Fall transition pushes Guntersville bass into creeks as cold front approaches

What anglers are reporting The last solid reports from the water were back in August, so we are flying on seasonal patterns and weather this week. With the recent mild weather and air temperatures in the 70s, the fall transition is well underway. The water is cooling, and the grass is starting to thin out, which dictates where the fish are setting up.

This week's outlook Expect water temperatures to be hovering in the low 60s and dropping into the upper 50s by the weekend. Shad are pushing back into the creeks, and the bass are right behind them. Look for active fish to be cruising the remaining green grass edges, causeway riprap, and creek channel swings. A significant cold front is forecast to hit on Friday, bringing rain mid-week and dropping daytime highs into the 50s. This will trigger a strong pre-front feeding window on Wednesday and Thursday.

Where to start Focus your search on the mouths and middle sections of major creeks like Browns Creek or Goose Pond. Target the outside edges of the healthiest milfoil and hydrilla you can find. As the grass dies off, the remaining green patches become magnets for bait and bass. Bridges and causeways that funnel current are also high-percentage spots right now to intercept moving fish.

Bait box

• 3/8-ounce white spinnerbait (double willow blades for clear water)
• Squarebill crankbait (shad patterns for riprap and wood)
• 1/2-ounce lipless crankbait (red or chrome to rip through grass)
• 3/4-ounce white swim jig (steady retrieve over submerged vegetation)
• Buzzbait (early morning or overcast days over grass flats)

This weekend The front pushes through on Friday with 14 mph northwest winds, dropping Saturday out to a high of 52 degrees. Post-front bluebird conditions will make the bite tough on Saturday morning. The fish will pull tight to cover or drop back to the nearest creek channel break. Slow down, downsize your profile, and drag a jig or a Texas-rigged worm slowly through the remaining green grass until the sun warms the water on Sunday afternoon.