The late summer and early fall period presents a unique challenge for bass anglers. During this time, bass become more scattered and less aggressive due to a combination of fishing pressure, dropping water levels, and various transitional elements. As the season progresses, bass behavior shifts monthly, influenced by decreasing light levels, changes in water clarity, and fluctuating oxygen levels. These changes can make fishing the fall transition with squarebill crankbaits an ultra-effective way to cover water and put more fish in the boat.
To tackle the difficult conditions, typical of late August and September, downsizing lures often proves effective. Small sized crankbaits like the S-CRANK 1.2 stand out as a productive choice. This bait will reach depths of 4-5 feet with a long cast and 10lb line. Its medium to tight wobble and completely erratic slalom hunting action make it highly appealing to late summer bass on the prowl for their next meal.
Productive conditions for using squarebills like the S-CRANK include:
- Water visibility between 8-24 inches
- Moderate winds
- Rock bottoms on and near the bank with softball or larger sized rocks
- Isolated wood cover like logs and stumps
“This type of water is often found in the upper river arms or major creek arms of various lakes.”
When water visibility ranges between 8-24 inches it provides a productive scenario for the S-CRANK 1.2 to attract attention, but also have enough stain to break up the trick discerning biters. Sunlight conditions have lesser impact on its effectiveness but adjusting lure colors can help match the conditions. For cloudy days, a color like BLACK BACK CHART works well; on partly cloudy days, patterns like SECRET GILL or PM GILL are effective; and on bright sunny days, transparent colors like GP SEXY SHAD and MB GIZZARD can be the most productive.
Wind also plays a role in the effectiveness of the S-CRANK 1.2. A moderate wind can enhance the bite, especially if water is off color or stained. Fishing windblown banks will often produce better results due to its impact on pushing forage closer to shore.
Maintaining contact with cover like rock and/or wood is important—bass are more likely to strike when the bait deflects off structure rather than moving through open water without interaction. The precisely tuned internal balancers of the S-CRANK allow it to deflect off cover and quickly return to center while exhibiting its signature slalom action. This action also shows in open water scenarios, making the S-CRANK a standout amongst squarebills, with its ability to exhibit deflection-like movement without the presence of cover.
Retrieve technique is equally important as the areas being fish. Retrieving quickly with speed changes, pauses and pulls can be the most effective, as the warm water temperatures necessitate a quicker action to trigger reaction strikes.
Choosing the right rod, reel, and line setup further refines the approach. For off-colored water with a mix of wood and rock, the LEVANTE F4.5-70LV FLATSIDE SPECIAL’s moderate action, paired with a 7.1 baitcasting reel and 15-17lb fluorocarbon line, provides excellent casting efficiency and power. If you are looking for more sensitivity to navigate shallow cover, the DESTROYER P5 F3.5-70X Z-CRANK ELSEIL offers a lighter approach with slightly more dexterity. For fishing deeper rock areas, downsizing to 8-12lb fluorocarbon line allows for deeper presentations and enhanced productivity.
Fishing the fall transition with squarebill crankbaits is a great way to cover large areas of water and put numbers and size of fish in the boat, even when the bite gets tough!
