September is a unique month for fishing. I’m going to give you the lowdown on why that is and how you can use these baits to catch more fish. So, let’s get started by talking about what September really means for fishing across the country.
Let’s break it down with two baits for the northern half of the country and two for the southern half.
When you look at the calendar, September is that transition month. It’s the period where summer’s hot patterns start giving way to the cooler patterns of fall. Fish are sensing those changes, and their behavior starts to shift. In the northern half of the country—think anywhere from Virginia and up—you’ll notice this transition more prominently. Fish start to move, and they get into that “fall feed” mindset, where they really start to focus on baitfish.
On the other hand, down south in places like the Carolinas, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas, the transition is a bit more subtle. It still feels like late summer, and the fish aren’t quite as driven by that baitfish frenzy yet. They’re still holding onto those summer patterns, focusing on crawfish and bluegill. So, it’s a month where fish behavior is on the cusp of change, and knowing how to adjust your baits accordingly is key.
Let’s kick things off with my top two bait choices for the northern half of the country. My number one bait for September up north is a good old spinnerbait. Now listen, September is just the beginning of this transition. If you live up north, one day in September you’re going to wake up, step outside, and feel that cool, crisp air for the first time. The water temperatures start dropping, and the days get shorter. When that happens, the baitfish start moving, and the bass follow. A spinnerbait is perfect for this because it lets you cover a lot of water and imitate those baitfish. For me, it’s all about the blade choice. In clear water, I go with a double willow blade for maximum flash, and in stained water, I switch to a Colorado or Colorado/Indiana combo for more vibration. The goal is to find those transitional areas where the bass are starting to move from their summer haunts to their fall spots.
Sticking with that same idea of covering water, my number two bait for up north in September is a crankbait. Just like a spinnerbait, a crankbait lets you cover a ton of water and find those active fish that are on the move. September is that time when fish aren’t always bunched up in one spot; they’re moving along main lake points and secondary points, slowly heading towards creeks and coves. I like a medium to tight wobble crankbait, like the Berkley Dime, because it has that perfect middle-ground wobble—not too tight, not too wide. The six to ten-foot range crankbaits are my go-tos for targeting those bass that are still sitting in slightly deeper water before fully transitioning to the shallows. Again, colors are key—stick to baitfish patterns like silver, white, and pearl to match the hatch.
Now, let’s talk about the southern half of the country. Down south, the month of September still feels like summer, and fish are more keyed in on crawfish and bluegill. So, my number three bait choice for September down south is a big jig. I’m talking about a full-size, heavy jig in the half-ounce to three-quarter ounce range like the Missile Flip Out. In September, the forage has grown bigger, and those fish are looking for a bigger meal. A big jig with a bulky trailer like a Berkley PowerBait Shape 108 gives you that larger profile that mimics the crawfish and bluegill that bass are still munching on. You can fish it in so many different ways; flip it into cover, drag it on deep points, or swim it around docks. It’s a versatile bait that gets big bites in September.
Last but not least, my number four bait for September down south is a big swimbait, specifically, a bluegill profile swimbait. Until that full-on fall migration hits, bass are still chomping on bluegill, sunfish, and other panfish species. A swimbait like the Berkley PowerBait Gilly in the 110 or 130 sizes is perfect for this. It’s got that larger, adult bluegill look that’s just irresistible to bass. My favorite way to fish this bait is on a weighted swimbait hook, keeping it low and slow near vegetation or docks. It’s all about mimicking those bigger bluegills that bass are feeding on in September before they switch over to a shad diet later in the fall.
So, there you have it, my top four baits for September fishing, whether you’re up north or down south. September can be a tricky month because it’s all about transition, but with these baits, you’re set up to find those fish and catch ’em!
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