Mark Miller of Mobile has a strong background of winning tournaments on the lake and has caught good numbers of bass weighing 4 to 5 pounds. His biggest weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Miller, who fishes the lake at least three times a week, expects an afternoon of fall fishing to produce 10 to 15 fish with good numbers of 3- to 4-pounders.

Miller succeeds where others fail because he targets bass suspended on grassy dropoffs, and he covers a lot of water. In October, he starts fishing by trolling a crankbait -- to keep it simple he only trolls one lure -- along the edges of main lake flats that drop into 12 feet of water. "This pattern produces best," Miller said, "if you have a wind blowing into the dropoff, and you find shad working along the edge.

"As you try to establish a pattern, watch your depthfinder so you can duplicate the same conditions if you catch a fish. Trolling is the most effective method for locating suspended bass. When you get a bite, throw a marker buoy and work the area by casting. "During October, the bass hold under the shad at an average depth of 10 feet, though you may have to change depths depending on weather conditions. You will also find shad and bass on dropoffs at the ends of long points. Points produce good numbers, but the bass are smaller. If you catch a few small fish, move to another location." Miller uses his electric motor to troll crankbaits that dive to a depth of 7 feet. If he finds a drop that deserves more attention, he positions his boat upwind and casts his bait onto the flat and nearly parallel with the dropoff. He prefers to drag either a Carolina- or Texas-rigged worm off the grass-covered ledges. The soft-plastic lures tricked all of his big fish into biting. Big Creek's only boat ramp is located at the end of Howell's Ferry Road, and daily permits cost $5 at the ramp. Maps are available from Keith Map Service in Mobile by calling (251) 633-5588 or (800) 342-6722. For current fishing information, visit Quint's Hardware & Sporting Goods in Saraland, or give them a call at (251) 679-1300.

CONECUH RIVER LAKES
Point A Lake
"If you find bass in a fall pattern on Point A," said Lowe Dillard of Andalusia, "the fishing is phenomenal. The numbers of fish you can catch are very high. Until you see it, it's unbelievable."

Dillard, who has fished the twin impoundments of Point A and Gantt on the Conecuh River for nearly 30 years, has experienced the ups and downs of Point A, which is located four miles northwest of Andalusia and downstream from Gantt. In recent years, this 700-acre reservoir has produced great fishing for skilled anglers.

Before the water cools, Dillard's primary pattern is fishing the grass edges along creek channels using a spinnerbait to quickly search for bass. Once he has connected, the angler switches to a soft-plastic jerkbait and thoroughly fishes the area.

"Use a 1/2-ounce spinnerbait," Dillard advised, "so you can use a fast retrieve and keep the bait about a foot below the surface. Also use a white bait, as one with color will increase the strikes you get from chain pickerel to 50 percent."

Two creeks that Dillard enjoys fishing in early October are those leading into the recreational park and the RV park. He said the grass edges there are 2 to 5 feet deep.

"When water temperatures decline," Dillard noted, "bass often school at the mouths of the creeks on the dropoff. The dropoff will fall from 6 to 8 feet into 12 to 15 feet of water. There are plenty of places like this on the lake.