When you speak about the very best lure selections for the fall of the year here in Southern California I think it really comes down to three or four classic baits. When you're dealing with this time of the season at Castaic Lake, Lake Casitas and Pyramid Lake you're dealing with large mature threadfin shad and large shad like imitations step to the forefront at this time of the season. Enter the spinnerbait. Without question this is one of the most effective weapons that can be used in the fall of the year. Remember fall can vary from season to season. For instance this year has been an intensely warm season and the fall seems to be extending quite possibly through Thanksgiving and maybe into the first week of December. With these warm temperatures in the western United States and warm water temperatures the spinnerbait continues to be a lethal weapon at this time of year. The best approach is to take a large shad pattern spinnerbait and fish it on 17 to 20 pound test line. A nice steady slow retrieve is best at this time of year. Where the spinnerbait can be intensely effective at at high speeds during the summer months you want to keep your retrieve very slow and steady just barely rotating the blades on the spinnerbait. A classic selection is the basic tandem willowleaf spinnerbait with a white skirt and a white trailer. This large shad imitation gives the look of a 4 to 5 inch threadfin shad meandering through the water and is a prime target of bass during the fall of the year. Of course fish this bait with a heavy action baitcasting rod with a tight drag. Be patient and make a long cast with the big spinnerbait and slow roll it over outside points and over outside structure and don't worry too much about the depth of your bait. Just fish the spinnerbait in the zone that you think the fish are suspended in. Making long casts and putting the spinnerbait in gear and just slowly retrieving it in in and around areas that you believe The bass are using is what makes this a tremendous weapon at this time of the year. No real need for a trailer hook on your bait just a basic half ounce spinnerbait and my personal choice would be one with tandem Willowleaf blades. Although it's not my favorite fishing lure there's no way to deny the power of the Alabama rig at this time of the year. Once again remember the Alabama rig it's just another version of a spinnerbait. It's absolutely the same basic approach. The Alabama rig is just a flamboyant style of spinnerbait fishing about the only difference is you'll need a heavier and longer fishing rod and I like to fish the Alabama rig on 25 pound florocarbon. Spool your entire reel with 25 pound florocarbon. Once again Make long casts in and around zones that you believe the fish are using is the key to this weapon. Once again on the reasons this lure is so effective at this time of year is you have a large mature threadfin shad that are still in a school like pattern. Bass relate to the schools of large mature threadfin and this is one of their keys during this time of year. If you're ever going to work on improving yourself and your technique with the Alabama rig this is the time of year to do so. Once again remember to make long casts and fish with a basic slow steady retrieve for the best success. And the third and final classic of the fall season you can never stray too far away from Heddon's classic Zara Spook. Are you beginning to got the theme of this column. Large threadfin shad rule at this time of year and the Zara Spook fits right into this system. As most all of us are aware this is the time of year you will still see bass pushing large mature threadfin shad to the bank and the Spook dominates during this time of of year. As we have spoke about many times in the past utilize the Super Spook on 14 pound green monofilament and use a healthy action 7 foot topwater rod to make a long pass with the Spook when you see any type of activity in shallow water or you see the bass actually pushing the shad into shallow water. This is your final shot of the season the fish topwater baits and the Super Spook it is absolutely classic at this time of the year. With these 3 lures on your deck at all times during the fall season you'll have three of the most powerful weapons you can have for fishing fall bass at Pyramid Lake, Castaic Lake and Lake Casitas in Southern California. Go early, stay late, and good fishing.