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THE CALLIS CHRONICLES
The Fall Turnover: Making Them Bite by Bruce Callis Jr
Cold fronts have a huge impact on fishing in many ways, especially in the fall. Fishing gets tougher. And it affects the lakes and reservoirs that we love to fish. But what does it do and how do we change to better our chances of catching those beautiful green and brown fish we love?
As the cold weather moves in and starts to cool the surface waters, it makes it heavier than the water below. This water in turn starts to sink and mix with the cooler water in the thermocline. The oxygen from the surface, with the help of the wind, helps churn or mix the water. This helps narrow the thermocline until it finally disappears. As it sinks to the bottom, debris, those fine particles there mix into the water, accompanied by the hydrogen sulfide and other gases produced by decomposing organic matter from the bottom, releasing a musky or sulfurous smell.
Besides the smell, the water gets murky and visibility gets worse. Or the surface of the water can get a skim on it. If the turnover happens too quickly, oxygen levels can drop low enough to result in a fish kill, but this is usually limited to smaller lakes with little moving water or backwater creek areas where fish can’t escape the water that lacks oxygen. But no matter what, fishing gets difficult. Luckily, it doesn’t last long, usually about a week or two and we can get back to normal.
Bass are creatures of habit that move with changing weather conditions. Some bass prefer to stay relatively shallow their entire lives, while others stay relatively deep and only move shallow to spawn. The later group forage from deep to shallow, chasing bait fish and then moving back home in deeper water. These can be the most difficult to catch during the turnover.
Shallow living bass will be the best bet during the turnover, in my opinion. And during this time I like to use a couple of baits that help me have success. The first is a spinnerbait. I prefer a double-willow blade to help give it more flash. I also prefer a shad-colored skirt with a little chartreuse in it. It can be thrown up shallow, less than a foot, and worked out to around 5-6 feet, the maximum depth I am targeting.
My second choice would be a jig, preferably a 1/2 ounce Missile Baits Ike’s Flip Out or Head Banger with a D Bomb or Chunky D trailer. I like to use a dark-colored jig, like the Bruiser Flash with a dark trailer, like Bruiser Flash or Black Red Flake to make it easier for the bass to see it in the murky water.
My last choice is a square bill bait. I love to throw either a SPRO Fat John 60 in Chartreuse Black Back or Chartreuse Blue or a Fat Papa SB 55 in Chartreuse Black Back. It has always been a great bite-getter for me. And you can work it fast or slow, depending on what they want.
The fall turnover can be a difficult time to fish, but not impossible. Be patient and trust in what you are doing. Remember, we are doing what we love! Don’t get frustrated. The bass is there, use your knowledge and talents to make them bite, and hang on, it may just be one of those giants we all dream of hitting your lure!
Bass Cast Radio News
Exposed: The Dark Side of Competitive Bass Fishing You Never Knew About with Slick Johnson
In this episode of Bass Cast Radio, we had Slick Johnson as our special guest. We talked about cheating in bass fishing tournaments and how technology like GoPro cameras and polygraph tests help keep things fair.
We also discussed the challenges of sharing information during competitions and how new tools like live scope and forward-facing sonar are changing the sport. The conversation touched on the differences between generations of fishermen and how the sport might attract more sponsors in the future.
We wrapped up by focusing on the future of bass fishing, highlighting the importance of social media and the need for a more professional approach to the sport. Tune in for an exciting discussion about the challenges and opportunities in bass fishing!
Before the 1st Cast with Calvin Herndan
Elite Series Unplugged: Gee's Inside Scoop and Football Talk!
Join host Calvin Herndon as he spills the tea with newcomer Gee about the high-stakes world of the elite series! They dive into the drama surrounding his altercation with the Johnson brothers and, for all you Tennessee Volunteers fans out there, they chat some exciting football talk with Gee. Don’t miss this juicy episode!
Four Fall Turner Over Baits You Should be Throwing By Calvin Hurndad
Have you ever got to the time of year when you are out fishing and nothing is working? No, I am not talking about winter or summer. I am talking about fall. There is a time in the fall when it can be extremely tough to catch a bass. This time is called the fall turnover. I want to give you four baits that I would try during this time to get bites.
Let's start by understanding what the fall turnover is exactly. The fall turnover is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the top layer of a body of water cools and sinks, mixing with the water below. It can cause the water to look and smell bad and it can last a few days. What happens to the fish? During the fall turnover, fish may be scattered, with deep fish suspending and shallow fish moving too close to cover. What baits can we use to catch these fish?
My first choice to throw would be some sort of walking topwater bait. I prefer a Megabass Dog-X Diamante. It has a great walking action and it has rattle in the bait to get the fish's attention. A walking style bait I would recommend for the angler that is from Virginia and North. What happens right now is the fish are feeding up for the winter. This fish will trap the bait in the backs of pockets and ambush them. With this bait it is important to match the forage in your lake baitfish colors are the way to go. My second bait will seem a little odd for this time of year but it works.
The next bait is a rattle trap. The rattle trap is known for fishing in the prespawn coming out of the winter. Don't let it fool you this bait catches them in the fall as well. There are several different types of this bait. My go to’s in this category is the Berkley Warpig or the Ark Fishing LP38/58. Size does matter during this time of year. I tend to match the size of the baitfish the bass are eating. I will stick to the ¼ ounce to ½ ounce it mimics a smaller baitfish. The next few baits are for the anglers that are in the south.
For my southern anglers, you are into the fall transition where the bass are headed to their winter homes. The first bait I am picking up is a crankbait. You have to be able to follow the fish and cover water, so a crankbait is a perfect tool to do that. A perfect zone for the crankbait is 6-15 feet. Some suggestions for brands Berkley makes the dime, there are so many different brands to choose one. Choose the crankbait that is designed to run in those depths. The next bait will help the guys that fish the grass.
This time of year in the south the grass is still alive. Unfortunately this time of year the grass begins to die. The bluegill begins to move back shallow many times when the bluegill move shallow and the fishery has grass the bluegill with get up in the grass. When this happens I would recommend you pick up a frog for the mats on top. Secondly, for the punching the grass scenario you need some sort of jig on the deck. The jig color should be close to mimicking a bluegill. Weight for the jig I personally prefer an ¾ ounce Missle Bait flipout jig.
I hope these baits will increase your success during the fall turner. This time of year can be very frustrating but can be rewarding when doing the correct presentation. During those frustrating days keep fishing and never give up!
Bass Fishing Diversity in Alabama
By Carson Maddux
Alabama is known for its college football, musical history, Helen Keller, and bass fishing. Home to several famous fisheries and fishermen alike, the state has become a hub for the angling community. Iconic destinations like Lake Guntersville, the Coosa River, and Lake Eufaula play a major part in bass fishing history. Not only does the state have a plethora of lakes and rivers to choose from, but a community that lives and breathes bass fishing.
When you think of bass fishing, you cannot name a more popular destination than Lake Guntersville. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, it is Alabama’s largest lake and the crown jewel of the Tennessee River. Spanning 75 miles long and covering over 69,000 acres, it offers prime bass fishing with tournament stringers regularly crossing the 25lb mark. While Lake Guntersville may be Alabama’s most known fishery, what really makes the state special is its diversity. It is one of the only states in the country that has opportunities for trophy largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.
If you aren't from Alabama, thinking of spotted bass may be a buzz word for you. The typical spotted bass is a small, dinky fish that rarely helps in a tournament setting. That could not be further from the truth in the Heart of Dixie. Alabama is actually home to a subspecies of spot called the, you guessed it, Alabama Bass. Alabama bass grow larger than a “Kentucky” spot and are native to the Mobile River basin waterways. They pull as hard or harder than a smallmouth and are super aggressive. The Coosa River is amongst the best places to target these fish. Smith Lake (AL) also provides an excellent opportunity for spotted bass fishing. In the recent Bassmaster Elite Series event on Smith, Taku Ito landed a nearly 6lb spotted bass for big fish of the event. To further prove Alabama’s black bass diversity, head about 30 minutes north to Lake Wheeler on the TN River.
When you think of Alabama fishing, smallmouth rarely comes to mind. This is largely due to how great largemouth and spotted bass fishing is, but the Tennessee River lakes such as Wheeler, Pickwick, and Wilson have some of the biggest smallmouths in the country. Similar to their northern cousins, Alabama smallmouth can be found near shoals and areas with large concentrations of moving water. The current AL state record smallmouth sits at 10 lbs 8oz, second to only TN and KY (11lb 15oz Dale Hollow). This is an impressive stat considering all of the giants you hear about being caught in New York, Michigan, Idaho, etc,.
Besides the diversity of species, how you can fish in Alabama helps contribute to its long list of professional anglers who call the state home. To compete across the state, you have to be versatile in all sorts of conditions. Lake Martin and Smith Lake are highland reservoirs with deep, clear water. The TN River has large flats and ledges with tailraces from the dam that always play. The Coosa River has 6 impoundments (Weiss, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay Lake, Mitchell, and Jordan) with their own swing. The Coosa is located in Central Alabama and is heavily impacted by generated current by the Alabama Power-controlled dams. The Chattahoochee River also runs through a large section of Alabama. Lake Eufaula is the most well-known spot and was deemed “The Big Bass Capitol of the World”. And to top it all off, Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw delta is a tidal fishery with its own set of challenges. The Mobile-Tensaw delta is considered “America’s Amazon” because of its ecological and biodiversity.
Alabama’s diverse landscape is the main reason why we see so many professionals come from this region. Being able to apply your local fishing knowledge to a wide variety of situations is very valuable on tour. With this said, I really hope more efforts are put into preserving my home state's awesome waterways. These fisheries receive more fishing pressure than anywhere in the country with very little help from state agencies. I believe that Alabama, under the right set of controls, could be the best big bass factory in the country. Texas Parks and Wildlife has done huge numbers for their big bass population and I would love to see something similar happen in Alabama. It all comes down to just like Hank Williams Jr said, “ I am one of the chosen few to be born in Alabam’”.
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