the marsh into facebook: "Ravenel Fishing Charters" marsh water, red!sh can a giant feeding ground. The real sometimes be spotted before reward isn't simply catching a instagram: @justin_ravenel they ever notice the angler. red!sh. It's learning to read the Look for nervous water, water, predict where the !sh wakes, mud clouds, pushing water, or the unmistakable "ash of a tail. will move, make a quiet approach, and watch the entire interaction On calm days, an angler standing on a poling skiff can often see !sh unfold in inches of water. moving through the grass well ahead of the boat. For anglers willing to pay attention to the tide and spend time Stealth is critical. Red!sh in skinny water are easily spooked by learning the marsh, Charleston's "ood-tide red!sh can become an a careless approach, so anglers should avoid excessive noise and addictive pursuit. When everything comes together—a rising tide, sudden movements. If you're !shing from a boat, use a push pole and calm conditions, a "ooded grass "at, and a red!sh pushing water keep a reasonable distance from the !sh. Approach from downwind toward your "y or lure—there are few sights in South Carolina's when possible and position the boat so you can make a long, inshore !shing world more exciting. accurate cast. 4 LOWCOUNTRY
SEPT 2026
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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FISHING FORECAST
Mount Pleasant Pier
Youth Winner, Maddox, with 14oz whiting
by Chris Pounder, Contributing Writer
S
eptember is typically a good month for a variety of species like trout, "ounder, red!sh, and sheepshead, as well as blue crabs. Because of that variety, it’s probably a good idea to have some bait options when you give it a shot. When !shing in a boat and the !sh aren’t biting, it’s relatively easy to pick up and try another spot. Pier !shermen may be somewhat limited with the area in which they can !sh, yet there are still a number of ways to maximize the opportunities. Bottom rigs are very common and can be productive; however, if the crabs are thick or the nuisance !sh are schooled up you can go through a lot of bait in a very short period of time without much success. One option to consider is to use live shrimp, minnows, or mullet under a poppin’ cork. It’s an effective way to catch sea trout, red drum, and even "ounder. Large red drum specimens can be caught with regularity throughout September and into October. The best bet to land one is to target the edge of the marsh grass during high tide. Large “bull” reds may prefer mullet, live or cut, but an overlooked bait that works great is using a quarter of a blue crab. So, when you’re bottom !shing and the crabs are thick, it might be time to grab an inexpensive crab net from the River Watch Café and Gift Shop on the pier and get even. Another option is to grab some !ddler crabs and work the pilings for sheepshead. A number of anglers have good luck using small size 1 or 2 Gamakatsu hooks on a Carolina rig with 1 ounce or less weight. Drop the line over the side and after the weight settles at the bottom, you’ll want to raise it up a little so it’s not resting in the sand or structure.
Asher with a flounder
Sheepshead bite can be very delicate and anglers sometimes claim you have to hook them before they bite. Keeping the lead weight off the bottom allows you to see the slightest twitch of the rod tip and be ready to pounce. Be prepared to feed a few sheepshead in order to land the one you want, but they’re a lot of fun to catch when you do. September 19th and October 17th, the Cast-Off Fishing Tournament resumes the series the pier. The tournament runs from 7am – 2pm and prizes will be awarded for the 3 biggest !sh by weight along with a category for youth anglers (12 and under) and aggregate weight of 5 !sh. For more information and registration details go to charlestoncountyparks.com. Good luck out there! For any additional information about the pier or what’s biting this week feel free to call the River Watch Cafe & Gift Shop on the pier at 843-762-9946 Chris Pounder, CPRP Manager, Mount Pleasant Pier
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SEPTEMBER 19 OCTOBER 17 SEPTEMBER 12 OCTOBER 3
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C H A R L E S TO N C O U N T Y PA R K S .C O M COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
SEPT 2026
LOWCOUNTRY 5
Beat the Heat
W
by Trey Carden, Contributing Writer
e are officially in the hottest and most humid part of the year. That high summer sun isn’t just uncomfortable for all of us sitting in our plastic boats gasping for air. When it’s this hot, even the !sh are begging for a little relief. Fortunately for you, !shing from a kayak gives you several ways to !nd hungry !sh, even when they’re in the middle of their summer siesta. My personal favorite dog-days-of-summer tactic is !nding shade. It’s easy enough for the inexperienced angler to !nd, and it’s an obvious way to beat the heat. Going down a creek and casting under docks, trees, and along shadier banks can really pay off. If you !nd one !sh under a shady dock, there’s a good chance he had some friends with him. Rolling bait with a light Carolina rig, using a popping cork to "oat the edges, and casting soft plastics around the pilings will cover most of your ground here. If I’m "oating bait or !shing arti!ciales I like to work my lure with the current and not against it. It just think it looks more natural but you’ll want to be sure to !sh
heavy enough to keep your lure in place. Deeper drop-off areas offer some shade and cooler water. You’ll want to !nd clean stretches of water, big bends in creeks, especially those with overhangs and docks, and areas where multiple creek mouths dump into a main channel. Fish will set up on the drop-offs and wait for the water to come back in or for some easy food to wash out. I like to !sh drop-offs on an outgoing tide, right from the corner of the creek mouths or slightly down the bank. Fan casting an Eye Strike jighead with a Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ is an awesome late-summer choice for this. Try casting up into the creek and dragging your bait out and around all of the edges of the drop. If you’re !shing live bait, put it right in the middle on a Carolina rig, adjusting your weight just enough to keep it in place. A few things before you head out: Make sure you drink plenty of water! It’s easy enough to forget when you’re out there in the oven. If you’ve learned kayak reentry (everyone who kayaks should), it never hurts to take a quick swim. Lastly, cover up. A light hat, light-colored, breathable clothing, and some good sunglasses are crucial. You don’t want to cook before your catch! FB: Lowcountry Kayak Anglers
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SEPT 2026
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d
Gearing up for "Trout-tember" By BeBe Dalton Harrison, Angling Women
Y
ou step outside one morning and realize it is still warm, but this particular morning you are not greeted by a wall that feels like a hot sauna when you open the door. That's when you know we are heading into fall !shing! It's not exactly a nip in the air, but more of a feeling of less humidity. When you feel it, the !sh feel it. And when this happens, all I can think about is trout! Fall is my favorite time of year to catch speckled seatrout, spotted seatrout, saltwater trout, yellow mouths...whatever you like to call them. I have been catching trout my entire life and I will never tire of it. These !sh have a spotted pattern on their dorsal side and are silvery white, the inside of their delicate mouths is yellow, and they generally have a couple of extremely short canine teeth in the top center of their mouths. You de!nitely do not want to lip them or put your !ngers in there. As mentioned, their mouths are delicate. Oftentimes, the tissue tears where the hook is so when landing one of these beauties you must keep the line tight because once there is a hole around the hook entry they can throw the hook more easily and you may lose the !sh. If you have read articles from me, you know that I absolutely love a topwater lures for trout in the fall, but there are other ways to target them then. When using a topwater Yozuri or Mirrolure Top Dog for trout, I typically !sh those very early in the morning. Switching those topwater treble hooks to in-line singles is such a cool thing to do, especially if you plan to release any !sh. I like to have my gear rigged and ready and arrive at my !shing spot before the sun rises, which is saying a lot because I am NOT a morning person. I love !shing this way until just about an hour after sunrise (longer if it is overcast or cloudy). BeBe Dalton Harrison Afterwards, I will switch to a ZMan trout trick (I love Executive Director, the "OG" Mood Ring) on an Hampton Wildlife Fund Eye Strike trout eye jig head. Owner, Angling Women With this setup I cast out anglingwomen@gmail.com and retrieve the lure with an (803) 269-2470 occasional jerk—sometimes www.anglingwomen.com 2 twitches—and then let it sink in between. And the thing I typically forget is that as the water temperature cools, I need to slow the retrieve. This is key. When there is a weather change, remember to change your retrieval speed. Sometimes that is all it takes to get the !sh !red up! I release most of my !sh but I will keep some trout on occasion. As I mentioned, it was a staple of my childhood diet. Fresh fried trout, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese, and green beans are just about at the top of my all time favorite list. But like Mr. Krabs in Spongebob protecting the Krabby Patty recipe, I have to keep that !sh recipe to myself!
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
SEPT 2026
LOWCOUNTRY 7
FISHING FORECAST
Folly Beach Pier by Jacob Cynar, Contributing Writer
S
chools are back in session and while the weather is cooling down, the !shing at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier is warming back up! This is the season of the drums. The Spotted Red Drum is quickly becoming Charleston’s favorite !sh and one of the best places to catch them is at the pier. Anglers are able to catch all sizes of red drum, from juvenile to large bull reds. You can !nd these !sh closer to the end of the pier, near the second sun shelter. A simple setup for red drum is a Carolina Rig dropped near the pilings of the pier with live shrimp on a circle hook. The slot size for red drum is 15 in. to 23 in., so make sure to measure any red drum you intend to keep. For the larger bull reds, try to limit the amount of time the !sh is out of the water. This will help the overall health of the red drum population. The other drum to look out for is the black drum. The black drum has been a popular and consistent catch this year. You can !nd these !sh near the beginning of the pier at about the !rst sun shelter. Keep your Carolina Rig handy because it will be your best bet to catch a black drum at the Folly pier. Black drum will typically feed on crabs and other crustaceans on the pier pilings. Our current Summer Challenge leader for black drum weighs in at 7 lbs. 6.08 oz.! Bring your rod, or rent one, and see if you can beat it!
Tournament season is also back at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier! We only have two Cast Off !shing tournaments left, one on September 12th and the !nale on October 3rd. Make sure to weigh your big catches to see if they can land you on the board! You have one last chance to experience a Moonlight Mixer on September 18th. However you choose to experience the Folly Beach Fishing Pier, make sure to visit the Pier’s gift shop, where our staff is happy to help!
Jacob Cynar, Operations Manager II Folly Beach Fishing Pier 101 E Arctic Ave, Folly Beach, SC 843-762-9516 • ccprc.com
8 LOWCOUNTRY
SEPT 2026
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Fishing the Wild Waters of
Cay Sal Bank By A. deGruchy
O
ur Cay Sal trip started at Cat Cay, just south of Bimini, where we checked into the Bahamas before heading south in a 47foot Freeman. Once you leave Bimini behind, the water keeps getting better. Cay Sal Bank is remote, beautiful and surrounded by the kind of bright blue tropical water that makes you want to stop the boat and jump in. The fishing was just as good as the scenery. We fished everything from shallow reefs in about 50 feet of water to deep drops reaching nearly 1,500 feet. On the reef, we caught yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, rock hinds and several other types of grouper. You never really knew what was going to eat next, which kept things fun. Our main setup was Penn International VISX reels paired with custom Connolly rods. We mostly used chicken rigs baited with squid. We also used a ton of virtual jigs. The deep water was one of the coolest parts of the trip. Dropping a bait more than 1,000 feet takes some patience, but it is always exciting when the rod finally loads up. We caught mystic grouper, yelloweye snapper and queen snapper. Watching one of those bright red deepwater fish come into view after a long fight never gets old. We also found tuna and mahi while moving between spots and fishing along the deeper edges of the bank. Out there, you always have to keep an eye out for birds, current lines or floating debris because the action can happen fast. Cay Sal is not only about fishing. We spent time snorkeling, exploring
the reefs and checking out the area’s historic lighthouses. The water was incredibly clear, and it was great to take a break from fishing and see everything below the surface. The lighthouses also give the trip a little bit of history. Being that far from land, surrounded by reefs and open water, really makes you appreciate how wild and remote the area is. A trip like this takes planning. Cay Sal is a long way from help, so having a capable boat, experienced crew, plenty of fuel, reliable navigation and the right safety equipment is important. The 47-foot Freeman gave us the speed, range and room we needed to explore comfortably. Between the reef fishing, deep dropping, tuna, mahi, snorkeling and tropical scenery, Cay Sal delivered a little bit of everything. It is the kind of place where every stop feels like a new adventure, and you never know what might come up on the next drop. Follow all of deGruchy’s adventures at @bean_sportfishing on Instagram and YouTube.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2026
NATIONAL 5
The September Season of Change TIM BAREFOOT
T NORTH CAROLINA’S TWO-WEEK RECREATIONAL FLOUNDER SEASON OPENS SEPTEMBER 1
N
orth Carolina anglers will get a short window to target flounder this fall when the state’s 2026 recreational harvest season opens September 1. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open the 2026 recreational flounder harvest season from September 1 through September 14 in Inland Fishing Waters and Joint Fishing Waters. Anglers may harvest flounder by hook and line during the two-week season. The regulations allow anglers to keep one flounder per day, with a minimum size limit of 15 inches. The limited season is part of North Carolina’s ongoing effort to carefully manage its flounder fishery while still providing recreational anglers with an opportunity to harvest the popular coastal species. The season and regulations are consistent with the state’s flounder fishery management measures. Anglers should be aware that the season applies specifically to the waters and fishing methods covered by the Wildlife Commission’s regulations. With only two weeks available, anglers hoping to put flounder in the cooler will want to plan ahead. As always, checking the latest regulations before heading out is recommended, particularly for anglers fishing waters where jurisdiction can change. For North Carolina’s flounder fishermen, September 1 marks the beginning of a short but highly anticipated opportunity to get back after one of the state’s most popular coastal game fish. Visit https://www.ncwildlife.gov/fishing to learn more.
he middle to end of September is when we should start getting our first good cold fronts. This will start to change the surface temperature and begin the mass migration of cigar minnows and sardines to the traditional nearshore spawning grounds. This will trigger the migration of a lot of the pelagic and bottom fish that are following these huge schools of bait. September is also the height of hurricane season, which can change things drastically, but we always work around that. Hopefully it will be like last year with a minimal amount of hurricanes. Of course we are hoping for zero hurricanes, but we’ll see what happens. September is always the month of surprises with wahoo and yellow tuna very close to the beach in and around big schools of bait. This is also the time of year when the bottom fishing starts to kick into gear. You can expect the best snapper fishing of the year for the next couple months, and certainly the grouper action is just starting to take off. Some of the best scamp bites I’ve ever been on have been in September. I understand that it takes precious time away from the fishing day, but I would strongly suggest spending the first hour or more catching live cigar minnows and sardines. Certainly, I always take two boxes of frozen cigar minnows in case “Plan A” doesn’t work out. Yes they will eat frozen cigars, however, a live one is an instant bite they cannot deny. If you have at least two people on the Sabiki and you get into decent schools of minnows, you will quickly put 100 baits in a live-well in an hour. This will definitely pay dividends. September is also the time of year to go to the edge to bottom fish and keep someone specifically in charge of the light line. Depending on the current, you may not need a float, but if there is not much current, a float tackle is always a good idea. Again, don’t be surprised if there’s not a wahoo bite on the light line. Blackfin and dolphin are given the light line and if they don’t want frozen cigar minnows, a whole squid is an excellent choice. Dolphin simply cannot swim by a whole (frozen) squid on the light line. The bottom line is this…bag all the trolling and go sit on some pretty bottom. Put some baits out on the light line behind a boat and let the fish come to you. Cut off the motors and the radio and listen to the beauty of the ocean and reels screaming. Sound travels long distances underwater, and the fish are very much aware of you if you’re making a bunch of noise, so don’t slam cooler lids or stomp around the deck, and don’t have the music rumbling. Make sure that everyone on board has good raincoat. Please take your children fishing and take plenty of photos and videos they will remember forever. Check out my website for our new 16 ounce Octopus Decoy Jig. To learn more tips and techniques from Tim Barefoot, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com and his YouTube channel: @timbarefoot5698.
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CAPITALIZING On the Summer-to-Fall Transition T
By Pro Bass Angler Joey Bloom
he transition from summer into fall is a great time of the year to chase bass. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. A lot of anglers assume bass immediately flood the backs of creeks as soon as the calendar says fall, but that’s rarely the case. What really gets the transition rolling is a combination of shorter days, cooling water temperatures, and one of the biggest factors of all— heavy rainfall. After weeks of hot, stable summer conditions, a good stretch of rain can completely change a lake overnight. Rising water levels flood fresh cover, increase current, and wash nutrients into the system. That fresh influx of water attracts baitfish, and wherever the bait goes, the bass aren’t far behind. One of the first places I look after heavy rains is newly flooded shoreline cover. Bushes, grass lines, willow trees, laydowns and isolated wood suddenly become prime ambush points. Bass move shallow because they now have fresh cover to hide in and an endless buffet of bluegill, shad, crawfish and other forage moving into these areas. My approach during this transition is to cover water until I locate active fish. That’s where the Bait Cave Customs Bloom Shad really shines. Its realistic baitfish profile perfectly imitates the young-of-the-year shad that become abundant this
time of year. Whether I’m rigging it on a Big Daddy Baits jighead, fishing it weightless around flooded cover, or using it as a trailer on a vibrating jig, the Bloom Shad consistently produces bites from bass feeding on roaming schools of bait. As I narrow down productive areas, I slow my presentation with one of my favorite confidence baits—the Bait Cave Customs Zora. This versatile soft plastic urchin style bait is the hottest bait craze on the water anywhere. During the summer-tofall transition, bass often position around the first available piece of cover just outside spawning flats or creek channels before making a full migration into the backs of creeks. The Zora allows me to thoroughly pick apart those high-percentage areas. Another overlooked factor after heavy rains is water color. While many anglers avoid stained or muddy water, I actually embrace it. Bass become more comfortable moving shallow in reduced visibility, allowing anglers to get much closer without spooking them. I simply adjust my bait colors to match the conditions—natural shad colors in cleaner water and darker, high-contrast colors when visibility is limited. Current also becomes a major player. Water flowing through creek channels, around bridge crossings, or across points positions bass in predictable feeding locations. Even subtle current can turn an average stretch of bank into a feeding
frenzy, so always pay attention to where the water is moving. The key during the summer-to-fall transition is staying flexible. Bass are constantly relocating, and conditions can change daily. Keep an eye on rising water levels, follow the bait, and don’t be afraid to fish newly flooded cover that wasn’t in the water just days before. For me, having confidence in proven baits like the Bait Cave Customs Bloom Shad and the Zora makes adapting to changing conditions much easier. When heavy rains begin to raise the lake and fall starts knocking on the door, that’s when some of the biggest bass of the season become catchable. Stay mobile, trust what the conditions are telling you, and you’ll be ready to capitalize on one of the most exciting transitions of the year. Follow Joey Bloom on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing.
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