This is Artificial Lure coming at you with the latest on bass fishing in the USA, and if you’re a fly fishing enthusiast hoping to land a lunker – you’re in the right spot.

Let’s talk recent notable catches. Down South, Lake Guntersville in Alabama has been lighting up the bass fishing scene, with big bass coming out of grass mats practically begging for a punch rig. Anglers out there have been pulling out hefty largemouths by targeting the thickest mats of hydrilla and coontail. Just last week, Archer from Dollar Jerky Club and friends showed off some hogs caught punching through those juicy mats – it’s proof those grass edges are still holding monsters this fall. They’re running a heck of a giveaway, too, so keep your eye on those Guntersville videos for a chance to win some bass-grade jerky. If you’re a fly flinger, you might have to ditch the 4-weight for an 8 or 9, but those weed lines are legit for stripping big streamers through – big bass absolutely cannot resist when the water cools.

Now, up North, the bite is just as hot but a bit more finesse. In Michigan, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League’s smallmouth tournaments have kept pressure on those Great Lakes brutes. Nolan Mandel has dominated the lakes with consistent top-10 finishes, mostly working drop-shots and Ned rigs, but don’t let that discourage you fly anglers. Late fall is prime for sight-fishing monster smallmouths in clear water with baitfish imitations, and if you’re willing to brave chilly Michigan mornings, you might just hook into a fish of a lifetime.

Hot spots? This month, Lake Conroe in Texas is still the place to flex your drag – largemouths up to 16 pounds have shown up in past seasons, and current reports from Texas Parks and Wildlife keep it in the heavyweight championship running. Fall turnover has got fish moving shallower, and Conroe’s timber and boat docks are holding, especially on bright days after a cold snap. Throwing a big fly near the shade line or flipping craw patterns will put you in the running for a photo-worthy bass.

Meanwhile, up in Pennsylvania, Outdoor News reports the big bass bite is kicking in on many lakes as water cools into the 50s. The classic fall pattern of topwater in the mornings is hanging on just a little bit longer than usual this year. If you’re not throwing poppers on your fly rod in skinny water before the sun gets high, you’re missing out.

It’s not all good news, though. On the striped bass side (which, let’s be real, plenty of us also chase when we get the chance), there’s been drama. Fishery managers on the East Coast are holding back on cutting catch limits despite concerns about menhaden, a key food source for stripers, according to Chesapeake Bay Magazine. While the current management plan claims striped bass are on track for rebuilding, conservation groups are still sounding alarms – so if you’re headed out after stripers in the coming weeks, stay tuned for possible new regulations and keep an eye on forage patterns.

Big money tournaments continue to draw the best in the sport, and the recent Folds of Honor Patriot Cup on Logan Martin Lake in Alabama saw Jacob Wheeler and Dustin Connell mop up with over 70 pounds of bass. Just goes to show, fall tournament season is prime time for heavy sacks and heavy bragging rights across the southeast.

Quick reminder: Whether you’re a gear-head or sworn to the stick and line, November is still topwater time in a big chunk of the country. Don’t be in a hurry to put those poppers and mice away just because the calendar flipped – water temps in the low 50s still produce heart-stopping eats.

That’s a wrap for this week’s trip around the nation’s best bass haunts. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure! Come back next week for the latest fishing updates, and remember, this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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