Cooling waters in autumn prompt bass to feed heavily on schooling baitfish ahead of winter. Fish follow forage through creeks, along banks and channel bends rather than staying on summer cover.

Water temperature drops, shorter days and cold fronts drive the change more than any date. Elite anglers note smaller bass begin chasing bait as temperatures fall from the eighties into the seventies, with larger fish appearing as it reaches the sixties.

Topwater lures, jerkbaits and swimbaits work well when anglers locate the bait schools, especially in less crowded lakes.