What changes on Lake Guntersville in September
by Mike Gerry
There is no doubt that as we move into September, anglers will begin to see many positive changes on Lake Guntersville. The transition from the heat of summer into the early days of fall can create some exciting fishing, but understanding what is changing , and when, is the key to finding bass.
The first change that starts the fall fishing bonanza is the water temperature.
When you put your boat in the lake, one of the first things you should check is whether the water temperature is beginning to drop.
Once you see that cooling trend develop, you can count on some significant changes taking place across Lake Guntersville.
As the water begins to cool, bass will gradually leave many of their summer locations and start transitioning toward their fall feeding areas.
This is a good time to look back at your fishing history and remember where you found fish during previous fall seasons.
Those productive fall locations and patterns can give you an excellent starting point.
The shallow water will generally cool faster than the deeper water.
As conditions become more comfortable and oxygen levels improve, baitfish will begin moving into these areas.
Wherever the bait goes, you can expect the bass to follow.
However, don’t expect every bass in the lake to make the transition at the same time.
Bass holding in deeper water will not feel the effects of cooling temperatures as quickly as fish living in shallower areas.
Baitfish will react in much the same way.
That means your approach can change from one day to the next, and sometimes even throughout the same day.
Making the right move as the water starts to cool is imperative.
Keep a close eye on your water temperature because it can be one of the biggest keys to your success during the fall transition on Lake Guntersville.
If you aren’t seeing much of a temperature drop around the deeper-water areas, many of those bass may still be holding in their summer locations.
Once the temperature begins changing, however, start looking for signs that fish are moving toward shallower water.
The mouths of creeks and entrances to bays are excellent places to begin your search.
These areas can serve as travel routes as baitfish move from their summer locations toward the shallower fall feeding areas.
Bass will often position themselves nearby and take advantage of the moving bait.
As September progresses, bait activity should become increasingly obvious.
You will begin noticing large schools and bait balls moving around the lake, and you can bet there will be bass somewhere close by.
Schooling bass feeding on those baitfish can create some of the most exciting action of the fall.
When bass begin chasing bait near the surface, the activity can be impossible to miss.
Birds, breaking fish and fleeing baitfish can all point you toward feeding bass.
Schooling fish are a lot of fun, but they can also be frustrating.
Remember, there is an enormous amount of natural forage available during the fall.
When bass are surrounded by thousands of real baitfish, convincing one of them to attack your artificial lure can sometimes be the biggest challenge of the day.
That is where reaction baits can become extremely important.
Instead of simply trying to imitate everything the bass are already seeing, you sometimes need to make your lure stand out and trigger an instinctive strike.
September is a month of transition on Lake Guntersville.
The bass may not all move at once, and they may not all be doing the same thing, but the signs are there for anglers who pay attention.
Watch the water temperature.
Watch the bait. Pay attention to the mouths of creeks and entrances to bays, and be ready when schooling activity begins.
The heat of summer may still be hanging around, but once that water starts cooling and the bait begins moving, Lake Guntersville’s fall feeding season is underway.
Captain Mike
