Time for fall, topwater baits and pounding the grass with plastics
Like many, many other bass fishermen who enjoy tappin’ the population at Toledo Bend, I’ve been sweating it out (literally) for a long time waiting for a true fall season to arrive.
Anglers like me and the others were hopeful the long-lasting oven heat that baked everyone from late spring through late summer would subside in late September or, at the latest, October. However, the streak of dry, 90-plus degree days continued into at least the first week of September. But we did finally get a break in the weather!
So I’m pretty sure what we consider “fall” fishin’ for bass probably happens in November. Based on what we’ve seen, the majority of “fall” has been pushed back to the next-to-last month of 2023.
The fall bite can’t come soon enough, for sure. It’s past time for the topwater bite to thrill so many bass anglers, who also can rely on moving baits such as swim jigs and bladed jigs. It’s also a time when many bass fall for soft plastics dropped in the hydrilla that’s so prevalent on the Texas side, basically from the dam to around Pendleton Bridge.
Blue Lake grass
Grass on the other side of the lake is mostly in the Blue Lake area, which is a plus for that area and brings anglers from all over the lake.
Right now bass fishing success is pretty much a grind, as it has been for a while. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been fair, as I found out on a short trip recently when I caught six bass on a trip while solely focusing on punchin’ through the grass. That was my best day doing that in a long time.
But it’s getting close to prime time, and I’ll punch with Zoom Magnum Trick Worms and also Senkos, both in crabapple or June Bug/red.
And there were two double-digit bass caught recently. I anticipate more big fat girls being caught. Those numbers definitely will increase.
Lower temperatures trigger the fall bite. We’re watching as the water temperatures fall toward the lower 70s, a 10- to 15-degree drop from what water temps have been with temps in the 80’s.
Vegetation flourished
Toledo Bend’s pool level dipped slightly below pool to start the fall. The vegetation has flourished as the lake dropped more and more since June. With water clarity at 3-foot deep at the minimum, you can see hydrilla in 10- to 13-foot depths and there’s a lot of grass growing in 14-foot depths and deeper that can be seen with marine electronics.
All the other factors are falling into place. Shad are plentiful with oodles of schools, many that come crashing on the top trying to escape schooling bass; one reason I always keep a Pop-R ready on the front deck and will continue to do so until at least December, or when temps fall into the low 60s or so.
Topwaters ought to call up a bunch of bass after the water starts cooling. Shad-colored or chrome Yellow Magics, Whopper Ploppers and chartreuse/white or white buzz baits take center stage this time of year, although the cooling off period has taken longer than normal.
And there’s always a jig bite in the grass. I’ll use a ½-ounce black/blue, camo or black/blue/chartreuse model — either color combo typically delivers.
Hope y’all have safe and rewarding bassin’ trips. Happy Thanksgiving!
If you want to catch bass in November at Toledo Bend, give me a call at (936) 404-2688.
