Early Fall Bass Fishing at Perry Lake – Proven Tournament Strategy

Early Fall Bass Fishing – Perry Lake Game Plan

This weekend’s tournament takes place about 20 miles north of Topeka, Kansas, on Perry Lake. It’s only my second time on this lake—the first was last weekend when I spent about four hours scouting. Right now, Perry is 4 feet above normal pool due to downstream flooding.

Conditions & Strategy

The water has been high for a while, and there are no plans to release it soon. Rumor has it the lake turned over a few weeks ago, which could mean fish are settling into a normal fall pattern.

Pro Tip: If turnover is complete, expect bass to move toward predictable fall locations—secondary points, rocky banks, and docks.

The main river enters the upper end with clay banks, and recent rain has created dirty water. My plan? Avoid the mud and target rocky areas and docks in cleaner water.

Tournament Lure Arsenal for Early Fall Bass

1. Whopper Plopper

!Whopper Plopper Perfect for aggressive topwater strikes early in the day.

2. Bomber Fat Free Shad

Deep-diving crankbait for probing mid-depth structure.

3. Drop Shot with Trick Worm

Ideal for finesse presentations when fish are pressured.

4. Spro Aruku Shad

Great for covering water and triggering reaction bites.

Tip: Focus on secondary points halfway back in major creeks.

5. Football Jig + Brush Hog

Drag it across rocky bottoms for big bites.

6. Jerkbait

Start with an Original Rapala Floating Minnow; save suspending models for later fall.

7. BOOYAH Counter Strike Buzz

Early morning buzzbait bite—let the fish tell you if it lasts all day.

8. Lucky Craft Sammy

Schooling fish? This topwater bait is deadly.

9. Zoom Super Fluke

Slow it down with pauses and deeper presentations for lethargic bass.

Final Thoughts

Tournament day is always a seat-of-the-pants experience, but having a solid plan and proven lure lineup gives me confidence heading into Perry Lake.

@ksbigbass