It’s November and I’m breaking down my top four baits! You know the deal, every month we give you two baits for the anglers up north and two baits for the anglers down south. So, draw a line across the country around Virginia, north of that line, you’re in the cold zone; south of it, you’re still in that classic fall pattern. Here we go!
The North: Late Fall into Early Winter
If you live up north–New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin–you know what November feels like. The leaves are gone, the air is cold, and the water’s dropping fast. Bass are leaving those shallow fall feeding areas and moving toward their winter hangouts. They’re not super aggressive, but you can still catch them if you play it right. Here are my two go-to northern baits:
1. Suspending Jerkbait
This is hands-down one of the best baits for cooling water. It’s the perfect “search bait” for transitional fish, bass that are on the move. When you throw a suspending jerkbait, you can cover water fast and mimic a dying baitfish at the same time. It’s just a deadly combo.
My favorite jerkbait this time of year is the Berkley Stunna 112. The standard model is perfect for fish sitting 0–10 feet deep. But if it’s a really cold November and those fish are deeper, switch to the Stunna 112+1 or +2. Those bigger bills will dig down to 12, 16, even 18 feet, perfect for pulling fish off ledges and points.
Here’s a key tip: experiment with cadence. Sometimes it’s jerk-jerk-pause. Other times it’s one jerk, ten-second pause. Or maybe jerk-jerk-jerk-pause. The colder it gets, the longer I’ll pause. Let the fish tell you what they want. Once you get that first bite, lock in that cadence, it’s gold.
2. Metal Baits: Blade or Tail Spinner
When the water gets cold and the fish start bunching up, it’s time to go metal! Two of my favorites are the Molix Trago Vib and the Molix Spin Tail. These baits shine when bass start relating to deeper structure or bottom-hugging bait schools.
Here’s how I break it down:
- If the fish are deep and vertical, around bridge pilings, dams, or steep bluff banks, throw the tail spinner. Its little blade spins on the rise and fall, creating flash that looks just like a dying shad.
- If the fish are on flatter structure, deep points, channel swings, or flats, go with the blade bait. That tight vibration as it lifts and falls drives bass crazy.
Both baits work best when fished slow and low. Let them touch the bottom, then lift and drop, nice and easy. It’s all about that subtle flash and vibration. Trust me, this is a killer cold-water bite.
The South: True Fall Feeding Frenzy
Now, if you’re in the south–Texas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana– you’re not quite in winter mode yet. November down there means the fall feed is in full swing. The bass are pushing into creeks and coves, chasing bait, and feeding up for winter. So for you southern anglers, here are the two that never leave my deck:
1. Lipless Crankbait
Everybody thinks of a rattle trap as a spring bait, but I’m telling you—it’s just as deadly in the fall. When those shad start bunching up, a lipless crank like the Berkley Warpig or Berkley Jack is perfect. It mimics a shad in both shape and sound.
I like to fish this bait around the backs of creeks, grass edges, or big flats where shad are thick. And here’s the trick: don’t just reel it in steady. Use a yo-yo retrieve—lift it off the bottom, let it fall, lift again. That fall makes it look like a dying shad, and that’s what triggers those reaction strikes. Go with ¼ to ½ ounce depending on depth—lighter for shallow pockets, heavier for deeper grass.
2. Buzzbait (Topwater)
You knew I had to include a topwater! November in the South still gives you that last big topwater window of the year. When those shad are flicking and breaking the surface, a buzzbait is money. It’s noisy, flashy, and absolutely deadly.
My pick is the Molix Lover Buzz—I throw the full size when baitfish are big and the mini when they’re smaller. I love a squeaky buzzbait. That metal-on-metal squeal just gets more bites. Back in the day, we’d rust them or hang them out the truck window to get that sound, but now they come ready to roll.
Fish it anywhere you see surface activity like creeks, pockets, backs of coves. Cover water fast, keep that bait moving, and hold on tight. That buzzbait bite in November down south? It’s electric!
So there you go—my Top Four Baits for November:
- Suspending Jerkbait – for transitional fish up north
- Metal Baits (Blade/Tail Spinner) – for cold, deep northern bass
- Lipless Crankbait – for southern fall feeders
- Buzzbait – for topwater action in the South
No matter where you live, November can be an awesome month to fish. Don’t put those rods away yet! Get out there, bundle up, and try these baits. You’ll be surprised how many big ones you can still catch when everyone else is done for the year!
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