Last light is the best light
The lower Grand has settled into its September rhythm: steady flows, cooling evenings, and smallmouth herding shad against the banks in the final hour of daylight. If you can only fish one window, fish 6:30 to dark.
We floated from Ada to the M-21 stretch last night and found bass busting in three separate tailouts. White baitfish patterns — deceivers, murdich minnows, and small poppers — drew the most violent eats. Anything dark got followed and refused.
What's working now
- White deceivers and minnow patterns, size 2–4, on intermediate tips
- Small poppers tight to wood in the last hour of light
- Crawfish patterns bounced through midday slots when the sun is high
- Keep a wire-leader rod ready — pike are shadowing every bait ball
Early kings are nosing into the lower holes, too. If your streamer stops dead and starts throbbing, set the hook — salmon season is knocking.
Evening trip was unreal — topwater smallmouth until we lost the light. Already booked again for October.
