SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026 · CEDAR CREEK LAKE
Fall transition at 77 degrees, bass moving deep to channel ledges and mid-lake humps as shad follow the cooling water.
WATER 77°FAIR 65°FWIND 5 MPH SESEASON FALLPOOL -5.4 FT
We're in the sweet spot of early fall at Cedar Creek. Water sits at a comfortable 77 degrees but the pressure is steady and the wind is light, so the bite is solid but not wide open. Bass are starting their slow migration from summer deep water toward their fall staging areas on main-lake structure. They're keying on shad concentrations on the humps and channel ledges in the 12 to 18 foot range. This time of year the early morning and evening bites can be very good as the sun angle is lower and bass feel more comfortable pushing shallow to feed. The water clarity is slightly stained, which is perfect for reaction baits and natural colors alike. Pressure is steady so there's no pre-front spike coming, but as the season rolls on and water cools into the low 60s over the next month, bass will group tighter and tighter on the deep structure to prepare for winter.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 7:24 AM to 9:00 AM
Mid-lake humps and shallow ledges in 12 to 16 feet of water near the dam area, Crappie Island, Key Ranch, or spillway humps.
Slab (1/2 oz to 3/4 oz) in white or chrome, worked with a fast sawtooth retrieve, snapping upward sharply then letting it flutter down on slack line. Work it vertically and also cast it out and crank steadily back.
Bass are still in their aggressive early-light window. The sawtooth retrieve triggers reaction bites because it mimics wounded baitfish. Slabs work because they flash and vibrate in the stained water, and at this depth the contrast cuts through. Early morning is when bass feed before they pull deeper as the sun climbs.
MORNING · 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Channel ledges and drop-offs leading from shallow creeks down to 18 to 22 feet, and secondary points on the main lake with hard bottom access to deep water.
Spinnerbait (3/8 oz to 1/2 oz) with a chartreuse or white blade, cast to structure and retrieved with a steady roll, speeding up as it approaches cover. Also work a 1/2 oz lipless crankbait (chrome or shad pattern) with a medium burn, rattling it across flats and ledges.
As light increases, bass move to the transition zones between shallow feeding areas and deeper holding cover. Spinnerbaits trigger strikes because they displace water and create vibration bass feel from distance. The blade flash works in slightly stained water without being too subtle. Bass are starting to tuck into deeper structure as the sun angle strengthens.
MIDDAY · 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Main-lake humps and mid-lake points in 16 to 22 feet of water. Target the sharper drops and edges where the bottom transitions from shallow flat to steep drop.
Slab (5/8 oz to 3/4 oz) in white or pearl, jigged vertically with a sharp 12 to 18 inch snap followed by a controlled drop. Work it slowly compared to early morning, pausing on the drop. Also drift and cast a small lipless crankbait (1/2 oz, shad or chrome) with a slower, more deliberate retrieve.
Midday sun pushes bass deeper to feel safer and more comfortable. The humps concentrate structure and baitfish, so bass don't have to move far to feed. Slabs still work because you're fishing vertically in deeper water where the strike zone shrinks. Bass are less aggressive but still willing to strike if the bait comes straight to them. The sawtooth is slower now, letting the bait sink and sit longer.
LATE AFTERNOON · 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Channel swings and inside bends of creek channels in 14 to 20 feet of water. Focus on hard-bottom staging areas where creeks meet the main lake.
Spinnerbait (3/8 oz, white or chartreuse blade) cast and retrieved at a steady pace, working the edge where the channel wall meets the bottom. Vary your retrieve speed between slow rolls and faster burns to trigger reaction bites.
As the afternoon light angle changes, bass begin to ease back into slightly shallower structure to set up for the evening bite. Channel swings are funnel zones where bass naturally stage because they can access deep water quickly but also slide up into creeks to feed. Spinnerbaits maintain visibility and create the right vibration for bass that are becoming more active again.
EVENING · 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Shallow ledges, near-shore flats, and inside creek arms in 8 to 14 feet of water, especially near the dam area and spillway where creek channels dump into shallower water.
Slab (1/2 oz, white or shad color) worked with the sawtooth retrieve, snapping it hard and letting it drop fast. Also throw a 1/2 oz lipless crankbait (shad or chrome) with a steady medium retrieve, burning it just fast enough to feel the rattle.
Evening cooling triggers an aggressive bite window. Bass move shallower to feed as light dims and water feels safer. This is one of the best periods of the day because bass feed confidently before dark. Slabs and lipless cranks work because they cover water fast and mimic the shad that are concentrating in these zones at dusk. The aggressive retrieve pattern matches the bass's heightened feeding mood.
DUSK · 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM (just after sunset)
Same shallow ledges and near-shore structure in 6 to 12 feet, also any riprap banks or rocky shorelines where shad stack up.
Lipless crankbait (1/2 oz, shad or chrome) burned across the flats and ledges with a steady fast retrieve. Also throw a small topwater plug or a popper in bone or white, worked slowly with deliberate twitches on the surface.
The last 45 minutes of light is a premium window. Bass are feeding hard as darkness approaches and visibility drops. Shallow structure concentrates both bass and baitfish. Lipless cranks and topwater triggers the predatory reflex because bass strike before thinking. If the sky is still partly clear, bass may still be aggressive in shallower water. If clouds roll in early, extend this bite longer and deeper.
NIGHT · 7:15 PM to sunrise (7:24 AM next day)
Main-lake humps in 16 to 24 feet of water, or deeper channel ledges where structure holds stable oxygen and forage.
Slab (5/8 oz to 1 oz) in dark colors (black, junebug) jigged vertically on a slow sawtooth retrieve, or a small 3 to 4 inch soft plastic fluke on a 1/2 oz jighead, deadsticked on the bottom near hard structure. Work it minimally, letting it sit long between movements.
After dark, most bass settle into stable deep structure where they feel secure. Feeding slows dramatically because bass rely on lateral line feel in the darkness. Vertical jigging keeps the bait in the strike zone longer. Small dark plastics and slow presentations match the reduced metabolism and the bass's inability to see. This is a low-percentage period for most anglers, but bass that are hungry will still crush a slab worked slowly right on a ledge or hump. Save this for dedicated night fishing trips, not the standard daytime schedule.
Where to fish
- Mid-Lake Humps (dam area, Crappie Island, Key Ranch, spillway) — 12 to 22 feet · Sand and hard bottom with natural current breaks and deeper-water access.
These humps concentrate structure and baitfish year-round and are holding largemouth right now as they stage for fall. Bass use the humps as rest stops between deep and shallow water. The hard bottom provides ideal ambush points. - Channel Ledges and Swings — 14 to 20 feet (ledge edge), 8 to 14 feet (inside channel) · Drop-offs where creek channels meet the main lake, inside bends with hard bottom, transitions from shallow to deep.
Channel swings funnel bass migration routes. Inside bends create current breaks that concentrate both bass and baitfish. Bass stage here because they can access both shallow feeding water and deep cover quickly. Fall timing means bass are using these zones more heavily as temperatures cool. - Shallow Ledges and Near-Shore Flats — 8 to 14 feet · Sand and gravel near creek mouths, hard-bottom banks, riprap shorelines.
Early morning, evening, and dusk, bass move shallow to feed when light is low. These zones connect to deeper water, so bass feel secure sliding up to hunt then retreating deep. Shad congregate in these flats, especially as water cools into fall. - Secondary Points — 12 to 18 feet · Points that jut from the main lake into creek arms, hard bottom, proximity to main-lake deep water.
Secondary points are natural staging areas where bass position before moving deeper or shallower. They offer 360-degree visibility and quick access to escape cover. In fall, bass use these points as highways between summer deep structure and eventual winter zones.
What to throw
- Slab (Jigging Spoon) — n/a · White, pearl, or chrome · 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz (morning/evening), 5/8 oz to 1 oz (midday/deep) (Early morning to evening, especially on structure edges and humps.)
Sawtooth retrieve: snap upward sharply 12 to 18 inches, drop on slack line, repeat. Also cast and crank steadily back, or jig vertically near structure. - Spinnerbait — n/a · White or chartreuse blade, white or natural skirt · 3/8 oz to 1/2 oz (Morning, late afternoon, and evening on channel transitions and mid-lake points.)
Cast and retrieve at steady pace, rolling the blade through structure. Speed up near cover to trigger strikes. Also allow it to flutter down in deeper water on a slower drop. - Lipless Crankbait — 2.5 in to 3 in · Shad, chrome, or natural · 1/2 oz (Morning, evening, and dusk when bass are active and feeding.)
Medium to fast retrieve, steady burn across flats, ledges, and drop-offs. Vary speed to trigger reaction strikes. Work it just fast enough to feel the rattle. - Soft Plastic Fluke — 3 to 4 in · Green pumpkin, natural shad, or white · 1/2 oz jighead (Midday and night, especially deep structure and channel ledges.)
Cast near structure and allow it to sink on slack line, then work it with subtle twitches. Also drag it slowly along the bottom near ledges. In midday, deadstick it on a hump edge and let it sit long between movements.
How to work it
- Sawtooth Retrieve — Early morning to evening, especially when bass are feeding actively or when you need to trigger reaction bites in deeper water. · Mid-lake humps, channel ledges, and deep structure in 12 to 24 feet of water.
Snap the slab upward sharply 12 to 18 inches with a sharp rod twitch, then drop it back on slack line with a controlled fall. Repeat the snap and drop in a rhythm, keeping light contact with the line throughout. - Steady Retrieve — Morning, evening, and dusk when bass are moving between deep and shallow structure and feeding actively. · Channel transitions, shallow ledges, points, and flats in 8 to 18 feet.
Cast the spinnerbait or lipless crankbait and crank it back at a constant pace, rolling the blade through the water column without stopping. Vary speed between slow rolls and faster burns to trigger different strikes. - Vertical Jigging — Midday and afternoon when bass are settled on specific structure and less willing to chase. Also effective at night when bass hold tight to cover. · Main-lake humps, channel bends, and deep structure in 16 to 24 feet.
Hold the boat over structure (hump, ledge, or point) and drop the slab or jigging spoon straight down. Work it up and down with a snapping motion, keeping the line tight enough to feel bites. Pause periodically and let it flutter down on slack line.
Pro tips
- If you mark baitfish on your graph, focus on structure immediately adjacent to those schools. Largemouth will position just outside and below the bait school, waiting to ambush. A point or ledge edge with shad above it is money.
- Watch the wind and any bird activity. A light south or southeast breeze pushes baitfish and bass toward wind-blown banks. If you see birds working or gulls diving, that's a sign of schooling activity and a great time to throw reaction baits like spinnerbaits and lipless cranks at speed.
- As we move into late October and early November, water temps will drop fast. When it hits the low 60s, bass will start stacking tighter on the deepest humps and ledges. Start keeping notes on which specific humps and points hold the best fish today so you can return and tighten your circle as fall deepens.
If conditions change
If a cold front moves in and the pressure rises sharply, expect a bite shutdown the next morning. Shift to smaller soft plastics (3 to 4 inch flukes) on light jigheads, slow your retrieves to a crawl, and focus on the thickest cover and tightest structure. If the wind shifts hard from the north or northeast, expect cooler water and a tougher bite for a few hours, but wind-blown banks will eventually concentrate baitfish and trigger a good afternoon window. If the water clears more than expected, downsize everything, use natural colors, and lengthen your leader. If heavy rain or runoff muddy the water, shift to chartreuse and dark colors (black, junebug), increase blade size (Colorado over Indiana), and slow your retrieve to give bass time to locate the vibration.
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