Fall shad push continues ahead of a late-week cold front

What anglers are reporting The last solid reports out of Rayburn were from late winter, so we are flying on seasonal patterns and current conditions this week. With recent daytime highs in the 80s and nights in the 60s, surface temperatures should be sitting in the upper 60s to low 70s.

This week's outlook We are in the thick of the fall transition. Bass are scattered in the creeks chasing threadfin and gizzard shad. The cooling trend this week will keep fish active and pushing further back into the drains. Look for the bite to center around grass points and the edges of hydrilla flats where bait is getting corralled.

Where to start Focus your search on the creek channels and secondary points leading into the major bays. Use your electronics to find the clean outside edge of the hydrilla. If you are fishing the upper third above the Highway 147 bridge, target standing timber and laydowns near channel swings. Keep moving until you find active bait.

Bait box

• Squarebill crankbaits (shad patterns)
• Spinnerbaits (white with willow blades for grass edges)
• Lipless crankbaits (chrome or shad colors)
• Texas-rigged soft plastics (craw colors for pitching to isolated cover)

This weekend A significant cold front pushes through Thursday into Friday, bringing rain, northwest winds, and dropping daytime highs into the mid 50s by Saturday. The pre-front window on Wednesday and Thursday morning should offer aggressive feeding. By Saturday, expect bluebird skies and a post-front funk. Slow down, get tight to cover, and drag a jig or Texas rig through the grass to pick up lethargic fish.