Seasonal Lure Choices

Early Summer

At last, preyfish have spawned, filling the shallows with fry and fingerlings. But until preyfish reach about 11⁄2 inches, they aren’t good targets for adult bass. Tiny prey often escape through gill slits and require more energy to catch than they yield. Adult bass do eat concentrated mouthfuls of small prey, but tiny single preyfish and lures that match the size of the hatch usually aren’t worth the effort of a chase.

Medium-sized lures often work better than large ones, since they tend to appear more vulnerable and easier to catch than those that imitate large preyfish that often dodge attacks. For large lures to be most effective, anglers must work them in a fashion that makes them look injured and vulnerable.

Mid- to Late Summer

Deep-dwelling bass have moved offshore, while shad and other pelagic preyfish schools have formed. Baitfish leave shoreline cover to seek abundant plankton in open water near deep structures. In the absence of threatening deep-water competitors like striped bass, many bass move to deeper structure.

Bass at all depths now focus on pelagic preyfish, with optional snacks of crayfish. Throughout summer, prey increase in average size while numbers are reduced by predation. Because there’s ample prey, bass activity periods tend to be short and tied to times when prey schools are nearby, or when environmental conditions bring optimal feeding opportunities. Lure-size experimentation is required, since prey of all sizes and species typically are abundant.

Early Fall

Most small prey have either grown to medium or adult size or have been eaten. Older, larger prey also are fewer in number as predation and natural mortality take a toll. Exceptions are large species like gizzard shad that outgrow most predators’ ability to catch and eat them.

Medium-sized lures imitate the foods most bass are able to catch and eat. In many waters, pelagic preyfish migrate shallow if plankton is more abundant there, due to water temperature, winds, or nutrient inflows. Bass follow, so anglers should try to match the size and color of available prey in tributary arms and other productive shallow habitats. When the bass are neutral or inactive, however, a large, even gaudy lure may attract more attention and work well during this period.

Late Fall

Most preyfish are now fairly large, although some medium-sized prey remain. Bass once again require longer hunting periods to catch food, but mild water temperatures still allow them a full range of activity, so fishing typically is improved. Large lures become increasingly effective until cooling water reduces bass’ metabolism.

A special feeding opportunity is created after the fall turnover, if falling water temperatures cause a major threadfin shad die-off. While dead and dying shad are plentiful, bass tend to fixate on them, and lures often must closely imitate the dying preyfish.

Overview

There’s no season when a bass angler should consider selecting lures and presentation solely by size. In each season, a combination of factors determines which lure, color, and presentation works best. The size of prey is an important clue to what lure type is most apt to work at a given time. The most important single factor in lure presentation is the need to place a vulnerable and apparently catchable lure within the strike windows of individual bass.

*Ralph Manns, Rockwall, Texas, has contributed many features to In-Fisherman and Bass Guide on bass fishing and fishery science topics.