Flipping Over Fall Largemouths
Adapting to changing conditions is your ticket to consistent success

Hunting for trophy bucketmouths in Ontario can be one heck of an obsession. The pursuit demands patience, stamina, and determination. After all, with the short growing season here for bass, our waters just can't produce the hog largemouths of more southerly waters. Wading through 2- and 3-pounders is exciting, but sliding your net under that rare giant fish is what truly makes this obsession worthwhile.

In our province, there's no better season than fall to tangle with plump largemouths. Not only are the fish well fed and spunky, but also the chance of connecting with a 5-pound-plus beauty weighs heavily in your favour. But, adapting to different fishing conditions is the key to connecting with these lunkers.

Changing Times
As summer fades into fall, a series of changes begin to take place. Bright crimson hues take hold of flag-like waving leaves, while lake temperatures begin to dip slowly. Pesky biting bugs have all but disappeared, as have fair-weather anglers. It's a great, uncrowded time to be on the water.

Largemouth bass are also undergoing change in the fall. Sensing the impending arrival of their winter food drought and near-dormant stage, bass are beginning to feed heavily, bingeing on prey and rapidly building fat reserves. They're also migrating from summer-friendly locations to those that meet their fall needs. In general, this means deeper water, where temperatures will be more stable. Water temperatures in the shallows can rise or fall almost as quickly as the air temperature. The fish become more predictable. As long as you know where to look and what to throw at them, the fishing can be relatively easy.

Location Shift
One common ingredient when chasing fall largemouths is the presence of rocks. Yes, smallmouths take up residence on the hard stuff all season long, but come fall, largemouths join their cousins and hit this structure, as well.

The reason behind this is two-fold. Crayfish are an integral part of a largemouth's diet, especially when summer bids farewell. So, there's no better location to find these high-caloric crustacean snacks than in a key place they call home.

Heat is the other important factor. Acting like a heat trap in attracting and holding the sun's warmth, rocks provide a layer of warmer water that largemouths gravitate to. Think of it as us heating our hands over an open fire.

Rocks come in all shapes and sizes, of course, but over the years I've found a few variables worth keying in on. Slab rocks are one. These large stone "tables" often hold fish on their tops or along the edges where they meet deeper water. Sight-fishing for these bass when the water is clear and the sun is high is often possible. Just look for the dark shapes of fish over the lighter bottom.

Another prime bit of real estate is a collection of boulders, pebbles, slab, and chunk rocks. This variety will attract more fish than most run-of-the-mill spots. Wood, in conjunction with rock, is also a prime target when seeking fall largemouths. Although large laydowns frequently hold fish, the mere presence of a stick or branch is enough to attract and hold a bass on a spot. Most times, largemouths will be either lying beside the structure or hovering on top. These sticks offer no real cover or safety, but there's something comforting or attractive that certainly draws in fish, especially in fall.

Docks situated over deep rock also often harbour big fish. The same goes for wood and rock cribs. These man-made creations offer everything a largemouth could ask for - food, cover, security, and access to deeper water. Although most docks or cribs situated on rock deserve a cast or two, give those in water between 8- and 15 feet a really good going over.

The last variable to seek is remaining healthy vegetation. As fall progresses, a lot of vegetation dies off and fish move away from it. A smattering of the green stuff, mixed in with rock or wood, is conducive to finding largemouths. Often, less is better, and try to stay away from thick weedbeds or congested shallow flats.

Top Waters
Not all Ontario lakes are capable of holding solid numbers of largemouth bass on rock. Deep lakes are prime candidates, whereas shallow, fertile lakes are generally a poor choice. Think Canadian Shield-type water, although they don't necessarily need to be located too far north to yield big fish.

Many top lakes average 60- to 100 feet deep and have clear water, sharp breaklines, points, and shoals - and the bottoms are almost entirely made up of rock and rubble. If largemouths are present, this type of lake will consistently cough up above-average fish during fall.

Look for lunker largemouths first along shorelines that drop fairly quickly into deeper water - the kind that has the boat 20 feet from shore and the sonar in the back reading 30 feet deep. Then, it's a matter of working your way around the lake, seeking areas discussed previously and thoroughly working them over.

Depth Matters
There's no perfect depth for finding fall largemouths, but they generally hold deeper as fall progresses. Put most of your effort into water between 3- and 15 feet in depth. The cover or structure that's present will dictate exactly where the fish are on that depth scale. Yes, it's a big variable, but it's a good starting point. Working your boat parallel to the shore is often the most efficient way to target a variety of depths. These are, however, just guidelines.

Don't entirely ignore shallow water in fall. My best Ontario largemouth, weighing 6 pounds even, was caught from 5 feet of water on a rock-slab shoal on September 20, 2005. Numerous 5-pound-plus fish during October have come from less than three feet of water.

Although fishing can be spectacular when temperatures drop and the toques come out, don't dismiss those warm days that crop up routinely in September and early October. Although still classed as fall, some of the best days are when the sun shines and the shorts come out. You don't get many days like this in fall, but when you do, take full advantage of them. Big largemouths seem to really turn on during those conditions.

Sunny days often find fish shallow, while rough or stormy days see them drop deeper. But, if they're relating to a prime piece of property, they will be up on it no matter what the weather is doing.

Be a Jig Jockey
No other lure has accounted for more or bigger fall largemouths for me than the flipping jig. It replicates the size, shape, and movement of a crayfish, making it the best bait to use when working rock. It's also one of the easiest lures to manipulate.

A -ounce flipping jig will cover the majority of fall situations. Maintaining bottom contact is key to fall bass fishing, though, so if you're losing feel with the structure, upsize your jig. Deep water or rough and windy conditions dictate the use of a -ounce jig.

Matching the hatch is the name of the game when fishing rock, as duplicating a crayfish is the goal. Brown, brown/orange, brown/black, and red/black are top colour choices, although blue, black, and purple are also good. Change colours throughout the day until you find one that works best.

Sound can call in bass and help them locate your lure, so use a rattle jig. Dousing your jig with a crayfish scent also provides added attraction.

Trailer material is a personal choice, but many bass anglers turn to cured pork trailers once the water cools. Others who rely on plastics, like me, find a 312-inch craw chunk gets the job done. In general, match the jig and trailer colours when putting the ensemble together.

One go-to combination consists of a Booyah Boo Jig and Yum Chunk, but other models made by Berkley, Strike King, Bass Pro Shops, Zoom, and other name-brand manufacturers also fill the bill. Try a wide range of jigs until you settle on one you - as well as the bass - like best.

Use a simple jigging technique during fall. Twenty- to 30-foot casts or pitches are the norm, and unless you're targeting a specific structure point, accuracy is not a necessity. Allow the jig to fall completely to bottom. Reel up the slack and proceed to slowly drag or hop the bait back to the boat, making sure to maintain contact with the structure. Largemouths act much like walleye when on rock and will stay within a foot of bottom most of the time.

Largemouths hit a jig in a number of different ways. If the fish are aggressive, you will feel a definite "pop" on the end of your line. They might hit it with a "tap, tap, tap." My feeling is they're trying to kill the "crayfish" when they attack it this way. (Smallmouths are renowned for this.) The last way a largemouth might hit is to mouth the bait and swim slowly off. This is easy to distinguish, as you will feel a dead weight and your line will begin moving to the side. Whichever way a bass hits, firmly set the hook.

Titan Tackle
Heavy gear is the name of the game when working rocks for big bucketmouths. Deep-water bass, especially those over 4 pounds, can pack a powerful punch, and light-action gear just won't cut it. These lunkers put a hefty bend in a rod, as well as take out line even when the drag is set tight.

I prefer a 712-foot heavy-action flipping stick. For line, 20- or 25-pound clear mono on a dependable baitcasting reel works fine. For anglers preferring braided lines, choose a similar test strength.

Fall is a season of splendour. The scenery is breathtaking before leaves fall and the green bass run big. For all of us lunker hunters, there's no better season to catch them. Thanksgiving, indeed.

Issue: August 2008