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DISCOUNT TACKLE SEASONAL SPECIFIC: AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH TO THE FALL TRANSITION
September 16, 2024

DISCOUNT TACKLE SEASONAL SPECIFIC: AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH TO THE FALL TRANSITION

In Bass fishing, the fall transition indicates the period between summer and fall characterized by cooler nights, shortening days, dropping water temperature, and a noticeable, sudden shift in bass’ behavior.

The impact it has on bass populations comes from a series of changes that the cooling process brings to the body of water. In fact, every organism is affected by this transition, which anticipates the upcoming colder months and alerts the fish that is time to prepare for them.

In this Discount Tackle Seasonal Specific article, we’ll talk about the natural events that usually happen in lakes and ponds during the fall, in order to better understand how bass and other species prepare for them and adapt and react when they occur.

 

When does the summer-to-fall transition happen?

The summer-to-fall transition is a process that usually starts before we can even notice it. The moment we realize the weather is changing there’s already been a shift in bass’ behavior. But when does this happen exactly?

It’s hard to determine a precise starting moment, but comprehending the underlying causes can aid in understanding when and why it happens. Two primary factors trigger this shift: night temperatures and photoperiod.

Even if days remain hot as they’ve been all summer, the air at night suddenly becomes to get cooler, causing a drop in the temperature. Simultaneously, the photoperiod, or the duration of daylight each day, starts to shorten as we progress towards the equinox and, eventually, winter. When these two events coincide, it signals to the entire aquatic ecosystem that a significant change is on the horizon. That’s when fish will start getting on the move.

It's crucial to keep in mind that bass are sensitive to overall weather trends rather than isolated events. While a single cooler night might not significantly affect large populations of bass, a consistent pattern of two or three cooler nights can indeed have a notable impact.

 

Why does it happen?

Indeed, the changing of seasons affects aquatic life, including bass and other species, in a profound way. As summer draws to a close and the days grow shorter, a transformation begins beneath the water's surface. The abundance of life that thrived during the warmer months, from the spawning and hatching of various aquatic species to the lush growth of vegetation, has now reached its peak.

However, when those crisp, cool nights of fall arrive, an innate instinct stirs within these creatures, compelling them to transition. It's intriguing because, on the surface, the environment may not appear drastically different. The water may still seem inviting, and the landscape relatively unchanged. So, why this seemingly sudden shift?

The answer lies in the intricate balance of nature. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, it signals a critical change in the availability of food and environmental conditions. Baitfish, the primary food source for many predators like bass, begin to move, driven by their own instincts to seek warmer waters or migrate in search of food. This movement sets off a chain reaction throughout the aquatic ecosystem.

For bass and other species, this shift represents an opportunity. They know that by following the movement of baitfish or making strategic migrations themselves, they can optimize their chances of finding food in the changing conditions. The cooler water may also trigger their metabolism to increase, making them more active and hungry.

So, while the surface of the lake may appear unchanged, the subtle cues of temperature and light trigger a natural rhythm that guides these aquatic creatures to adapt and move. It's a testament to the remarkable interconnectedness of life below the water's surface, where even the smallest environmental shifts can set in motion a grand symphony of movement and change.

The onset of cooler temperatures and decreased daylight triggers a series of natural processes that gradually transition the lake into its winter patterns. Among these, the effects of dying vegetation, Fall Turnover, and bait migration are particularly noteworthy as they have a significant impact on the fishing.

 

 

Dying vegetation

An inevitable consequence of the drop in the temperatures would be the loss of all the aquatic vegetation that was widely proliferating until that moment. Weed mats, patches, clumps, and beds will all begin to diminish as the initial signs of fall set in. 

However, it's important to note that not all vegetation disappears. The thickest, healthier pockets of grass will be the ones that will survive the longest, and sometimes even make it through the winter. This survival and loss of vegetation will significantly influence both the fish and the fishing, a topic we will delve into more comprehensively later on.

 

Fall Turnover

Water turnover, also known as Fall Turnover, is the process by which the layers of water in a lake or pond mix together. During the summer months, the sun heats the surface water, causing it to become warmer than the deeper, colder layers. The difference in temperature and density creates a separation between the upper and the lower layer, marked by what we call the thermocline, sometimes so thick that you can clearly see it on your sonar.

Parameters, such as temperatures, oxygen levels, and nutrients, vary drastically between the two distinct columns. In the fall, as air temperatures drop, the surface water cools down, eventually reaching a point where it becomes denser than the deeper water.

 

The Process of Water Turnover:

        1.      Surface Cooling: As autumn progresses, cooler air temperatures cause the surface water to cool down. This cooling process is more pronounced at night.
        2.      Surface Water Density: When the surface water reaches a certain temperature (usually around the mid-to-low 60s), it becomes denser than the water below.
        3.      Mixing Begins: The denser surface water sinks, and as it descends, it starts mixing with the deeper, colder water.
        4.      Complete Turnover: Over time, this mixing continues until the entire water column is relatively uniform in temperature and oxygen content. This marks the completion of the turnover process.

This natural process plays a critical role in maintaining the health of any body of water that is affected by thermocline and water division during the summertime. Its main impacts on the aquatic ecosystem are:

  • Oxygen Distribution: One of the most significant impacts of water turnover is the redistribution of oxygen. It replenishes oxygen levels in the deeper waters, benefiting fish and other aquatic organisms.
  • Nutrient Recycling: Water turnover helps distribute nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen, from the sediment at the lake bottom to the surface
  • Temperature Equalization: Turnover helps equalize water temperatures throughout the lake, making it more suitable for a wider range of aquatic life.

Although the impact it has on the ecosystem is eventually positive, the fall turnover brings a disruptive period, which can last from a few days to a couple of weeks. The previously trapped low-oxygen water below the thermocline begins to blend with the oxygen-rich layer above, in some places faster than others. Wind and current help the mixing process, the thermocline gets thinner and thinner, and eventually disappears, marking the completion of the process.

In addition to the low oxygen levels, the mixing of these two layers leads to agitation at the lake's bottom, resulting in sediment being carried all the way up to the surface. Consequently, this process might cause the water to become murky and turbid.

P.S. Larger bodies of water with currents, whether they are naturally occurring or human-made, are less likely to undergo the fall turnover because the continuous water flow helps maintain the mixing of different layers.

 

 

Bait Migration

As mentioned before, the mixing of the water results in the redistribution of nutrients throughout various depths of the water. Shallow areas that have remained warm and relatively lacking in nutrients during the summer may undergo a sudden change, becoming cooler and teeming with plankton and small organisms. This transformation can attract other creatures to this area, including shad, minnows, and any fish species that primarily feed on these organisms.

As the fall season progresses, baitfish tend to migrate toward shallower shorelines. They are attracted to these areas for several reasons. First, the shallow waters provide them with warmth, as the sun's rays penetrate the surface more effectively. Second, shallow areas often host an abundance of aquatic vegetation, offering both protection and a constant food supply, which is particularly appealing as temperatures drop.

In addition, baitfish are highly sensitive to the availability of stable oxygen levels and nutrient-rich waters. Consequently, they seek out areas where these conditions are met. This often leads them to underwater structures like points, ledges, and submerged vegetation, which provide both cover and a reliable source of sustenance. In these areas, bait tend to form tight schools, a protective measure against predators. In lakes that exhibit a noticeable thermocline, baitfish may move to positions just above or below this thermocline, depending on their temperature preferences.

As fall continues, schools of bait may undergo a gradual shift toward deeper waters. Deeper areas are favored because they offer a more consistent thermal environment. This can lead to baitfish congregating around underwater features such as humps, channels, and drop-offs.

Transition zones where shallow and deep water meet are often productive locations for both baitfish and bass. These areas offer a balanced combination of warmth and access to deep water, making them attractive for hunting and feeding.

Understanding these intricacies of baitfish migration in lakes during the fall is an invaluable tool for anglers. It allows to better predict the movements of active bass and other predatory fish that capitalize on these migrating schools.

 

Fish behavior and locations during the summer-to-fall transition

The three events that we just mentioned are the most evident natural processes happening in a body of water during the fall transition. But, as we mentioned earlier, they usually happen later in the fall. So, why should we start thinking about them now?

Nature operates in repetitive cycles, season after season and decade after decade. Bass and other aquatic creatures have a keen awareness of how to read the initial cues that Mother Nature provides. They begin adjusting and relocating long before we even notice. In the early fall, when a couple of cooler nights occur consecutively, coupled with diminishing daylight, these fish instinctively start their migration.

This period, from a fishing perspective, can be quite challenging. These subtle shifts can disrupt established patterns in an instant, scattering bass and often leaving them suspended, which makes them more elusive to catch. Fishing during the transition from summer to fall becomes a test of adaptability. Anglers who can diversify their techniques, align with the prevailing prey, and anticipate the fish's migration patterns will still find opportunities for success on the water.

To better understand how this transition affect fish, we’re going to divide bass population in two distinct groups based on where they spend most of their summer: shallow and deep.

 

 

 

 

Shallow

Shallow fish have managed to endure summer’s heat staying under cover and in the cool of the shade. When those cooler nights arrive, they are likely to be the first ones to acknowledge the approaching transition, and swiftly adapt to it.

Those fish will leave their summer spots and head to the best-looking place that they can find. Considering grass, fish will notice that the grass is dying back before we do, and swiftly leave those areas to find the very best, thickest parts of it. This happens for a few reasons:

  • dying grass will no longer do photosynthesis, which means that it won’t produce oxygen anymore. As stated above, oxygen level is a critical factor to keep in mind when moving towards the Fall Turno This behavior suggests that these fish possess an innate understanding of the impending seasonal changes and proactively position themselves in areas with more stable environmental conditions, ensuring their adaptation to shifting seasons.
  • Because of the lack of photosynthesis, and with that of oxygen, plankton and other microorganism won’t be present in that area anymore, and with them forage. Like bass, they’ll move where conditions are more stable, the grass still alive and vibrant, and there’s nutrients in the water. And just like any other predator, bass will be where there’s food for them, and move accordingly.
  • A third reason would be the advantage that thicker and harder cover brings to the bass. In fact, if there’s any presence of hard cover, such as laydowns, stomps, dock poles etc., bass will be likely to stay tightly related to them, as they provide a more secure environment and a better ambush point to hunt prey. Knowing that the cold months are coming, bass must feed as much as they can to give themselves the best chances of surviving the winter. They’re going to use every advantage they have at their disposal.

 

Deep

During the Fall transition, bass that spent the summer months in deeper water will start moving too. As baitfish start to gather and move towards the richest areas of the lake, in both oxygen and nutrients, bass will follow them closely. But where do they go?

Understanding the relationship between bass and baitfish is vital. To predict where bass will be, it's crucial to comprehend the movements of baitfish, especially as the fall turnover approaches.

Baitfish are primarily guided by two essential elements: nutrients and oxygen. These factors gain even greater significance during the fall season as fish look for areas with an abundance of both and increased stability.

Nutrients play a key role, as baitfish are drawn to areas rich in nutrients. This is because nutrients support the growth of vital organisms like algae, forming the foundation of the aquatic food chain. Baitfish feed on these organisms directly or indirectly, making them a prime target for bass.

Oxygen is equally crucial. Adequate oxygen levels are essential for the survival of all aquatic life. As the fall turnover disrupts water stratification, oxygen levels can fluctuate. In response, baitfish and bass seek out areas with stable and sufficient oxygen to ensure their continued existence.

Stability also factors into the equation. Baitfish and bass prefer stable conditions because they provide predictability for feeding and resting. Such stable locations are often found near underwater structures like points, ledges, and drop-offs, which offer cover and serve as natural gathering points for prey.

When you're on the water during this season, take note of the signals of life around you. Watch for insects and small organisms, which may indicate the presence of microorganisms in the area. If you see birds, especially diving or feeding birds like seagulls, it's a clear sign that baitfish are nearby. Where there's bait, bass are likely not too far away. Additionally, pay attention to any surface disturbances or ripples, as these can reveal baitfish activity and potential bass hunting grounds. Monitoring water temperature and thermoclines can help you understand where bass might be in relation to temperature gradients. Lastly, keep an eye on underwater structures like rocks and logs, as they provide cover for baitfish and can be prime spots for bass to hide and ambush prey.

Indeed, bass are not merely passive followers of baitfish; they are skilled predators that employ active hunting strategies. In certain situations, schools of bass will exhibit coordinated behavior, working together to corral and concentrate balls of baitfish into specific areas. This strategic maneuver serves to make their hunting efforts more efficient.

By actively pushing and directing baitfish, bass can trap them in particular locations, creating a confined space where it becomes easier for them to feed on their prey. This behavior is akin to a well-coordinated hunt, where individual bass collaborate to keep the baitfish school in check, preventing their escape.

Once the baitfish are held within this confined area, the bass can continuously feed off the school at their leisure. This approach allows them to conserve energy while maximizing their hunting success. It's a testament to the predatory instincts and social dynamics of bass when they work together to secure their meal.

Those locations represent the best hunting ground for predators. Hot spots will have easy access deep water, which provide an overall more stable environment, and grants those fish the possibility to adjust their depth. Some of those key features are:

  • Shallow Flats: As the water cools in the fall, baitfish like shad and minnows often move into shallow flats to feed on algae and other aquatic vegetation. Bass will follow them into these areas, pushing them against the shallow shorelines and making for great fishing opportunities.

 

  • Creek Channels: In many bodies of water, creek channels can be a hotspot for fall bass action. Baitfish will often migrate toward these deeper channels, and bass will use them as natural funnels to trap and feed on their prey.

 

  • Weed Beds: If there are submerged or emergent weed beds in the water, these can be prime locations for bass to push baitfish. Weeds provide cover for both predator and prey, and bass will use them to their advantage.

 

  • Points and Ledges: Just as in other seasons, points and ledges remain important locations in the fall. As baitfish move along the contour of the lake or river, bass will often push them against these structural features for easier hunting.

 

  • Backs of Creeks and Coves: As fall progresses, bass may move toward the backs of creeks and coves in search of warmer water. Baitfish can be concentrated in these areas, making them attractive to bass.
  • Underwater Humps: Some bodies of water have submerged humps or islands that attract both baitfish and bass. In the fall, these humps can be gathering points for feeding bass.

 

  • Open Water: In larger bodies of water, bass may suspend in open water and corral baitfish schools from below. This behavior is more common in reservoirs and deep lakes.

 

Understanding the relationship between bass and their prey, as well as recognizing these key features in a body of water, can significantly improve your chances of success when bass fishing. It's all about knowing where bass are likely to be and how they behave in order to target them effectively!

 

Fall Transition Tactics

The first sign of the Transition happening in your body of water will be the progressive loss of aquatic vegetation. As the temperature drops, grass will start to die, getting browner and recede. Once noticed that bass will start moving and congregating around the thickest, healthier portions of grass they can find. They know that those are the parts that will survive the longest, keeping on producing oxygen and hosting life. Punching and Frogging are prime techniques for this time of the year, and both can generate some of the most fun and exciting bites in Bass Fishing!

 

PUNCHING

Punching is a variation of a Texas rig meant to punch through grass mats and thick vegetation. To achieve that and effectively hook and land the fish, everything gets beefed up: bigger rods, bigger lines, heavier weights, and stouter hooks. The nature of this technique is what makes it special and difficult at the same time. It consists in looking for the most intricate and hardest places to get in, punch through it, and wrestle fish out of everything Mother Nature decided to put between you and them.

 

 

To successfully do that, the setup you use is critical for success with this technique:

 

PUNCHING SETUP

 

PUNCH RODS

The rod is probably the most important piece of equipment when Punching. You want a longer rod (7’6 to 8’), extra heavy power, but with a slower action than your standard flipping stick. The length and the more progressive bend of the rod give you more leverage and power when pulling fish out of heavy cover, while keeping them pinned giving enough to absorb the headshakes.

Staff Suggestions:

 

 

PUNCH REELS:

When it comes to the reel, all you need is POWER, so a heavy-duty reel with a big handle is definitely recommended. Slower gear ratios give you more torque, while faster gear ratios allow you to pick up slack quicker and, by the end of the day, make more presentations. Staying between 6.3 and 7.5 will give you the best of both worlds.

Staff Suggestions: 

 

LINE

When punching through heavy vegetation, straight braid is the only way to go. Its unmatched strength and ability to cut through grass make it a much more suitable choice than fluoro or mono.

Ranging anywhere from #50 to #80lb test, low-vis, green braid will match the color of the aquatic vegetation very well, but you can also use a hi-vis braid and dye the last section with a black marker. This allows you to visually see how much water there's under the mat by just remembering how many feet of line you have dyed.

4x or 8x?

4 or 8 are usually the number of strands of carrier that are braided together to create the line. A 4-carrier braid will cut better through vegetation but will be rougher and noisier, while an 8-carrier braid will be smoother, softer and quieter in the water. Both serve a purpose, choose accordingly!

4x Braid Staff Suggestions:

8x Braid Staff Suggestions: 

 

WEIGHTS

When it comes to Punching, tungsten offers clear advantages. Its higher density and smaller size allow the rig to easily penetrate through cover, making it significantly more efficient than lead.

Weight sizes vary upon the thickness of the cover, usually ranging from ¾oz all the way up to 2oz. As a general rule of thumb, you want to keep it as light as possible, for both the presentation and the hookup ratio.

If you must use a heavier weight but still want a slower look, try adding a punch skirt to slow down the fall!

Staff Suggestions:

To make sure the rig punches all the way through the mat, keeping all the fishing system together is a necessity. Adding two standard bobber stops will keep the weight in place while presenting the bait, while still slide up the line during the fight, taking away the heavy weight from the hook.

Staff Suggestions: 

 

 

HOOKS

So, for now we listed: big rod, big line, big weight, and we know you aim for BIG hooksets and BIG bass. You've got to have a BIG enough hook.

Straight shank flipping hooks allow for a snell knot, which is a knot that makes the hook rotate upwards during the hookset, increasing the hookup ratio.

If you don’t like to snell, you can always tie your favorite knot or stick to a beefier EWG style hook like the ones below.

Staff Suggestions:

 

BAITS

As for every technique, bait selection leaves space to the angler’s creativity and personal preference. Just keep in mind that you don’t want to have too many appendices, a slim profile will make the rig easily slide through cover and won't get hung up in grass.

Here at Discount Tackle we got punching staples like Missile Baits D-Bomb, Berkley Pit Boss, Strike King Rage Bugs, and plenty more.

Staff Suggestions: 

 

 

FROGGING

A frog is a very fun and useful tool when it comes to fishing during the early fall. As grass starts to die, it loses its thickness and breaks apart, creating open holes and isolated clumps that bass will use to hide and ambush anything passing by.

In this scenario, a frog is the most natural presentation we can offer, an appealing meal to any hungry bass nearby.

We can divide frogs in three sub-categories: Hollow body Walkin' Frogs, Hollow body Poppin' Frogs, and Toads. Each one shines in different conditions, and they all serve a purpose, they should definitely all be part of your arsenal!

 

 

HOLLOW BODY WALKIN' FROGS

Hollow body walkin' frogs are designed to be extremely weedless, which makes them a very effective lure to fish mats and emergent vegetation. When in open water, short twitches of the rod will give the lure a tantalizing walk-the-dog action that bass just can't resist.

In the early fall, downsizing your frogs might be the ticket to an amazing frog bite. Try smaller options like the Jackall Kaera, LIVETARGET Hollow Body Frog 45, and the Booyah Pad Crasher Jr

Staff Suggestions:

 

HOLLOW BODY POPPIN' FROGS

Poppin' frogs have a concave mouth that makes the bait pop and spit water when twitched. This feature makes it a noisier bait, drawing bass from further away and a more suitable choice for windier situations.

Just like walkin' frogs, they have a nice walk-the-dog action, and they share the same weedless ability, although the popping mouth tends to collect grass, making it more difficult to work over matted areas.  

Again, try smaller versions of Poppin' Frogs this fall, like the River2Sea Spittin' Wa 55 and the SPRO Bronzeye Micro Pop 40.

Staff Suggestions:

 

 

TOADS

Toads are frog-style baits that are meant for one thing: SPEED

Having a full body, they actually fall in the soft plastics category, and they're rigged with EWG style hooks. They are meant to be fished like an all-terrain buzzbait, making a constant disturbance on the water that fish can easily track and chase.

Toads are amazing baits to cover a great amount of water and locate fish. They are extremely weedless and skip like a dream, so you can reach those bass that hide in the most hard-to-reach spots.

Staff Suggestions:

Here at Discount Tackle we have toads for any type of profile and sound you're looking for. Some buzz, some flap and others gurgle, let the fish tell you the one that they prefer!

In addition to different sounds, you can really let your imagination go when rigging your Toads. They welcome a lot of different style hooks: from mean-looking double frog hooks to screw-lock hooks that increase durability, to belly weighed hooks that give you maximum casting distance. They serve also as great buzzbait trailers, and you can even rig them on the back of a jig. Get creative when fishing them!

Toad Hook Staff Suggestions:

 

FROG FISHING SETUP

 

FROG RODS

When choosing a frog rod, you want to stay around the 7'2 to 7'5 range. This will give you the length you need to set the hook on those super-long casts, while still being lightweight and very maneuverable so that you can make accurate casts and easily walk the bait all the way back to the boat. 

Staff Suggestions:

 

FROG REELS

When frogging, you want a reel that can handle the hard work of pulling those fish out of heavy cover, while holding a good amount of braid for those ultra long casts.

For this technique, you want to have a faster gear ratio, to be able to pick up slack quickly and be more effective when horsing fish out of mats. Try staying in the 7.1 to 8.5 range.

Staff Suggestions: 

 

BRAID

Just like punching, braid is the way to go when froggin'. A #50 to #65lb test braid will give you all the strength you need while still being smooth and manageable coming off the reel.

Check out a few more offerings that we have in stock at Discount Tackle!

Staff Suggestions: 

 

 

THANKS FOR READING!
 
Now that you know everything you need for Punching and Frogging, there's nothing standing between you and catching your new PB this Fall!
 
From all of us at Discount Tackle, we hope that you enjoyed the reading and got the chance to learn something that will help you catch more and bigger fish. Be sure to stay tuned for more Tips & Techniques to come, we'll surely not get tired of talking about fishing! 

 

 

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