Cold Water Spring vs. Fall?

Now that the water is cooling down tremendously, I know I am going to start busting out my cold water stuff. That got me thinking…

Do you guys use the same cold water Spring techniques as you do when the water turns cold in the late Fall?

Or… even though the water temp is the same as the spring, these Fall fish are TOTALLY different and can be caught using COMPLETELY different lures and techniques than the Spring?

With the disclaimer that I’ve never caught a Bass in the river…..

On the lakes that I fish, it seems like small little baits work best in the Spring and big baits work best in the fall. Think about how often you catch Bass, big nice Bass, in April and May with a Crappie jig. On the other hand I’ve never caught a big Bass in the fall on a Crappie jig but I’ve caught a lot of them on 1/2 oz. Spinnerbaits, big crankbaits, and while Muskie fishing. I think it may have to do with “matching the hatch” with what’s available in the lake, and the fact that in the fall the Bass are trying to fatten up for the winter.

The other difference I see is that I find fish deeper in the Fall. I like to find the last deep green weeds, preferably coontail.

Rootski

My early spring arsenal is different than late fall. The main reason is because what I was taught about the bass metabolism.

In early spring, cold water, the fish is coming off of a long winter where they didn’t eat much. In EARLY spring, I’ve always fished with small jigs, or small lures. I was taught that the fish is just getting it’s metabolism back up and running, so they looked for small meals many times a day for a while.

In spring, it’s opposite. They are coming from summer and a high metabolism. They know (do they?) winter is coming and it’s time to feed up. They are more willing to chase, and like the idea of a big meal for less work.

Anywho, that’s the approach I’ve always taken.

Fluker

I personally think spring is more fun fishing. The fish are fat and the big ones are easy to find. Fall is awesome too but it hasn’t been so far . for me its been tough this fall, locating an abundance of keeper sized bass. I’ll go out and catch 15 fish in a day and maybe 2-4 keepers, haven’t had a limit in a couple weeks of fishing.I’ll also add that I can easily catch over 50 fish a day if i wanted to, but i try to find new areas that are hosting bigger fish. I know there are big fish out there but i haven’t had time and honestly, patience to figure it out. all i know is lily pads, rock, wingdams, docks, cut banks, sand, wood, and drop offs weren’t producing keepers for me Sunday I remember having this same problem last year too though. It was after a major cold front moved through but it picked back up.
as far as baits go, i use some of the same techniques, but not all. I still fish rattle traps, spinnerbaits, and swim jigs a lot in fall, just as i did in spring, but burning a rattle trap just isn’t working as well as it did last april. the fish are becomming more sluggish after this cold front and aren’t reacting to extremely fast baits, but it will pick up i think when it gets a little warmer out. Fall and spring are both my favorite times to fish, but i would vote spring for my #1 favorite

You guys have excellent points.

In the Fall I definitely prefer baits that can be stopped during the retrieve. Jerkbaits, jig and pigs, etc…

ALL GOOD POINTS, ONE THING THAT I HAVE THOUGHT (AGAIN NO EXPERT BY ANY MEANS) BUT IN THE SPRING THE PREY IS SMALLER, BECAUSE THEY ARE STARTING TO GROW AND IN THE FALL THEY ARE BIGGER, HENCE SMALLER BAITS IN SPRING, BIGGER BAITS IN FALL.

Dave you might want to try that bug looking thing that Austin made……..

Good post- I have a hard time sometimes on the river following the migration routes (mostly because my job keeps me from the water ) but I believe that many of the same spots will produce spring and fall. It would seem this is true since the fish are either coming from or going to wintering areas.

I love a pointer or other jerkbait all the way up until ice then again right after ice out. Cast it out, reel it down and let it sit….. jerk softly let it sit… etc.

I would agree that based on everything ive heard big baits are better in fall, but many times since im really just trying to catch something (before the winter depression leaves me flipping in the basement) I will downsize and accept numbers over size. Maybe im missing something???