In late October and in November, many outdoorsmen in South Carolina will focus on the prime portion of the deer rut about this time. But if you're a bass angler at heart, it's time to focus on outstanding largemouth bass fishing. Not only will you have more elbowroom than you did in the spring, the fishing can be just as productive as any of the spring months.

Many of our lakes and rivers will produce excellent fishing at this time of the year. However, the Marion, Moultrie and Wateree trio of lakes are certainly among the prime lakes in the state during November. As is always the case, a little local knowledge goes a long way in zeroing in on the right patterns for the most productive fishing.

We'll look at four specific keys to fishing each of these lakes successfully from late October through early December. About that time, the cooling water temperatures will again change the basic patterns of the fish. But for now, try these tips for more strikes.

LAKE MARION
Fish tight to cover during midday. Not all the bass will be wild and crazy chasing shad. A lot of fish will be holding tight to cover waiting on a meal to swim by.

Casting accuracy is important, but not quite as critical as it sometimes is during the spring or summer. During the fall, these tight-holding fish will often chase a lure if you just get it close to the cover. Look for something different to key on, such as brush or logs on a point or in the middle of a pocket of water. Focus your effort on anything that isolates that cover from the surrounding area. Work a bait close by it a time or two before working right in the middle of it. Often, you can catch a couple fish back to back. Often you will catch a fish or two beside an object and then work a bottom bumper through the middle and hook another. The same cover and forage attributes that drew the first bass there may, at this time of the year, pull several bass to a small area.

Crank 'em in. Because of the forage fish factor, local anglers strongly recommend a crankbait be one of your primary tools on this lake during the fall.

When fishing in the fall, stay on the go, covering a lot of water until you get into a good bunch of fish. The crankbait mimics the baitfish swimming by and is an excellent tool for searching and catching fish. Often, it is the lure to use once I find a hotspot. Sometimes it's best as the searching lure.

Work an area back and forth with a crankbait and you often will catch fish on a steady basis. Certainly not on every cast, but the same 100-yard stretch can be worked several times with good results. Once the action slows on the crankbait, fish a different lure before looking for the next congregation of largemouth bass.

Fish at night. While you don't want to be running fast in a boat on Lake Marion if you can't see where you're going, there are places where you can safely operate a boat in the dark with reasonable precautions. Plus, fishing at night is often an excellent way to catch largemouth bass shallow on this lake.

Fishing the typical structure "suspects" will work well, such as points, shallow humps and along the edges of drops. However, in the lower end of the lake in the larger creeks, there are lots of docks and often they'll have lights on. Lights attract baitfish and baitfish attract the bass. Fish these areas with crankbaits, plastic worms and a jig-and-grub for best results.