Best Times Waking a blade can be productive anytime the water temperatures are moderate, say 60-75 degrees. It works well during the spring, but tends to shine the brightest during the fall when bass are feeding heavily on shad and water clarity is good. Anglers should keep close check on those surface temp gauges, though. If nasty weather sets in and drives surface temps down into the 50s, you may need to alter the gameplan somewhat. Slow Rolling With Tommy Martin A hard blast of Arctic or Canadian air can put a damper on any fall fishing plan, particularly if there is a tremendous amount rain dumped on the front's leading edge.
Heavy downpours can turn a lake muddy in a hurry.
Factor in the chilly temperatures and the puzzle becomes even tougher to solve. According to Nitro pro staffer Tommy Martin, water that's cold and muddy demands an entirely different approach than warm, clear water. The same tactics that work under one set of conditions won't produce in the other. They want a slower-moving bait in cold water, which means you'll have to drop the bait down and keep it moving through the depth of water at which the fish are holding. Technique Martin makes long casts when he's performing the slow-roll technique.