Snowden, Morgenthaler: Top fall baits

Elite Series pros Brian Snowden and Chad Morgenthaler offer up their top baits for catching giant fall bass.
Elite Series pros Brian Snowden and Chad Morgenthaler offer up their top baits for catching giant fall bass.
Brian Snowden-1: War Eagle 1/2-ounce Screaming Eagle spinnerbait — The reason I like the Screaming Eagle is because  it’s got smaller blades so you can move the bait real quick. In the fall, the fish start to move up shallow, and they are really primarily feeding on shad. So, like on windy, cloudy days, we’ll run the bank a lot in the fall. It’s just a good way to cover a lot of water, and it produces a lot of big fish. Most of the time, you’re keeping it within a foot of the surface. And it’s got the weight on the rear (of the head), so it looks like a small profile, like a 1/4-ounce, but you can really keep it moving because of that weight. Blue heron is my kind-of go-to color in fairly clear to stained water. I like the gold/nickel willow leaf combination.
Brian Snowden-1: War Eagle 1/2-ounce Screaming Eagle spinnerbait — The reason I like the Screaming Eagle is because it’s got smaller blades so you can move the bait real quick. In the fall, the fish start to move up shallow, and they are really primarily feeding on shad. So, like on windy, cloudy days, we’ll run the bank a lot in the fall. It’s just a good way to cover a lot of water, and it produces a lot of big fish. Most of the time, you’re keeping it within a foot of the surface. And it’s got the weight on the rear (of the head), so it looks like a small profile, like a 1/4-ounce, but you can really keep it moving because of that weight. Blue heron is my kind-of go-to color in fairly clear to stained water. I like the gold/nickel willow leaf combination.
2: Azuma Z Boss 10 — In the fall, this bait in shad pattern is usually good late in the afternoon. Basically, I have two colors I like. The first is the ghost minnow color, and it’s more for real clear water and bright skies. The other one is blue vengeance, and it’s a little bit brighter: It still mimics the baitfish real well, but it’s also something I’ll use on overcast days or in a little dingier water. It’s got a really tight wobble, and it dives to 10 feet. Usually in the highland reservoirs in the fall, the fish will start moving back onto those secondary points. I’m going to start with this a little earlier in the fall than most people: I’ll start as the water starts to get in that mid-60-degree range. This fish will start moving up onto those 10-foot ledges, and that’s where this crank bait will really shine.
2: Azuma Z Boss 10 — In the fall, this bait in shad pattern is usually good late in the afternoon. Basically, I have two colors I like. The first is the ghost minnow color, and it’s more for real clear water and bright skies. The other one is blue vengeance, and it’s a little bit brighter: It still mimics the baitfish real well, but it’s also something I’ll use on overcast days or in a little dingier water. It’s got a really tight wobble, and it dives to 10 feet. Usually in the highland reservoirs in the fall, the fish will start moving back onto those secondary points. I’m going to start with this a little earlier in the fall than most people: I’ll start as the water starts to get in that mid-60-degree range. This fish will start moving up onto those 10-foot ledges, and that’s where this crank bait will really shine.
3: Azuma Z Dog — It’s a medium-sized walking bait. The fall is another time when fish will start to school up, and shad is the predominant baitfish. That’s what they’re going to be feeding on a lot. I’m going to start throwing this around boat docks, isolated cedar trees, and more in pockets — a lot of times in the center of pockets, especially at Table Rock and some of the highland reservoirs that have submerged timber. The fish will suspend in that timber before they go up on the bank to feed. I’ll start on some of the trees on the points and work to find the shad. If you find the shad more in the guts in, say 10 or 15 feet, the bass will still be around. And this is great way when the fish are active to catch a lot of quality fish with a topwater.
3: Azuma Z Dog — It’s a medium-sized walking bait. The fall is another time when fish will start to school up, and shad is the predominant baitfish. That’s what they’re going to be feeding on a lot. I’m going to start throwing this around boat docks, isolated cedar trees, and more in pockets — a lot of times in the center of pockets, especially at Table Rock and some of the highland reservoirs that have submerged timber. The fish will suspend in that timber before they go up on the bank to feed. I’ll start on some of the trees on the points and work to find the shad. If you find the shad more in the guts in, say 10 or 15 feet, the bass will still be around. And this is great way when the fish are active to catch a lot of quality fish with a topwater.
4: Zoom 5-inch Swimmer on a 3/4-ounce leadhead — We talked a little bit about the shad balling up and going into the center of the pockets. That’s a traditional thing that happens from October through November in most highland reservoirs throughout the United States. One thing you’ve got to watch is that one day they will be up shallow, and you can catch them on the Z Dog or something Like that, and some days they will be deeper. It depends on where the bait is relating. The good thing about the Swimmer is that you can control the depth. You can  use anything from a 3/8- to a 3/-4-ounce (head), depending on where the bait is. What you want to do is count it down — or I use my Garmin Livescope to see how far the bait falls, and I swim in right in or right below where the shad are. It’s a great way in the fall to fish underneath those bait balls to catch quality bass.
4: Zoom 5-inch Swimmer on a 3/4-ounce leadhead — We talked a little bit about the shad balling up and going into the center of the pockets. That’s a traditional thing that happens from October through November in most highland reservoirs throughout the United States. One thing you’ve got to watch is that one day they will be up shallow, and you can catch them on the Z Dog or something Like that, and some days they will be deeper. It depends on where the bait is relating. The good thing about the Swimmer is that you can control the depth. You can use anything from a 3/8- to a 3/-4-ounce (head), depending on where the bait is. What you want to do is count it down — or I use my Garmin Livescope to see how far the bait falls, and I swim in right in or right below where the shad are. It’s a great way in the fall to fish underneath those bait balls to catch quality bass.
5: Five Fish Lures Ultimate Cover Jig and Five Fish Ultimate Finesse Jig — I like to throw jigs a lot. Fish move up in the early stages of fall, and boat docks become real factors. All the way through until the water gets cold, they’ll be around boat docks a lot, as well as brush piles. The important thing is that if you’re catching better quality, we go with the Ultimate Cover Jig. It’s a little bit bigger hook diameter, and it’s going to be something that comes in and out of cover well. The finesse jig has a short skirt and light wire hook, and I’m going to use this in like a 5/16-ounce size — something that has a gradual slow fall. We have a Z Craw Junior on here, or my favorite is probably the old Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail. I like stuff in the fall that has some action. Fifty to 60 percent of your bites will be on the fall, and I think having some sort of movement in that tail is really important.
5: Five Fish Lures Ultimate Cover Jig and Five Fish Ultimate Finesse Jig — I like to throw jigs a lot. Fish move up in the early stages of fall, and boat docks become real factors. All the way through until the water gets cold, they’ll be around boat docks a lot, as well as brush piles. The important thing is that if you’re catching better quality, we go with the Ultimate Cover Jig. It’s a little bit bigger hook diameter, and it’s going to be something that comes in and out of cover well. The finesse jig has a short skirt and light wire hook, and I’m going to use this in like a 5/16-ounce size — something that has a gradual slow fall. We have a Z Craw Junior on here, or my favorite is probably the old Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail. I like stuff in the fall that has some action. Fifty to 60 percent of your bites will be on the fall, and I think having some sort of movement in that tail is really important.
6: 1/8-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig with Zoom Beat Down — In the highland reservoirs in the fall, especially with smallmouth, they will start getting shallower. And for some reason, this is just a great way to catch numbers of fish. So if you’re going out with a youth or small kids, it’s one of those things you can’t hardly fail. Get out on those gravel flats in about 20 feet, cast toward the bank and 80 percent of the bites are going to come on the initial fall. With this Five Fish head, it does a great job with that big spiral as it falls to the bottom and that really helps trigger some bites. Zoom did a really great job with the Beatdown. You’ve got the flat up at the front so it’s already cut — you don’t have to waste any plastic. It’s just a nice shape and profile. In any of those clear-water environments in the fall, when fish start to get in water that is 20 feet deep or less, it’s a great way to catch numbers of fish casting along those points.
6: 1/8-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig with Zoom Beat Down — In the highland reservoirs in the fall, especially with smallmouth, they will start getting shallower. And for some reason, this is just a great way to catch numbers of fish. So if you’re going out with a youth or small kids, it’s one of those things you can’t hardly fail. Get out on those gravel flats in about 20 feet, cast toward the bank and 80 percent of the bites are going to come on the initial fall. With this Five Fish head, it does a great job with that big spiral as it falls to the bottom and that really helps trigger some bites. Zoom did a really great job with the Beatdown. You’ve got the flat up at the front so it’s already cut — you don’t have to waste any plastic. It’s just a nice shape and profile. In any of those clear-water environments in the fall, when fish start to get in water that is 20 feet deep or less, it’s a great way to catch numbers of fish casting along those points.
Chad Morgenthaler-1: Spro Rock Crawler in a crawfish pattern — It’s a little bit of a translucent crawfish pattern, and I use it early morning in the fall. A lot of the fish at nighttime are still up shallow, especially the smallmouth. So for the first hour or two, you cover a lot of water with this and usually pick up two or three really good fish really quick on it. I use the crawfish pattern because if they’re up there in this depth range, which is about 10 to 12 feet, they are feeding on crawfish.
Chad Morgenthaler-1: Spro Rock Crawler in a crawfish pattern — It’s a little bit of a translucent crawfish pattern, and I use it early morning in the fall. A lot of the fish at nighttime are still up shallow, especially the smallmouth. So for the first hour or two, you cover a lot of water with this and usually pick up two or three really good fish really quick on it. I use the crawfish pattern because if they’re up there in this depth range, which is about 10 to 12 feet, they are feeding on crawfish.
2: Missile Baits 1/2-ounce Mini Flip Jig with Missile Baits Craw Father trailer — It’s a small profile bait with a lot of weight to it. I use this typically for my dock fishing. In the fall, a lot of fish will get suspended around and underneath docks, and it seems like it’s just a quick-enough fall with the 1/2-ounce and the trailer adds a little bit of action but not a lot of resistance, so the fall rate is what I’m after. I can fish it on 12-pound line, and it skips really well. And if I come across a piece of structure such as brush pile or laden thats in anywhere from 20 feet of of water or less, I will utilize this on them.
2: Missile Baits 1/2-ounce Mini Flip Jig with Missile Baits Craw Father trailer — It’s a small profile bait with a lot of weight to it. I use this typically for my dock fishing. In the fall, a lot of fish will get suspended around and underneath docks, and it seems like it’s just a quick-enough fall with the 1/2-ounce and the trailer adds a little bit of action but not a lot of resistance, so the fall rate is what I’m after. I can fish it on 12-pound line, and it skips really well. And if I come across a piece of structure such as brush pile or laden thats in anywhere from 20 feet of of water or less, I will utilize this on them.
3: Strike King 3/4-ounce Tour Grade Football Head in crawfish pattern with Rage Craw trailer — This is my larger-profile bait. This is the bait that I’ll use for that 15- to 30-foot range. The reason I like this jig is, one, because of the football head: I can really feel the bottom well, and it doesn’t get caught in the bottom near as bad. But it’s also got the right hook in it. The hook is just the right diameter, so I can fish it on 12- all the way up to 16-pound-test fluorocarbon and I can still get good hook penetration and get every fish that bites it. This is for those deeper spots, especially out off ledges or off the ends of gravel points, and I can cover some water with it because of the weight.
3: Strike King 3/4-ounce Tour Grade Football Head in crawfish pattern with Rage Craw trailer — This is my larger-profile bait. This is the bait that I’ll use for that 15- to 30-foot range. The reason I like this jig is, one, because of the football head: I can really feel the bottom well, and it doesn’t get caught in the bottom near as bad. But it’s also got the right hook in it. The hook is just the right diameter, so I can fish it on 12- all the way up to 16-pound-test fluorocarbon and I can still get good hook penetration and get every fish that bites it. This is for those deeper spots, especially out off ledges or off the ends of gravel points, and I can cover some water with it because of the weight.
4: Missile Baits Bomb Shot on a Reins tungsten Wacky or Cover jig head — I use this a lot to target smallmouth and spotted bass that get a little lure shy in the fall. This is usually on my 6-pound-test line, and I will use it for around boat docks for those fish that are around boat docks that won’t bite jigs, or the ones that are suspended or the the fish that are in tree tops. I can throw it out and watch my (Garmin) Livescope and be able to fish it at just the right depth and still be able to trigger that finicky bite.
4: Missile Baits Bomb Shot on a Reins tungsten Wacky or Cover jig head — I use this a lot to target smallmouth and spotted bass that get a little lure shy in the fall. This is usually on my 6-pound-test line, and I will use it for around boat docks for those fish that are around boat docks that won’t bite jigs, or the ones that are suspended or the the fish that are in tree tops. I can throw it out and watch my (Garmin) Livescope and be able to fish it at just the right depth and still be able to trigger that finicky bite.
5: Missile Baits Bomb Shot on a No. 1 Gamakatsu Split Shot Drop Shot Hook and a 5/16 Reins tungsten teardrop drop shot weight — My favorite color is brown and purple, which is a really good color win the fall. I use this for a lot of different stuff. The weight allows me to feel the bottom composition really well. It’s also heavy enough that I can vertical fish with it off my Livescope or my electronics, so I can target those fish that are suspended under shad deeper than 30 feet, as well as fish that are located in tree tops that are really stubborn that I can’t really fish a bait through. I can drop on them and watch everything on my Garmin electronics and be able to fish right t over the top of the tree.
5: Missile Baits Bomb Shot on a No. 1 Gamakatsu Split Shot Drop Shot Hook and a 5/16 Reins tungsten teardrop drop shot weight — My favorite color is brown and purple, which is a really good color win the fall. I use this for a lot of different stuff. The weight allows me to feel the bottom composition really well. It’s also heavy enough that I can vertical fish with it off my Livescope or my electronics, so I can target those fish that are suspended under shad deeper than 30 feet, as well as fish that are located in tree tops that are really stubborn that I can’t really fish a bait through. I can drop on them and watch everything on my Garmin electronics and be able to fish right t over the top of the tree.
6: Missile Baits Shockwave Swimbait with a Strike King Underspin  — This is the 4 1/4-inch version, but I’ll also step down to the 3-inch version. I use my whites and shad colors in the fall. I use 1/2- to 3/4-ounce heads, typically. What it allows me to do is to target those fish in the late fall that do nothing but run shad. They’ll get underneath big shad schools, and I can use this to cast beyond or into the baitfish and maintain my depth really well. Bass will get down there 30, 60 even 75 feet deep, and the under spin adds a little extra flash to it rather than just a ball head for the swim baits.
6: Missile Baits Shockwave Swimbait with a Strike King Underspin — This is the 4 1/4-inch version, but I’ll also step down to the 3-inch version. I use my whites and shad colors in the fall. I use 1/2- to 3/4-ounce heads, typically. What it allows me to do is to target those fish in the late fall that do nothing but run shad. They’ll get underneath big shad schools, and I can use this to cast beyond or into the baitfish and maintain my depth really well. Bass will get down there 30, 60 even 75 feet deep, and the under spin adds a little extra flash to it rather than just a ball head for the swim baits.