When bass start launching shad onto the shore

Hey, Keith here.

Are you one of those anglers who skips the instructions and tries to figure it out on your own? 

When it comes to October bass fishing, that approach will cost you fish.

Summer patterns stop working, water temperatures drop, and bass behavior changes completely.

Smart anglers recognize this seasonal transition as one of the most productive times of the entire year.

Last month, I witnessed a massive blowup on my local Southeast Louisiana lake that completely changed how I approach October bass fishing. Two shad went flying onto the shore, and I realized I had been missing crucial seasonal cues.

Today, I'm breaking down exactly what happens in October because recognizing these shifts is crucial for fall success.

BEST LINKS

What I looked at this week

• Fall cold front bass fishing tips from Mike McClelland (Game & Fish)

• 3 ways to catch more bass during fall cold fronts (H2:4 Outdoors)

• Fall bass fishing: Learn the top tips and techniques (Anglers)

• What we’re throwing in October (Wired2Fish)

• Lipless crankbaits: Tips, tackle, and techniques for fall and winter (Tactical Bassin)

Deal of the week

• Midway USA has a SPRO Aruku 75 lipless crankbait marked down from $8.99 to $6.44

• Berkley has its Warpig lipless crankbait on sale for $4.50, regularly priced at $8.99

• Walmart has Slobberknocker bladed jigs marked down from $10.49  to $4.

DEEP DIVE 

My October discovery

A few days ago, I was fishing a nearby lake when I witnessed something that completely changed how I approach October bass fishing.

Watching a massive blowup near the bank send two shad flying onto the shore, I realized I had been missing obvious signs all season.

A cold front had passed through earlier that week, dropping water temperatures into the 60s, and these bass were behaving completely differently than they had all summer.

The answer was simple: Just like we get a pep in our step when brutal summer heat breaks, bass become energized when cooler weather arrives. These fish were more active, more aggressive, and more willing to chase bait.

This pattern is especially obvious the farther south you go because of the oppressive heat in August and September, but it holds true throughout the country.

Cooler October weather makes bass more aggressive, which leads to catching more fish, but only if you recognize the seasonal cues and adjust accordingly.

What happens when water temperatures drop

The most notable change in October is water temperature. As temperatures drop from the 70s into the 60s, bass undergo a complete behavioral transformation.

Their metabolism increases, making them more active and aggressive. This is the opposite of what happens in winter when cold water slows them down.

October's cooling water energizes bass after months of summer lethargy, but this temperature drop also affects oxygen levels.

Cooler water holds more dissolved oxygen, which means bass can be active throughout the entire water column instead of seeking only the deepest, coolest areas as they do in summer.

The shad factor

October's cooling water triggers massive changes in baitfish behavior, particularly shad. As water temperatures drop, shad begin moving shallow and schooling tightly. This creates two critical opportunities:

First, the shad spawn typically occurs when water temperatures reach the mid-60s.

Spawning shad become disoriented and vulnerable, creating easy meals for opportunistic bass.

Second, shad start their fall migration patterns, moving from deep summer haunts toward shallower areas and creek arms. Bass instinctively follow these movements, positioning themselves to ambush schools of migrating baitfish.

The number one lure to use in October

I’ve been fishing with bass tournament pros for over a decade and there's one lure they are always throwing in October: the lipless crankbait, and here's why it's so effective:

Lipless crankbaits perfectly mimic the erratic action of disoriented shad during the fall transition. H2O makes a solid lipless crank that I have had plenty of success with and it won’t make you cry when you get snagged and lose one. 

While the majority of lipless cranks dive, I’ve found one that you can work on the surface of the water. The Berkley Choppo 75 is a great topwater lipless crank that really causes a ruckus on the surface of the water. 

The vibration cuts through murky water and triggers reaction strikes from aggressive bass.

Most importantly, you can fish them at multiple depths by varying your retrieve speed, which is crucial when bass are scattered throughout the water column during the transition. 

The rattling sound also plays a key role. In October's often stained water conditions, bass rely heavily on sound and vibration to locate prey. A lipless crankbait's distinct rattle pattern signals an easy meal. My go to rattle lipless crank is a Rat-L-Trap in baby bass color. 

Timing cold front opportunities

The most overlooked aspect of October bass fishing is timing your trips around weather patterns. The 24 to 48 hours before a cold front passes represent peak feeding opportunities.

As barometric pressure drops before a front, bass sense the approaching weather change and feed aggressively. This pre-frontal feeding frenzy can produce some of the most explosive fishing of the entire year.

The key is getting on the water when you see the first cold front approaching in the weather forecast. Once it passes and pressure stabilizes, you'll have a brief window when bass are extremely active before they adjust to the new conditions.