MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026 · RICHLAND-CHAMBERS RESERVOIR
Fall shad transition with firing largemouth on points and channel edges in comfortable water.
WATER 73°FAIR 64°FWIND 6 MPH ESEASON FALLPOOL -2.7 FT
Water's holding steady in the low 70s right now, that sweet zone where bass are eating all day. We're in the thick of fall shad migration, and the largemouth are staged on secondary points and channel swings keyed to baitfish movement. Pressure dropped overnight heading into today, which fires up the bite before any weather system rolls through. The morning breaks clear and sunny with a light southeast breeze, then clouds roll in by midday and afternoon, which keeps the water comfortable and bass shallow longer than a bluebird day would. This is a prime window to cover water on main structure and intercept fish chasing shad in the creeks.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 7:36 AM to 9:00 AM
Main lake secondary points and channel swings in 8-15 feet with hard bottom and rock structure.
Squarebill crankbait (DT-10 style), natural shad or chartreuse patterns, fished fast and tight to the breakline. Burn it back and let the edges of the channel swing do the work.
First light and the solunar major around 8:05 AM gives you a concentrated window when bass position shallow on the migration corridors. Pressure is dropping, so they're chewing aggressively. The clear sky early keeps them shallow before clouds build in.
MORNING · 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Inside creek arms on secondary points and dock structure in 6-12 feet, especially where shad ball up.
ChatterBait (1/2 oz, green pumpkin or white/chartreuse combo), fished moderate speed with a paddle tail trailer. Work it vertically on the point then drag it down the drop.
As the sun climbs and clouds increase, bass push back from the shallowest edges but stay aggressive on secondary structure. The vibration of the ChatterBait matches the shad schooling activity, and you can cover water fast. The solunar major at 1:27 PM is still on the horizon, so confidence is high.
MIDDAY · 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Channel swing ledges and deeper point shoulders in 15-22 feet, where bass hold when sun climbs.
Keitech Swing Impact FAT (4 inch) on a 3/8 oz head fished on a controlled drag or slow lift-and-drop pattern. Work it near standing timber or hard-bottom transitions.
Midday sun drives bass off the shallows even in fall, but the overcast forecast keeps them from committing deep. Target the depth zone between their daytime and shallow zones. The fat swimbait profile mimics the larger shad they're feeding on this time of year.
LATE AFTERNOON · 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Back into secondary creek coves and inside-the-bend channel pockets in 8-14 feet where shad are staging.
Square bill crankbait (Norman DD22, natural shad), fished fast with erratic deflection off rocks and timber. Keep it in the zone.
The afternoon clouds and lighter southeast wind protect the shallows, and bass cycle back to feed before the evening bite. Shad are filtering back into the creeks after feeding in open water. A square bill's reaction strike appeal works whether bass are actively chasing or staged and watching.
EVENING · 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Shallow main lake points and weed edge transitions in 3-8 feet if present, or dock structure and shoreline rock.
White or green pumpkin ChatterBait (1/2 oz) or a 5-inch swimbait on a 1/4 oz head fished shallow and slow. Cover water methodically but don't rush.
Last-light window before sunset at 6:40 PM, and the solunar minor around 6:47 PM stacks in your favor. Bass pull shallow to hunt shad in low light, and the overcast sky extends the window. This is often the best shallow bite of the day in fall.
DUSK · 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM
Shallow main lake coves, inside creek arms, and around dock pilings in water less than 6 feet.
Topwater (if shad are schooling and you see disturbance) or a dark silhouette swimbait (5-6 inch, black or junebug) fished slow near cover.
Transition into low-light feeding. If you spot shad schooling or bird activity, pop a topwater to trigger reaction feeds. Otherwise, a dark swimbait in low water is hardest for bass to distinguish from real forage. Full moon tonight extends low-light feeding.
NIGHT · 7:15 PM onward
Docks with underwater lights (if present), brush piles adjacent to shallow flats, and inside-creek timber in 6-12 feet.
Dark swimbait (5-6 inch, black or junebug) fished slowly on bottom or a small drop shot (2-3 inch creature bait, 1/16 oz) near hard cover.
Full moon means bass feed throughout the night, not confined to first-light hours. Docks with lights concentrate baitfish and bass. Brush piles adjacent to shallow staging areas hold bass working shad at night. Drop shot in deep brush works if you can mark timber.
Where to fish
- Secondary points in creek arms — 8-15 feet on the drop · Hard bottom (rock, clay), often with timber and root systems, channel swing within 100 yards
Shad migration funnels through these points as they move in and out of shallow coves. Bass stage here to intercept baitfish and have escape routes to deep water. - Channel swing ledges near creek intersections — 15-22 feet on the break, drop-off into 25+ feet · Hard-bottom transitions, standing timber, inside bends concentrate current
This time of year, bass hold at this depth to stay comfortable and hunt shad drifting on the migration. Channel swings are highways for all forage, making them reliable structure. - Shallow dock structure and main lake coves — 3-12 feet, especially where water is hard (clay) or shaded · Dock pilings, boat slips, riprap, shoreline rocks, submerged brush adjacent to flats
Bass hunt shad around structure in low light. Docks are natural ambush points, and pilings provide vertical cover that attracts bass throughout the day and especially at dawn and dusk. - Inside-the-bend brush and timber — 6-14 feet · Submerged timber, deadfall, brush piles, especially where baitfish accumulate
Bass use dense cover to stage and ambush schooling shad. Fall shad movement keeps these spots active, and full moon means nighttime feeding here is productive.
What to throw
- Squarebill Crankbait — 2 to 2.5 in · natural shad or chartreuse · 1/2 oz (early morning and late afternoon on points and shallows)
cast, burn retrieve, deflect off structure, let it dig the channel edge - ChatterBait — n/a · green pumpkin or white/chartreuse combo · 1/2 oz (morning through early afternoon on secondary structure)
fished at moderate speed with paddle tail trailer, worked vertically on drops or dragged along structure - Keitech Swing Impact FAT — 4 in · shad profile (pearl or natural) · 3/8 oz (midday on deep channel swings and offshore structure)
slow lift-and-drop on bottom, controlled drag on ledges, or dead-stick near timber - Topwater (if schooling present) — 2 to 3 in · white, natural shad, or black · n/a (dusk into early night if shad are balling or birds are working)
sharp pops and pauses, walk if schooling is active, otherwise pop and hold - Dark Swimbait — 5 to 6 in · black or junebug · 1/4 oz (shallow) or 3/8 oz (deeper) (evening into night, especially shallow docks and brush)
slow retrieve near cover, fished on bottom in low light, or on a controlled drag through timber
How to work it
- Covering shallow secondary structure fast — Early morning, late afternoon, and evening when bass are in the zone · Secondary points, creek arms, dock structure in 6-15 feet
Use a squarebill or ChatterBait and work from the dock line down to the first drop or channel edge. Cast parallel to the break and let the bait deflect off rocks, roots, and timber. Keep moving and hit multiple targets every 20-30 yards. - Vertical drop-shot on deep ledges — Midday and early afternoon when bass retreat from shallows · Main lake channel swings, deep point shoulders, offshore humps
Mark a channel swing or hump with your graph. Hold position uptide and drop a 2-3 inch creature bait or minnow on a 1/16 oz jig head to 15-22 feet. Work it with short rod lifts and let it fall on semi-slack. Bass often take it on the drop. - Solunar positioning — All day, but especially important in midday and evening as a confidence boost · Wherever you fish, prioritize proximity to deep water access
Note the solunar major at 1:27 PM and minor at 6:47 PM. Start your best shallow presentations 30 minutes before and fish through the window. These windows often produce concentrated feeding.
Pro tips
- Graph your secondary points and channel swings before you fish them to pinpoint the hard-bottom transition and any timber. Bass position predictably on these structure types in fall, and knowing the exact depth zone cuts your search time in half.
- Full moon tonight means don't leave at dark. Bass feed all night, especially around docks with lights and brush piles. Your 6:47 PM solunar minor is a minor, but it often sets up a solid nighttime bite as the full moon takes over.
- Watch for shad balling and bird activity throughout the day. Even without visible schooling, work the areas where schooling typically happens (open-water points, channel swings near deep water). Bass are staged there waiting. If you see birds or surface disturbance, switch to a topwater or fast-moving bait and cover that zone aggressively.
If conditions change
If a strong front moves through and the pressure spikes after midday, shorten your casts, downsize to a 4-inch finesse worm or drop shot, and fish tight to the densest cover you can find. Bass will bury after a front passes. If wind picks up and the morning doesn't clear as forecast, the shallow bite extends later into the morning, so fish secondary points and docks deeper into mid-morning. If the lake muddies from run-off, shift to darker-colored baits (black, junebug) and blade baits (ChatterBait, spinnerbait) with wider vibration to help bass locate lures by feel rather than sight.
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