Second summer offers extended opportunities for bass

In this age of appropriately heightened cultural consideration, we have to be careful about using terms we’ve used for decades, even when describing a purely positive notion.

Case in point, the phenomenon long known as “Indian Summer.”

Mostly a southern fisheries deal, this occurrence more tastefully termed “Second Summer” (per the American Meteorological Society) pauses natural seasonal advancement and keeps bass in the chewin’ mood. The fall feed is standard stuff, but when warmer, drier conditions extend into the late fourth quarter, this active period continues.

For much of the south and southeast, La Niña conditions are keeping that deal in play a little longer. Bass are the consummate opportunists so as long as the buffet’s open, they’ll keep filling their plates.

What It Does

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, America’s oldest continuously published periodical and definitive guide for all things seasonal, provides a few key descriptors for a Second Summer.

The driving force is a moving, cool, shallow polar air mass that converts into a deep, warm high-pressure system and causes a hazy or smoky atmosphere. You’ll have minimal wind, a high barometer and clear, chilly nights.

Also, it’s a very specific pattern – a warm spell following a cold front or a hard frost, but preceding the first year-end snowfall.

The back-and-forth in fall temperatures can result in periods of lethargy, but the larger seasonal picture is not lost on fish that understand the critical importance of winter preparation.

A Little Background

Also known as Old Wives’ Summer or St. Martin’s Summer, the concept of Indian summer traces its roots to the Algonquian people who believed a warm wind sent from the court of their southwestern god Cautantowwit (“great spirit”). Another interpretation points to a brief period of warm fall weather that allowed Native Americans additional harvest time to gather food before winter’s onset.

A clear parallel to extended fall bass feeding.

As of early December, colder weather was making its way into parts of the south. Nevertheless, for those who aren’t ready for the small and slow stuff, there’s still time on the clock.

“The water’s just getting right for them to get on bait good,” said East Texas guide and pro bass angler Lee Livesay. “It’s fishing like the first of November.”

What’s Happening?

Barometric pressure, air temperature, water temperature, sure, they all matter in day-to-day fish behavior, but photoperiod (day length) sends the clearest, most consistent signal. Once we pass the autumnal equinox (day and night equal in length), all creatures of fin and fur become keenly aware that declining sunlight means the harshest of seasonal transitions – even if meteorological forces lag.

Fish know they have to feed up for winter’s approaching leanness and that seasonal switch probably flipped sometime back in late September. Now, southern bass find themselves with an extension of the extension.

Nature: “Hey bass, you want a little more time to gorge before it gets really cold and food becomes scarce?”

Bass: “Is that a real question?”

How to Capitalize

With warmth and relative stability extending into the year’s final month, the fish will keep their foot (fin) on the gas pedal until winter’s official arrival. To keep yourself in the game, stay near the food sources, as this is the whole point of this tale.

Most of the shad have long since migrated to the backs of creeks and pockets and other fall destinations, so even with the weather fluctuation, neither this forage, nor the bass that follow them will burn energy reversing course.

Expect some level of inconsistency in terms of baitfish and predator activity during an extended Second Summer’s weirdness, but the basic food-first principle does not change. Patience, persistence, attention to clues – birds at or near the surface, a single baitfish flip, and, of course, live sonar – that’s the formula for success.

Stay on the move with your search baits and make sure you’re covering the water column. Walking baits, plopper style baits, and buzzbaits do a good job of targeting schooling fish and appealing to the ones patrolling near the surface.

Twitching a fluke style bait’s also good bet when the action’s topside, but when you need to reach a little deeper, strolling a minnow lets you hit the ones that won’t let you to close. And if you head out this time of year without a selection of jerkbaits, you’re really not taking it seriously.

As with a standard fall approach, mix in some shallow work with crankbaits, bladed jigs and spinnerbaits. Complement this by hitting those shallow sweet spots with downsized flipping/pitching baits, shaky heads and maybe a swimbait on a wobble head.

Remember, even though seasonal disruptions may temporarily feel like driving with the parking brake engaged, the fish know how to handle the changes.

They got this. So do you.

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