Fall bass window opens as Alabama rivers cool into the upper 50s

What's biting

What's next

Water in the upper 50s and falling slowly is the pattern to plan around. Expect fish to follow baitfish into creek arms and shallower pockets through the afternoon, with the best action usually around the warmest part of the day after a cold night. Tactical Bassin's fall approach of mixing a swimbait, a bladed underspin and a jerkbait lets you cover the water column while fish are on the move. Lighter flow at the small upstream gauges (about 4 to 25 cfs) means clear, low water there, so longer casts and natural colors tend to help. The larger river carries more current, so look for eddies and slack water behind structure.

With the moon waxing gibbous, expect added feeding activity near dawn and dusk, and strongest right around the full moon later this week. Fishing the Midwest advises hunting for green, living weeds in fall, since baitfish and gamefish relocate to them as other weed beds die off. That is a general fall principle and applies here too.

Context

Late October is on schedule for the transition from summer to fall patterns in the Tennessee and Coosa river systems. Water in the upper 50s is typical for this point in the season, and bass and other species generally spend more time shallow, feeding up ahead of winter. Crappie typically move toward brush and docks as water cools. Check state regulations before keeping fish.