Fishing for Bass in November?

[Fish4ever]

Hello Friends,

I will be in the Madison, WI area over the Thanksgiving holiday, and I was wanting to know if someone out there could give me some suggestions about fishing for bass in Dane county lakes during this time of year.  I've never fished for bass this late in the year, and I'm not sure if I'm even likely to catch anything.

I know that bass slow down quite a bit during the colder months, and you have to change slow down how you fish, but I don't want to be at the lake looking like a fool as I try to fish for something that isn't at all going to bite.

Anyone have any suggestions?  Should I fish or is it a waste of time? 

[djkimmel]

Fall fishing is my favorite time! Best time of the year to get into some real hawgs and toads (or tanks for our Canadian friends - pick your favorite giant bass term)!!

I've just come off 3 amazingly fun trips here in Michigan the past week and a half - up north for big smallies, on Lake Erie for big largemouth and Lake St. Clair for big smallies. So much fun. Hit several really nice days, but on one day up north when it was windy, cold and rained most of the day, I still managed a 6 pound smallie.

I've heard the lakes in your area can be pretty good. They should be really good for big bass right now if the temps are in the 40's to around 50 F.

Depending on species, water temp and cover/structure, try drop shots, tubes fished slow along the bottom, slow-rolling spinnerbaits and popping blade baits off the bottom. The thing about this time of year is they are putting on the feed bag and can move around a lot depending on warm or cold trend. You may catch them in 3 to 4 feet or out in 20 feet.

It isn't easy, but the rewards are worth it! Check out fishing reports in the Lake Erie, St. Clair and Bass Fishing Reports boards! Good luck!

[markgoetsch]

If you're looking for smallies you have to go to mendota!  look for rocks and you'll find them!  shakey heads, drop shots, and even jerk baits.  There is one big tall bluff (can't remember the name) on the lake that would be a great place to start.