Technique to use in October Indiana reservoir?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**October pattern for Indiana reservoirs? Here’s a practical, all-around approach you can trust when fall turns the water cool and the fish start migrating to ledges and structure.** 🎣

**Primary pattern (bass-focused, but covers walleye edges too): fall transition along points, ledges, and weedlines.** In early fall, bait and suspending fish move to slightly deeper structure. Your best days will come from dialing in a mid-depth presentation and letting action lure do the work.

- **Lure mix for October**: Lipless crankbaits on shallower flats and weed edges, a jerkbait for active fish near shallow cover, and a segmented swimbait or drop-shot for finesse bites when fish are finicky. If you’re targeting walleye, have a jigging presentation ready on mid-depth shelves.
- **Key depths to scout**: 6–12 feet on points and creek channels that feed into flats; also check weedlines and submerged timber around mid-late fall transition. If the water is clearer, stay shallower; if it’s murkier or windier, push deeper to find the warmer, bait-rich zones.
- **Tactics by bite window**:
  - Early morning/late afternoon: work a fast, rhythmic lipless crank or a small squarebill across points and along weed edges. Pause to let the lure fall, then rip it again to trigger reaction bites.
  - Midday/overcast days (like our current weather snapshot: 59.5°F, Cloudy, light wind): switch to a mid-depth presentation. A jerkbait or a segmented swimbait slowly rolled along the strike zone can coax suspended fish out of cover.
  - When you find active fish: switch to a slower lure like a drop-shot or a small swimbait using a light line-lead setup to coax finicky bites.

**Gear setup (easy to adapt):**
- Rods: 7’0”–7’6” medium-heavy for lipless/jerkbait; a second rod, 7’0” or 7’2” medium for swimbaits or drop-shot.
- Reels/line: 15–20 lb fluorocarbon leader with 20–50 lb braid on the main line for clean retrieves and to handle cover; adjust to target species and wind.
- Terminal tackle: lipless crankbaits (3/8–1/2 oz), jerkbaits (8–12 ft dives), 4–5 inch swimbaits, small drop-shot hooks, and light jigheads for finesse presentations.

**Suggested approach by scenario**
- If you’re after bass: start shallow on early points with lipless crankbait, then transition to a half-ounce lipless or a 110-style jerkbait as you scan deeper structure. If fish go quiet, drop to 8–12 ft with a swimbait or drop-shot near brush.
- If walleyes are present: use a mid-depth jigging rig or a slow-rolling swimbait near ledges or timber edges around 10–20 ft and jigging spoons on deeper humps when the sun pops out.
- If bluegill/covet fish are active: keep a shallow swimbait near weedlines and timber—these clusters often hold the bass or predators feeding on them.

**Weather note (early fall context):** Cloudy, cooler days slow topwater but boost mid-depth patterns. Your current weather data shows 59.5°F and cloudy with light wind, which favors mid-depth, reaction/relaxed retrieves rather than bright-sun topwater. If a warm front arrives, you can bounce between shallow topwater and mid-depth to maximize bites.

**Extra value: quick learning videos**
- [TOP 6 Baits for EARLY Fall (Surface, Mid-Depth, Bottom)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WxwBHUVx24)
- [Simple Two-Step Technique To Catch Walleye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQHR-NCmjrM)
- [Start FINDING Bass FASTER Than Your Friends (Bass Fishing Tips)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfZycIEH8g8)
- [How to find catfish in a lake or reservoir - where to fish for catfish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCI1wXH7KBw)

**Product ideas (great Lures to click into your October setup):**
- FONMANG 126Pcs Fishing Lures – versatile kit for fall patterns [Amazon]([https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTH8MXB4?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTH8MXB4?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1))
- TRUSCEND Easy Catch Swimmax – mid-depth, noisy swimbait for more bites [Amazon]([https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GP1DL4K?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GP1DL4K?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1))
- Berkley Shallow Money Badger – versatile depth control for fall structure work [Amazon]([https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDVLDT74?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDVLDT74?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1))
- TRUSCEND Top Water Lures – great for shallow early fall topwater bursts when sun breaks through [Amazon]([https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T1FKL9Z?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T1FKL9Z?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1))

**Encouragement:** October in Indiana reservoirs is a catch-up month with a lot of water to cover. Stay patient, mix patterns, and let the water tell you where the fish hide. With a solid mid-depth game and a few adjustments as the weather shifts, you’ll find reliable bites and have a blast this fall. Tight lines and good luck out there! 🐟

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