Fall brings an exciting shift in bass fishing. As temperatures cool, leaves change, and days shorten, a transition period emerges that often delivers some of the best fishing of the year. During this time, entire lakes come alive with a variety of patterns and techniques that can consistently produce. A common theme is that many areas see bass populations move shallow where fishing with finesse crankbaits can shine!
By autumn, bass have experienced months of fishing pressure and have become highly sensitive to different lure sizes, colors, sounds, and water displacement. This makes selecting the right lure even more critical. Finesse crankbaits like the GRIFFON, IXI SHAD TYPE-3, and FLAPSLAP are ideally suited for these conditions, and this guide highlights the best areas to use them effectively.
Key Areas for Fall Shallow Cranking
To maximize results, look for the following elements in your chosen fishing spots. The more these factors converge, the better the chances of success. These areas and cover can often be found in major creek arms—especially in the upper two-thirds of the creek—or main river arms in the lake’s upper reaches. Many of these locations tend to hold a larger concentration of shallow bass due to baitfish movements this time of year as well as factors like bottom/bank composition.
- Rock/Gravel banks of various sizes and angles
- Riprap banks
- Clay banks
- Shallow wood cover (logs, stumps, laydowns)
- Water visibility between 8 to 15 inches
Many productive areas for shallow crankbaits during the fall include some type of rock and wood cover—either separate or together. Dialing in your approach with specific baits to suit each cover type can help increase success.
- FLAPSLAP is best for rock or gravel cover, clay banks, as well as open water
- IXI TYPE-3 and GRIFFON work well around both rock and wood, offering versatility when cover types are mixed.
Techniques for Fishing Each Lure
FLAPSLAP– target riprap and natural rock banks with long, parallel casts, focusing on the 1–3-foot depth zone, keeping the lure just above the rocks or lightly ticking them. A medium stop-and-go retrieve is recommended and can be combined with jerks and pulls.
In lakes with submergent grass, FLAPSLAP can also be effective when fished over tops of the vegetation. If rocks and/or weeds are deeper, reach for the DIVING FLAPSLAP.
GRIFFON & IXI TYPE-3 – focus on wood cover or a mix of natural rock and wood. Isolated wood targets, such as laydowns, stumps, or logs, are ideal. Saturating these areas with multiple casts from different angles can trigger aggressive strikes. Deflection off cover is critical in these situations, and these crankbaits excel at creating those reaction strikes. Though both baits excel in cover areas, the GRIFFON will deflect off cover with more of a pinball style, whereas the IXI will have a forward falling action that navigates over cover with each deflection.
Rod & Line- A moderate action rod that has the balance of flex and dexterity will maximize the effectiveness as well as forgiveness of finesse crankbaits. The LEVANTE FLATSIDE SPECIAL is a great option, but if a bit more sensitivity is needed the DESTROYER P5 JDM Z-CRANK ELSEIL is an excellent pairing. Depending on cover, these baits fish to their full potential when matched with 8-12lb fluorocarbon or copolymer lines (copolymer if added stretch is preferred for even more forgiveness)
Fishing with finesse crankbaits for fall bass can be ultra-effective technique on many man-made lakes across the country. Using this guide as a baseline, but not being afraid to adapt and modify strategy can ensure that success is just a cast away.
