In early fall, fishing conditions often change as bass transition from summer patterns. Hot summers and heavy pressure make them cautious, which is why slower finesse tactics become crucial. Justin Cooper breaks down how to trigger bites using a drop shot and a shaky head—two proven rigs when fish are reluctant to chase.
Featured Product
DROP SHOT SETUP
- PLASTIC – Bass Pro Shops Tri-Color Worm – Morning Dawn: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- HOOK – Owner Cover Shot Hook Size 1: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- WEIGHT – Epic Baits Tungsten Drop Shot Weight (1/4 oz.): Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Series Spinning Rod 6’9″ Medium: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series Spinning Reel 3000 Size: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- BRAIDED LINE – Bass Pro Shops XPS Braid (15 lb.): Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- FLUOROCARBON – Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series Fluorocarbon (10 lb.): Buy at Bass Pro Shops
SHAKY HEAD SETUP
- PLASTIC – Bass Pro Shops Magnum Fin-Eke Worm – Ox Blood: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- JIGHEAD – Owner Magnum Shakey Football Head (3/4 oz.): Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Series Casting Rod 7’1″ Heavy: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel 8.3:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LINE – Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series Fluorocarbon (17 lb.): Buy at Bass Pro Shops
Drop Shot Setup and Strategy
Cooper starts with a drop shot when the bite slows. Fishing offshore, he targets hard bottom areas like old roadbeds where bass can ambush prey. By using electronics such as forward-facing sonar and down scan, he identifies schools and presents a worm naturally. His approach includes subtle rod shakes that allow the bait to move just enough to entice strikes without spooking fish.
When to Pick Up the Shaky Head
After catching several fish on the drop shot, Cooper switches to a larger profile finesse worm on a shaky head. This shift can produce a better quality bite, especially from bass that want a bigger meal. The heavier presentation covers more water and maintains bottom contact, which helps trigger strikes from less active fish.
Fall Fishing Strategy
Bass in the fall often slide between shallow feeding areas and deeper resting zones throughout the day. Cooper stresses the importance of revisiting locations at different times since schools may only feed for short windows. By rotating between a drop shot and a shaky head, anglers can adapt to changing conditions and consistently catch fish when the bite is tough.
Boat Setup
- TROLLING MOTOR – Garmin Force Trolling Motor: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- GRAPHS – Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 2 126sv Fish Finder/Chartplotter with Navionics+: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- FISH FINDER – Garmin GPSMAP Touch-Screen Fish Finder/Chartplotter Combo, 12-inch: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- FORWARD-FACING SONAR (FFS) – Garmin LVS34 LiveScope Plus Live Scanning Sonar Transducer: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR: Power Pole 8 ft. Blades: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- OUTBOARD – Mercury Pro XS 250hp: Check out at Mercury
- BOAT – Ranger Z520R: Check out at Ranger
