Best Lures for October Bass Fishing on Lake Guntersville

Best Lures for October Bass Fishing on Lake Guntersville

Several baits have produced on Lake Guntersville in mid-October, but this year’s conditions—thick grass and heavy fishing pressure—make these my top choices for 2026. Start by locating concentrations of bass and identifying where they are feeding. Watch for schooling activity, surface movement, or baitfish being chased; these signs often reveal areas holding both bait and feeding bass. One of the best options for these fish is a lipless crankbait. Its rattling action is especially effective at triggering strikes in mid-October. The rattle trap is a bait that creates bites and mid-October is an exciting time to use it!

Keeping in the moving bait theme my next choice that generally excites big bass is a Spinner bait; this bait has overcome the test of time and causes bass to react and the bigger the willow leaf blades the bigger the bass that will react to it. I generally use it to roll under the groups of small schoolers and bounce it off the bottom as I work it under the large groups of bass. Bigger bass are generally a little lazy, so they let the smaller bass feed on top, and they sit patiently under the schoolers and pick off the wounded bait as it drops to the bottom.

This year has been a little different as the frog bite has returned to the strength of Guntersville fishing this October and being able to use a frog over grass is a must this 2026 mid-October season. There is no bait that is more fun or exciting than a bass blowing up through the grass to attack a frog bait moving over the top of the grass.

Lastly a traditional worm in a range of styles has been successful for me, the worm has also stood the test of time and is always a great mid-October bait to use on Lake Guntersville. I have been successful on worm sizes from six inches to ten inches, the key has been keeping the plastic bait in the feeding paths of the fish. Also, do not be afraid to try distinctive styles of soft plastics, crawfish styles, wiggly legs and tenacles are all catching fish. Be creative and find colors that they are hitting and stick with them!