How to catch Spotted bass

Spotted bass feed in 45–86°F water and bite best at 58–76°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 18 waters; in October they are at their peak in Georgia fresh water, Alabama fresh water, Mississippi fresh water and 15 more.

20 pts · trophy at 18"Feeds 45–86°FBest 58–76°FIn season nowReservoirRiverLakeDock / pilingsBridgeFish attractor / brush pile

About

The spot: the bass of the deep, clear Southern reservoirs and the Ohio basin rivers — rows of dark spots below the lateral line, a tooth patch on the tongue, and a habit of schooling deeper than its cousins. California's Bullards Bar grows the world's biggest.

How to fish it

Deeper than a largemouth: the bluff ends, the rocky points and the standing timber in 20 to 40 feet. Light line, finesse baits, and patience in winter.

What it eats

drop-shot wormssmall swimbaitsshaky headsspoons in winter

Live bait for it

CrayfishHooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye.

Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.

NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.