season change

Trying to figure out fall bass pattern. If bass follow baitfish, how do you now where bait fish are without a fish finder. Have searched favorite lake from one end to other, and can't figure them out.
wouldn't a crank bait do well as a shad imatator? Haven't had as much luck with my crankbaits lately.

The 30 degree temp change from day to night has got the bite a bit slow right. 75-70 degrees to 50-45 degrees everynight messes with them. As night/day time temp get closer to matching in the next couple weeks spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits, etc. should start producing much better. Soft plastic are pretty universal and can be thrown anytime, just have to slow the retrieve way down this time of year.

...heres a good read on soft plastics for the Fall

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&&mode=article&objectID=30491&cat=Fishing&subcatID=55&objectType=article

Thanks for the advice. Its good to to hear i may have luck with my trusty crank and spinnerbaits. I'll be looking for the day and night temperature to not be so drastically different.

Hey Will, it seems lately, as well as this time last year, I have been catching my bigger fish in the deeper waters. Try finding the deepest areas and drift fish them, or crank bait them slow and deep. Just fast enough to keep them down and off the bottom. I have missed alot of really nice fat bass this year, but have also learned from my mistakes. Wait til next year! I need a 9-10 lb bass to beat this years catch. Good luck.