Fall Transition Pushes Bass Toward Creeks and Canals

What anglers are reporting The last solid report was early October, when water temperatures were still in the 80s and bass were split between shallow cypress trees and offshore brush. With no fresh updates, we have to look at the calendar and the cooling trend to pattern the fish.

This week's outlook Expect water temperatures to have fallen into the upper 60s or low 70s. This is prime fall transition time on Santee Cooper. Shad and blueback herring should be pushing toward creek mouths and into the Diversion and Rediversion canals. Look for bass to be feeding heavily on baitfish around hydrilla edges in Moultrie and shallow cypress and pads in Marion.

Where to start Start your mornings throwing topwater over grass flats and around the edges of lily pads. As the sun gets up, transition to pitching jigs or soft plastics to cypress trees and stumps in Marion, or target hydrilla edges and brush piles in 6 to 12 feet on Moultrie. If the wind picks up, the canals offer protected water and current breaks where bass will ambush bait.

Bait box

• Buzzbaits (white or black)
• Hollow body frogs
• Spinnerbaits (double willow, shad patterns)
• Swim jigs (white/chartreuse)
• Texas-rigged creature baits (green pumpkin or black/blue)

This weekend A front pushes through on Thursday with rain, followed by a sharp temperature drop and strong 19 mph southwest winds on Friday. Saturday and Sunday will be cooler and post-front. The bite will likely tighten up, so slow down and flip heavy cover or drag a Carolina rig around deeper brush and canal edges. Be extremely careful navigating Marion's stump fields in the wind.