Blog

Introduction

September is one of the best months for bass anglers. As summer heat fades and water cools, bass push shallow to feed on shad, bluegill, and other baitfish. With fish feeding heavily and angler pressure dropping, the stage is set for explosive topwater bites.

Few lures take advantage of this window like the buzzbait. On a recent Tackle Shop Live, Mike, George, and Nick shared why buzzbaits shine in September and how to tune, fish, and store them. This guide combines their insights with proven strategies so you can fish buzzbaits with confidence.

Why Buzzbaits Shine in September

• Seasonal Shift: Bass move shallow to ambush baitfish.
• Aggressive Feeding:

When spring or summer rains muddy your favourite lake, it’s not time to pack up—it’s time to adapt. While many anglers shy away from stained water, those who know how to work the conditions can find some of the most aggressive bass of the season.

Here’s how to approach dirty water with confidence, featuring proven techniques, productive zones, and trusted tackle from the Susquehanna Fishing Tackle team.

Know the Conditions: Fresh Mud vs. Fishable Stain

All muddy water isn’t equal. Success comes from recognizing when it’s worth fishing.

• New Mud: This occurs right after a storm. Visibility is near zero, debris is floating, and fish are usually in shock. This isn’t the time to be aggressive—consider waiting.
• Settled Dirty Water (2–3 days later): The debris begins to clear, and while water remains stained, bass begin to adapt and feed again. This is when fishing becomes p

Bass fishing continues to evolve through a combination of advanced techniques, refined tackle options, and lessons learned from time spent on the water. With decades of collective experience on the water, the team at Susquehanna Fishing Tackle (SFT) is uniquely positioned to share lessons that can elevate your bass fishing game. Drawing from real-world experience, they recently shared several important takeaways relevant to anglers of all skill levels. From managing equipment failures to maximizing the effectiveness of soft plastics, their insights reflect a balance of preparation, adaptability, and technique."

Tackle Preparedness: Always Carry Spare Line

One of the most practical lessons shared was the importance of carrying backup fishing line during fishing trips. Equipment failures, such as reel backlashes, can occur even among

Most late fall days start with frosty boat covers and slippery boat ramps. And while they often end with sunny skies and warm temperatures, anglers and bass sense winter’s impending arrival. That typically sends both toward deeper water, where bass hide out until warm spring days arrive. But don’t bail on shallow water so quickly. You can find a strong bite there until late into the year on many waters.

Bass — largemouth and smallmouth — will stay in shallow water until its temperature falls into the mid-40s as long as cover and baitfish hold out. While a few may remain after that point, that temperature seems to be the tipping point, when there isn’t enough to warrant your efforts. Until then, even daily weather changes won’t move them, other than pushing them closer and into available cover when it’s sunny and loosening them up when its overcast or wind ripples the surface.

Back in the Spring Jackall released their highly anticipated Riser Bait 007R. It was a huge hit and flew off the shelves quickly. Corbin Gotwalt, one of our Pro Staff, wrote a review of his experience with the Riser Bait 007, but we didn't post it because we had sold out so quickly. All summer long the Riser Bait 007R proved to be one of the best topwater lures of 2018. And we finally just got more back in stock! Now that they are available again, here is Corbin's blog in its entirety:

MAY 2018

Is it a spy bait? Is it a spook? What is it?!?! 

It is the Jackall

It is no secret that the water in the Susquehanna River rises and when that happens, fish pull into creeks and away from their usual hangout spots. This raises the troubling question: How are you supposed to catch the fish now if they have pulled back so much? Continue reading to learn two tactics that will help you find those sneaky fish.

Adjust Your Bait

Sometimes you have to match the hatch of the bait by downsizing your jerk bait to a Lucky Craft Pointer 78. If downsizing isn’t the answer, you might have to cast out a little color like the Strike King KVD Slash Bait Jerkbait in Strobe Shad to get the fish to start biting.

I ended up catching a ton of fish in the creeks by using the downsizing technique and duplicating the pattern. I cannot stress the importance of fishing the Z-Man

Last weekend we had rising water and a full moon. Water temperatures ranged from 41 to 46 degrees over the weekend. During this time, we caught a bunch of fish, but had some slow periods throughout the day. While out on the water, we noticed that there were two patterns you want to be aware of when you are fishing in this kind of weather.

1st Pattern - Finding the Current Breaks

We fished anywhere there was slower water near current breaks. Fish were moving to the banks and particularly loaded on the west banks due to higher water, and cleaner water feeding in from creek mouths. Recognize those current breaks and you will find the fish.

Best Bait to Use in Slow Water

We caught fish on Z-man TRD, TRD

It’s hard to imagine fishing in these conditions. Your hands are numb, nose is running, toes are cold and you are feeling downright miserable, then you set the hook on a big ole bass and it all goes away in an instant. Fishing during the winter is not for everyone but if you know when, where, and what to do it can be a very successful time. Here are a few winter time fishing tips that will get you feeling the rush of a big catch.

The Best Time for Fishing in the Winter

The when is the key to winter time fishing. When you go will put the odds in you favor. Try to look for a warming trend in the forecast. It does not have to be a huge swing in temperature, but looking for a warming few couple of days will do the trick. If you notice that the sun has been beating down on the water for two days, make sure to get out then

Whether you fish lakes or rivers, these late fall and winter techniques and baits will work for you. These fishing techniques work best when water temps are between 33 and 45 degrees. When it gets cold, fish move to their wintering spots where it is easy to feed. Usually the most common winter hideouts are channel bends and points on main lakes. If you are fishing in the river, look out for deep water holes. Now, let’s talk about a few of the best techniques for these kind of conditions.

Umbrella Rigging

We will put this out there, be ready to catch some fish because this rig is deadly. Match your jig heads for the depth of water you are fishing. In the Susquehanna River we use mostly 5- 1/8 oz. heads. In local lakes, we do use up to 3/8 oz. For the river we like the War Eagle Shaky head. It has a good hook and fits almost any bait. For lakes, I like the Revenge

Every angler needs a good selection of tools in his or her tackle box. Make sure that you are ready for whatever the water will bring you by having the right tools on hand.

1. Needle Nose Pliers

A good pair of needle nose pliers will help you with any task you might be faced with on the water. Whether you are taking out trebble hooks from a hard bait or helping your fishing buddy get out a deep hooked fish.  If you ever had a trebble stuck in your hand from a bass shaking wildly, you will know the importance of what it means to have a good pair of needle nose pliers.  We recommend the Shimano Brutus Line of pliers and the Rapala Fisherman’s Pliers. These pliers will perform under all the conditions you could face while out on the water.

2. Weighing