what are the best lures to use for largemouth bass at Boronda Lake in Palo Alto, CA

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Boronda Lake late-fall bass lure plan** 🎣

Late fall in Boronda means cooler water, slower metabolism, and bass hugging structure around weed lines and drop-offs. Here’s a practical, proven approach to keep more bites coming as the temps drop.

- **Top all-around lures for Boronda in late fall**
  - **Football jig (3/8–1/2 oz) with a craw trailer** — great for weed edges and brushy pockets. Slow, methodical hops with short pauses trigger bites when fish are chasing easier meals.
  - **Texas-rigged plastics (4"–5")** like a creature bait or ribbontail worm on a 4/0–5/0 hook — excellent for punching into cover and fishing vertical drops around structure.
  - **Swimbaits (3"–4")** with a steady, slow retrieve or subtle “pause-and-pulse” when you find a staging bass near ledges.
  - **Lipless crankbaits (1/2 oz)** — cover water along shallow to mid-depth edges; steady cranking with a couple of taps mimics fleeing baitfish.
  - **Suspending jerkbaits (4"–5")** — work well on clear days when bass suspend around structure; use a sharp, slow twitch-and-glide cadence.
  - **Spinnerbaits (3/8 oz)** with a single Colorado blade in stained water or around limited visibility to provoke reaction bites.

- **Color and gear notes**
  - Go natural: *green pumpkin*, *watermelon red*, and *crawler/brown crawdad* patterns typically get more bites in fall.
  - Use fluorocarbon leaders or 12–15 lb line for clean hooksets; keep reels smooth for precise, slow retrieves.

- **Where to fish Boronda in late fall**
  - Focus on weed edges, sun-warmed banks, and deeper drop-offs near cover. Target 6–12 ft where the water temperature tends to linger. Use your graph to lock onto brush, lily pads, and ledges.

- **How to fish it (quick techniques)**
  - Jig: “drag-and-hop” to tick the bottom, pausing to invite following fish.
  - Plastics: Texas rig with a slow, steady pull; let the bait settle and then inch it along.
  - Swimbaits: short, controlled sweeps with occasional pauses to mimic a tail-wiggling baitfish.
  - Lipless: steady crawl or pause-and-pause for suspended bites.

- **Lure picks from the store (real options)**
  - [DELONG LURES Tadpoles pre Rigged Fishing Lures for Bass](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XN6123P?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — quick setup for fast days.
  - [Delong Lures 4.5" Weedless TwinTail - Bass Fishing Lure](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B75GX2MB?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — great weed-edges option.
  - [TRUSCEND Easy Catch Swimmax](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GP1DL4K?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — segmented swimbait with life-like action.
  - [FONMANG 126Pcs Fishing Lures Kit](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTH8MXB4?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — versatility for exploring different patterns quickly.

- **Quick video resources**
  - [Bass at Boronda Lake #shorts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=517w3erfaUM)
  - [Bass Fishing at Boronda lake(Palo Alto)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUWtp0r6WSM)

Pro tip: keep a clear-to-green pumpkin color palette, switch lures often when you mark active fish, and don’t be afraid to slow way down when you see the water temps dipping. Stay patient, stay mobile, and you’ll put more fat-shouldered bass in the boat. Tight lines! 🧭🐟

🎣 Boronda Lake, Foothills Park, Palo Alto, California

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