Big Spinner Baits For Big Bass in the Fall

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jackie Thompson of Eufaula, Alabama, has guided bass fishermen on Lake Eufaula for more than 30 years. This week, we'll look at his tactics for catching fall bass.

Question: What type of spinner bait will you use to fish for big bass in the fall?
ANSWER: I like a Ledgebuster spinner bait because it's heavy enough to cast a long way. I cover a lot of water with this spinner bait. Too, if I see bass schooling a good ways from the boat, I can often reach them with a spinner bait when I can't reach them with other lures.

Question: What kind of blade do you use with this spinner bait?
Answer: The Ledgebuster spinner bait features one hard-thumping Colorado blade, which makes it a versatile lure that you can fish in a number of places. I can fish this spinner bait near the surface so that it will wake the surface when the bass school on top. When the bass dive down, I can slow roll the same lure next to the bottom and continue to catch fish. Regardless of where the bass hold, I can reach them with the spinner bait.

Question: What color do you feel works best in the fall to produce the most strikes?
Answer: I like some type of shad pattern that resembles what the bass are feeding on.

Question: Jackie, don't you also troll spinner baits for bass during the fall?
Answer: Yes, I do. When I look for schooling bass moving from their deep-water homes to shallow-water flats, I troll the 2- to 2«-ounce Gorilla spinnerbait made by Ledgebuster. Since many times the bass won't feed on top, you won't be able to see them. By trolling the Gorilla spinner bait, I can locate schools and catch really big bass. The Gorilla is a really big bait designed to catch very big bass. I match it with Berkley's 20-pound-test line.

Question: How fast do you troll?
Answer: I have a 150-horsepower motor, and I troll as slowly as that motor will push the boat. I troll that spinner bait on a medium-heavy-action, 7-foot Berkley Classic Lightning rod. If you want to fish big baits for big bass, you've got to have a heavy rod to help you land the bass once it has the lure.

To learn more about Pure Fishing, including Berkley's quality products like fishing line and the Lightning rods, call (800) BERKLEY or visit the Berkley web site at: www.berkley-fishing.com.

To learn more about bass fishing in the fall or to fish on Lake Eufaula, contact Jackie Thompson at 110 Marina Drive, Eufaula, AL 36027, or call (334) 687-9595.

Tomorrow: Thompson's Fall Crankbait Tactics