Lures You Need to Catch Fish Through Christmas!

Recommended Fall Muskellunge Lures

Muskellunge heat up in the fall at Cave Run Lake, Green River Lake, and Buckhorn Lake. Here are the recommended lures to use for muskellunge this fall:

• Crankbait: A crankbait's versatility makes it one of the most useful lures in a muskellunge angler's arsenal. A good all-around choice is the medium-running 00 A.C. Shiner in silver and black.
• Spinnerbait: The state record muskellunge fell for a Double Cowgirl. The 10-inch inline spinner features a pair of 7/0 treble hooks, tandem No. 10 blades, and tinsel-like skirting.
• Jerkbait: The 10-inch weighted or non-weighted Suick Thriller, fished with short pulls to create a rise-and-fall action, is a classic fall muskellunge lure.

Recommended Fall Spotted Bass Lures

Spotted bass school in the fall at Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland, Carr Creek Lake, Green River Lake, and Cave Run Lake. The recommended lures to use are:

• Black finesse worm: This may be the most productive lure for spotted bass. Work it along secondary points in fall, around woody cover, especially in Lake Cumberland, and along the riprap face of dams. The Yamamoto Cut Tail or Charlie Brewer Slider Worm both produce fish when fished on a 3/16-ounce Slider or shakey head.
• Small silver casting spoons: When spotted bass school in fall, they gorge on shad, sometimes feeding on them at the surface. You can cast a spoon a mile and rip it through spots feeding on top or let it flutter down points for suspended spotted bass.
• Jigs: Small crawfish-colored silicone-skirted jigs in Cumberland Craw or other similar colors work well. The D and L Baby Advantage jig is a good choice for these fish.

Recommended Reservoir Smallmouth Bass Lures

Reservoir smallmouth bass can be found at Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow Lake, Laurel River Lake, and Kentucky Lake. The recommended lures to use are:

• Jigs: Small 5/16-ounce, 3/8-ounce, or 7/16-ounce silicone-skirted jigs with thin strands in peanut butter and jelly, Cumberland Craw, Oops, and Soft Shell Craw colors. The D and L Baby Advantage jig is fantastic, as are the Cumberland Pro Procaster, the Shoe Bootie round head 1/4-ounce jig, Slongs Spider Jig, and the Jewel Jig.
• Grubs and swimbaits: A 3-inch boot-tail soft plastic grub works well. The Slider Bass grub in natural pro blue, pearl, or pearl with chartreuse tail really shines on these highland, clear-water reservoirs in fall. The 3.5-inch Swim Senko in natural shad, black, or blue pearl also works very well in this situation. These are basically small swimbaits. A 4-inch swimbait also works very well in these lakes, but generally better in spring than fall. Smaller lures work better in the clear water of fall and early winter.
• 4-inch skirted grubs: These are also known as hula grubs and work well in these reservoirs when fished on the bottom with 3/8-ounce stand-up lead heads. Owner makes an excellent one. Variations in green pumpkin, pumpkinseed, watermelon, cinnamon/brown, or black all catch fish.
• Blade baits: The Silver Buddy is hard to beat. Rip it off the bottom on points, let it flutter down the face of bluff walls, or fish it in the middle of small coves.