Fall Fishing at Lake Purdy: Top Lures, Bank Tips, and Where to Find Bass Near Birmingham
- lakepurdy
- Oct 6
- 4 min read
As fall rolls into central Alabama and the nights get cooler, Lake Purdy is quietly becoming one of the best places to fish near Birmingham. Even with the water level down a few feet because of the dam renovation project, the bite is still strong — especially if you know how to adjust your approach.
Right now, the baitfish are spreading out, and the bass are following them into the backs of creeks and shallow pockets.
The crappie are fat and healthy, and the bass are starting to feed heavily as they gear up for winter. Whether you’re new to fishing or an experienced angler chasing that tournament-winning bag, these fall fishing tips will help you dial in the bite at Lake Purdy.
Finding the Fall Fishing Bite At Lake Purdy: Follow the Baitfish and Match the Conditions
In the fall, everything revolves around baitfish. As shad move shallow and spread through creeks, the bass are never far behind. Finding bait is the key to finding fish.
Keep an eye out for shad flickering on the surface, birds diving, or topwater activity — those are signs the fish are close.
Before hitting the lake, check the weather and water conditions. Fall weather in Alabama can change fast, and matching your bait to the conditions can make all the difference:
🌬 Windy & Cloudy: Go for reaction baits like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, or rattletraps. These imitate fleeing shad and trigger aggressive strikes.
☀️ Calm & Sunny: Slow down and fish the bottom. Try a jig, Carolina rig, or Texas-rigged soft plastic around rock piles, sunken brush, and creek channel swings.
💧 Clear & Cool Water: A jerkbait or small swimbait can be deadly when bass are suspended or finicky.
With the lake level lower than usual, a lot of hidden structure is now within reach. Focus on rocky banks, underwater humps, and hard structure where fish stage to ambush bait.
Slow Down and Stay Patient When the Water Cools
As the water temperature drops, fish metabolism slows — and that means they won’t chase as aggressively.
Many anglers make the mistake of fishing too fast in the fall.
If the bite is tough, slow your presentation and give your bait more time in the strike zone.
Make multiple casts to key pieces of cover like brush piles or rock transitions.
Sometimes, just pausing a few extra seconds can turn a follower into a strike.
Patience pays off this time of year, especially as we head toward colder months.
The fish are still there — you just have to give them a reason to bite.
Best Fall Baits for Bass at Lake Purdy
Fall is one of the most exciting times to fish because the bass can be caught in so many different ways.
Depending on the day, they could be suspended over structure or hugging the bottom around cover.
Here are some of the best-performing baits on Lake Purdy right now:
🎣 Swimbaits for Big Bass: The fall is prime time for throwing a 6-inch swimbait or glide bait like the 6th Sense Trace. Even just a few casts in each new area can increase your odds of catching a trophy-sized bass.
🎣 Crankbaits That Hunt: The Strike King Gravel Dawg is a must-have this season. It acts like a squarebill but dives deeper, allowing it to grind through rock piles, brush, and hard bottom. Its unique “hunting” action triggers bites from bass that ignore traditional crankbaits.
🎣 Wind Baits: As the fall winds pick up, spinnerbaits and rattletraps let you cover water fast and imitate baitfish perfectly.
🎣 Bottom Contact Baits: When the bite slows, a jig or Carolina rig works great around sunken brush and channel edges.
🎣 Finesse Setups: A drop-shot or Ned rig can save the day when conditions get tough.
These smaller presentations shine when the water clears up and the bite gets picky.
Enjoy the Season and Stay Positive
At the end of the day, fishing is about having fun!
Fall at Lake Purdy brings crisp mornings, colorful scenery, and some of the best fishing of the year.
The bite might be tricky at times, but staying patient and positive will always lead to more success.
If you need up-to-date info on what’s working, stop by the Lake Purdy Bait Shop — we’re always happy to help you choose the right gear and point you in the right direction.
Our Sunday Bass Tournament is in full swing and anyone can join!
Don’t forget to follow Lake Purdy Fishing on Instagram and Facebook for the latest reports, photos, and tournament news.
Get ready for a feeding frenzy, the Fall transition is when some giants get caught!
Tight Lines from Lake Purdy!
