Pro Ron Shuffield caught a 17-pound, 10-ounce limit Saturday to finish the Table Rock event in second place. Photo by Brett Carlson. Angler: Ron Shuffield.

September 23, 2010 • Ron Shuffield • Archives

In late August to late October, depending on what part of the country you fish, bass leave their summer haunts and follow shad as they migrate out of main lakes and up feeder creeks for the winter. Start fishing the lower end of the bigger creeks, then keep moving up them as fall progresses. Shallow-running crankbaits and even buzzbaits or other topwater lures are good, especially when the water cools down again into the 70s.

One thing I like to do that’s different is fish isolated cover in about 5 feet of water, such as a single lay-down or rocks, with a SPRO Frog or Stanley Ribbit. Neither one of them looks anything like a shad, but bass are just in a feeding mood during the fall and sometimes it’s that different look and presentation that will get strikes. — Ranger pro Ron Shuffield