Massive Lake Erie also provides September opportunity on a grand scale as bass start to push shallow .
PHOTO BY CHARLES WALDORF
lake erie , Pennsylvania / New York / Ohio
Even though it ’ s the smallest of the Great Lakes , Lake Erie is still a massive fishery . Jonathon VanDam says September is one of the better months to fish it , as the entire lake can produce big bass .
“ The Western Basin , the Eastern Basin by Buffalo , really the whole lake starts to turn on in September when the bass start to push shallower ,” he said .
“ It ’ d be pretty tough to pick the best section , but the Pelee Island out from Sandusky , Ohio , and the stretch from Buffalo to Dunkirk in New York are some of the historically great places to fish Erie .”
With bass moving to shallower water this time of year , VanDam says anglers fishing Erie in September can catch them several ways .
“ Fish get on the rock piles and shoals in shallow water , 10 feet or less , and you can catch them with tubes or drop-shot rigs . The crankbait bite is very strong , and the spinnerbait bite can also be really good .”
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER SHANGLE
“ Lake CDA ” as it ’ s called by locals is one of the most interesting multi-species fisheries in the country in early fall . lake couer d ’ alene , Idaho
One of the most scenic lakes in the country , Coeur d ’ Alene – or “ CDA ,” as it ’ s called locally – is a bass fisherman ’ s paradise with surprising diversity . Whether you ’ re after big largemouth in grass or smallmouth in stereotypical Pacific Northwest clear water and rock , you can find plenty of both on CDA . The early fall fishing can be great here , according to Washington ’ s Luke Clausen , who spends plenty of time on the fishery each year after the Bass Pro Tour season wraps up .
“ September is a time when you can catch them shallow or deep , largemouth or smallmouth ; it ’ s pretty much whatever you feel like that day ,” he said . “ The frog bite for largemouth is great , especially in the Chain Lakes , but you can catch them just as well targeting smallmouth by throwing a small swimbait in deep water on the main lake .”
As fall starts to set in , the fishing will continue to get better with each passing day . upper mississippi river pools 4-9 ,
Wisconsin and Minnesota
The Upper Mississippi River is no stranger to the spotlight , having hosted national tournaments at all levels for years . Most of its attention has come during the summer , with July and August events being the norm , but the fishing continues to get better as the days get shorter . September is a great time to fish any of the pools , and you can catch bass with just about any technique you choose , according to Tackle Warehouse Invitationals angler Matt Stefan .
“ All those pools are great , and the bass start to follow the shad migration and you can catch them with a lot of different baits ,” he said . “ During the transition in September , you have current-related fish and some in the deeper backwaters as they follow the shad at the mouths of backwaters on wing dams and sand drops . It ’ s a numbers deal , and you see a lot of fish grouped up . You can catch them on Alabama rigs , swimbaits and walking topwater baits .” As a bonus , the fishing pressure decreases significantly in this hunting-crazed region . “ The amount of bass anglers continually drops ( in September ),” Stefan said . “ It ’ s nice to have the best stuff to yourself .”
new melones lake , California
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON
Edwin Evers proved the Upper Mississippi ’ s post-summer productivity when he blitzed the field in REDCREST 2019 .
The Mother Lode region is home to some great under-the-national-radar fisheries , but New Melones shines brightest in the late summer and early fall . It has a healthy mix of bass species , with plenty of plump spotted bass to keep you busy plus the chance for a double-digit largemouth at any time .
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2023 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 55