• Fall smallmouth fishing can be tough but productive.autumn. river withyellow trees and blue sky image by Sergey Pesterev from Fotolia.com
  
  Fall is a transitional period for smallmouth bass, as they feed heavily and gradually shut down for a winter of near inactivity. So too is it a transitional period for fishermen, as they hit the water in one last frenzy before a long winter of reading fishing magazines and sorting through tackle boxes. Be prepared when you visit the lake or river this fall, and you may well come out with a string of nice brown bass.
  
  

Topwaters on Early Fall Rivers

• In September, river smallies will often be found in many of the same places they haunted in summer, like holes, graver-and-rocky runs, and places where riffles empty into holes. But the fall transition means that smallmouths' feeding patterns will shift from crayfish to minnows. Many fish will be actively cruising, looking for food, and will sometimes be visible through polarized glasses. Visible or not, these autumn cruisers are on the prowl for an easy meal and can usually be caught on topwaters like buzzbaits, poppers, and walk-the-dog style baits. This pattern is especially apparent on warm days, but when it cools off, switch to a bottom lure like a big tube jig or Texas-rigged worm.
  
  

Try Warm Afternoons in Midfall

• Waters may be in the 50s by early October thanks to cold nights, which means that bass can be finicky. Sometimes a warming trend can send them into a frenzy, but more often fishing is slow through much of the day. Conventional wisdom has it that early morning and late evening are the best times to fish--and they can be--but in midfall, it helps to focus your efforts on the warmest part of the day. From noon to about 3 p.m. is often prime time. Minnow-imitating lures are often best, but have a variety of baits ready, since what smallmouths want at this time of year can be unpredictable. You may not catch huge numbers of fish, but many fishermen score big 5-pound bronzebacks in October.
  
  

Size Down in Late Fall

• Big baits may catch big bass in summer and early fall, but by the time winter feels imminent, the days of hefty spinnerbaits and crankbaits are over. Soft plastics are the way to go in late October and November. Try grubs, tubes and creature baits less than 2 inches long and jigs as light as 1/16-oz. Cast to likely looking smallmouth hideouts (rocks, ledges, deep points, drop-offs) and work the bait slowly and methodically. You may also need to move deeper this time of year. Warm days are your best bet, if there still are any.