Smallmouth Bass Harvests Abound in Fall in Cayuga County

By George Fiorille

For hundreds of years, Cayuga County residents have looked forward to fall as a time of plentiful harvest. Avid anglers also know that the autumn period is one when some of the best bass fishing of the year happens in this region.

Bass are the most sought-after freshwater species in North America. Bass fishing for both species, the largemouth and smallmouth bass can be very exciting in fall.

Cayuga County waters have been voted as some of the best in recent years. A couple of years ago, Cayuga Lake held the NY state record for smallmouth bass at 8-pounds, 6-ounces. Cayuga County Lakes such as Ontario, Cayuga, Owasco, and Skaneateles, can produce your largest smallmouth bass ever.

Fall fishing for smallmouth bass picks up when water temperatures start to fall towards the 60-degrree mark and lower. Smallmouth bass also known as “bronze backs” start loading up on fat during the fall to get ready for the winter slow down period.

When the water temps reach the 60-degree range and lower, many fish move shallow to gorge on minnows and crawfish. Power fishing for smallies can be exceptional during this period. Try running and gunning and fishing in different areas until you find a school up shallow and active. Baits such as spinner baits, crank baits, rattling baits, can all be good.

Quite possibly one of the most exciting lures to try at this time are top water baits. The top water strike of an active smallmouth bass in fall can be the most thrilling of any bass strike during the year. One often looks as if a cinder block was thrown in the water.

While power fishing with hard baits can produce fish, these lures can often chase a shallow school of active fish back out into deeper water. If you’re having the problem of only catching one fish out of a school, and then nothing. Try starting off with a more natural looking lure such as a jig.

Jigs just may be one of the best lures for smallmouth bass during the fall and other seasons as well. Try fishing the lighter versions such as 1/16-oz and 1/8-ounce in shallow water. When fish move out in deeper water or during windy days, jigs in the ¼ ounce-1/2ounce sizes are needed to feel your offering and have a successful hook set. Make sure and fish your jigs on balanced tackle. Medium light spinning rods in the 6 /12 -foot – 7-foot range work best with jigs on 6lb –8lb fluorocarbon lines. Avid smallmouth bass anglers get a better feel of their jigs with a main braided line and a fluorocarbon leader. Keep your leader short enough to keep the knot off of the line spool to prevent kinks.

Once Cayuga County waters cool off into the 40’s, most smallmouth bass will migrate out into deeper waters for the winter slow down period. If you want to brave the weather, finding a wintering hole can really pay off if you sit on it. Fish in these areas very slowly and fish vertically with jigs and blade baits such as sonar type lures and spoons.

Smallmouth bass fishing in Cayuga county waters in fall can be exciting and bountiful. The nice thing is that most pleasure boaters are gone, and you just may have the lake to yourself. Beautifull fall foliage, and great fishing is definitely worth a trip to Cayuga County waters.

Fish On!

Check out some of George’s other fishing blogs: