By Mike Frisch
I often write about late fall crankbait fishing for largemouth bass because this is one of the most reliable fishing patterns that I know about, and take advantage of, during November. As we get into very late fall and water temperatures plummet, so does the feeding activity of some fish. Largemouth bass, however, particularly when pursued using crankbaits, can still offer up good November fishing.
I live near Alexandria, MN and, like lots of places across the Midwest, the area has numerous lakes featuring prominent deep weedlines. Many have deep, clear waters that are prime for growing lush weeds during summer that are home to abundant largemouth bass populations. The weed growth in these lakes usually starts on shoreline flats and other shallow structure and extends down the structure’s drop-off edges. These weeds start to die during late summer and early fall and the process continues as fall progresses. As this happens, remaining “edge weeds” that are still green become the proverbial “spot on the spot” drawing baitfish and gamefish including bass, walleyes, and northern pike.
This scenario happens on lakes here and in those in other parts of the Midwest as well. And when it does happen, it’s time to grab a crankbait rod and head to those weed edges searching for bass and the “bonus” fish roaming those areas.
My simple strategy involves holding the boat just out from the weed edge, using my trolling motor to parallel that edge, and making long angled casts ahead and to the weedline. I cast and move along the weed edge looking for bass and also the presence of lush, green weeds.
When a bass is caught or “good” weeds are seen, I slow up and make several more casts as the fish are usually schooling now and it’s rare to only catch one in a spot.
Deep-diving baits that “match the hatch” mimicking the abundant sunfish and perch present in many “weedline lakes” are my preference now. The Pro Model 3XD and 5XD baits have long been my favorites because they run to the proper depths for many lakes I fish and match the hatch well. The 3XD works well when the weedline is in the 10 to 12 foot depth range and the 5XD if it is a bit deeper.
Neon bluegill and chartreuse perch color patterns have been reliable producers but the new 3XD and 5XD Elite models have colors called “real gill” and “sunny” that I can’t wait to try as they closely mimic bluegills and sunfish.
The XD baits get the call for most of my November crankin’ and to make them even more effective, Lew’s recently built an XD Cranking Series of rods with models designed for fishing XD baits. These rods feature the perfect actions for fishing the various baits, plus they are very lightweight making them a pleasure to fish when throwing crankbaits for several hours. In addition, these new rods work well with other diving crankbaits too.
I pair the rods with BB1 Pro baitcast reels in a 6.2:1 gear ratio. These reels are ideal crankin’ reels allowing for long casts and are comfortable to fish. When loaded with 12 pound CONTRA Fluorocarbon line they make the ideal setup. Fluorocarbon allows crankbaits to reach their maximum running depths and has less stretch than some lines, making for more positive hooksets when fish bite at the end of long casts.
Late fall is here and open-water fishing is nearing the end. If you are looking for a few more days filled with hooksets, however, consider heading to your favorite bass lake with a crankbait rod in hand, and following some of the tips just presented. You’ll have an excellent chance of ending your season on a positive note.
As always, good luck on the water and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure.
Mike Frisch hosts the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series. Visit Fishing the Midwest at www.fishingthemidwest.com .
Photo – Mike Frisch with a crankbait bass from earlier this fall.
