As autumn water temperatures drop into the upper 60s, sportfish such as white bass, crappie and walleye move from cool, deep water and become more active.

In shallow water, they take advantage of abundant prey and prepare for the coming winter. At this time, they are easier to find and catch.

Through much of the fall, white bass and wipers often continue their summer habit of feeding on shad in the cool of the night.

If they can’t be found near the surface, cast jigs, spinners, or crankbaits along rip-rapped piers, jetties or dams in 6 to 20 feet of water. Minnows, live shad, and jigging spoons also work well along drop-offs or flats.

Walleye are quite difficult to find in the hot summer months, but in October they can often be found near humps, islands and drop-offs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Drifting a jig-minnow combination or trolling shad-colored crankbaits works well.

Crappie can also be found at this time of year 6 to 20 feet deep, often near brush, old stumps and submerged trees. Vertically fishing jigs or jig-minnow combinations is effective.

Later in the fall, as the water cools below 50 degrees, crappie congregate in large schools and move into the main lake. They still frequent submerged timber or creek and river channels, but they may also suspend in open, deeper water at this time of year.

Using a depth finder, mark suspended schools with a marker buoy and position the boat directly over the school. Drop a jig or jigging spoon down and adjust the depth until it’s at or just above the depth of the fish.

Because gizzard shad are the most common prey species in Kansas reservoirs, use jigs, spoons and crankbaits that resemble shad.