For those of us fortunate enough to live in the South, picking our "favorite" month to fish for largemouth bass isn't easy. Depending upon how one fishes, and where he or she does it, any month can be a favorite. And you can start a lively argument at any fish camp as to which one that is.

Shad-finished lures are the mainstay of the fall fishing, but "shock" colors can sometimes increase your catch, too. Photo by Tony Clifton.

Despite which month is currently getting the most votes, however, you can bet that November will be well represented in the polls.

Regardless of where one lives in the region, November marks a definitive end to the summer. In some areas, it's a definitive beginning to the winter. In either case, it's a transition period that sees bass moving from the high temperatures of the summer months and preparing for the chill temperatures of winter. In the process, they go on a major feed to build up fat reserves before the cold slows their metabolism down.

Unless your bass fishing involves farm ponds, small lakes or creeks, you can bet that heavy feed is going to be centered on shad.

Shad are a major forage item in many larger water bodies. By November, the young-of-the-year shad have grown to a respectable size, and the mature baitfish that have reached life's end are beginning to die off. For a bass, that's a shad bonanza that makes for easy feeding.

For anglers, that means any lure imitating a shad is likely a good choice. In that respect, it's hard to argue with crankbaits. When it comes to imitating a shad, they're as good as it gets. And these lures work darned near anywhere bass and shad meet for supper: if you have a basic selection of types, colors and the proper gear to toss them on.

When it comes to proper equipment, too stiff a rod action costs anglers fish. Even the biggest crankbaits seldom carry hooks larger than a No. 2 treble, and many effective models feature hooks of No. 4 or No. 6. Such hooks don't take a deep bite, and if there isn't some flex in the rod tip, they can be ripped free. A number of makers offer rods specifically designed for crankbait use. Those have a softer tip section mated to a medium-action lower section. But many anglers, whether opting for casting or spinning gear, find a medium to medium-light action rod in the 6-foot, 6-inch to 7-foot length to be very effective with a properly set drag on the reel. If one chooses braided line -- there's no reason not to since it increases casting distance and can get diving crankbaits to run a bit deeper -- then the drag setting is critical with either rod type because this type of line has no stretch.

As for the crankbaits to use, savvy anglers want a mix of floater/divers, wake baits and countdown models. Here's a quick look at how to score with these three different baits.