It’s September and we’re talking fishing! You know the drill. Every month I give you my top four baits, and September is no different. But here’s the catch: depending on where you live, September can mean two totally different things. If you’re up north, places like Ohio, Michigan, New York, this month is the beginning of fall transition. You’re waking up to crisp 50-degree mornings, and those cooler nights are already dropping the water temps. The bass feel it, and they start sliding toward that fall pattern. But if you live south of the Mason-Dixon line; the Carolinas, Georgia, Texas, Florida, September is still summer! Hot weather, hot water, maybe a storm or two rolling through, but mostly a continuation of that late-summer grind. Because of that, I’m giving you two baits for the North and two for the South. Let’s dive in!
Northern Pick-Bait #1:
For my northern guys, bait number one is the finesse swimbait. I love this thing in September because the lakes and rivers are full of little baitfish. Think about all the shad, herring, alewives, smelt-they’ve spawned, and now the water is loaded with small forage. A 2.8 to 4-inch finesse swimbait like the Berkley PowerBait Swimmer or the new Berkley PowerBait Drip Swimmer is perfect.
I throw them on a jighead, usually an eighth to three-eighths ounce, with a 90-degree line tie for the best action. That boot-tail kicks and rolls just like a real minnow, and here’s the key, you can fish it anywhere. Fish are moving up north. Some are still out deep, others are sliding shallow, and that swimbait lets you count it down to whatever depth you need. It’s versatile, it’s subtle, and it flat out catches them.
Northern Pick-Bait #2:
Number two for the North in September is a compact spinnerbait. Not the big springtime ones with giant blades, but the smaller, tighter-profile versions like the Molix Water Slash or the Molix Muscle Ant. These baits match the smaller forage perfectly. I throw them in three-eighths or half-ounce sizes with double willow blades. The willows are important because they flash, they look like little baitfish, and they let you cover water fast. I’ll fish them around grass edges, brush, laydowns, or even in open water. Colors stay simple: shad colors like white and pearl, chartreuse and green for bluegill, or black and blue for dirtier water. And don’t forget a trailer hook, that’s a must in September when bass are swiping at bait. This is the perfect tool when bass are spread out and moving during that early fall transition.
Southern Pick-Bait #3:
Now let’s head south. If you’re in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, or down the Tennessee River, September is still summer. Fish are offshore, they’re hanging on ledges, points, or grass edges, and one of my all-time favorites down there is the Carolina rig. The old “ball and chain” still works. I run a tungsten weight, usually a half to three-quarter ounce with a bead, a swivel, and then 18 to 30 inches of leader. On the end I’ll tie on a six-inch Berkley PowerBait Power Lizard or a four-inch creature bait like the Berkley PowerBait Maxscent Creature Hog.
Both have tons of action and float just right behind the rig. The Carolina rig shines when you drag it across hard spots like gravel bars, shell beds, rocky points, or through holes in hydrilla and eelgrass. In September, southern bass love those subtle oddities on the bottom, and a C-rig is the perfect way to find and catch them.
Southern Pick-Bait #4:
Last but not least, my number four bait for September down south is the big jig or heavy creature bait. I’m talking about a half to three-quarter ounce Missile Flip Out Jig or a Berkley Powerbait MaxScent Creature Hog. If you’ve got deep structure, drag it just like you would with a Carolina rig. But if you’re fishing heavy vegetation places like Guntersville, Okeechobee, or the Louisiana bayous, you’ve got to flip and punch it right into the thick mats. That’s where those big bass live in September. I’ll rig it with a strong hook, heavy braid, and a bulky trailer with kicking arms or double tails. And here’s a tip: listen for the bluegill. If you’re flipping mats and you hear that popping sound of bluegill feeding, you’re in the right place. That’s where the bass are going to be waiting to ambush.
So, there you have it, my top four baits for September. Finesse swimbaits and compact spinnerbaits for my northern anglers, and the Carolina rig and a big jig or beaver-style bait for my southern guys. Remember, September is a split month. Up north, fish are sliding into that fall transition. Down south, it’s still hot and summer-like. But no matter where you live, if you tie on these four baits and fish them the way I’ve laid out, you’re going to have success. September is a month of change, and it’s one of the best times to be on the water. Kids are back in school, the lakes are quieter, and the bass are biting
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