Fishing for late summer bass

Instead of being concentrated around deep summer brush piles and ledges, bass will scatter, and start migrating toward the shallows. It may be a bit harder to pattern bass when they start moving, but more fish will be roaming and actively feeding.  This means catching them on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. Use power fishing techniques and cover a lot of water.
Remember to concentrate your efforts in areas along or close to typical migration routes – points, drop-offs, vertical cover that stretches from deep to shallow (bridge pilings / timber), creeks or river channels. 
The secret is to look for some kind of structure and/or cover which acts as a ‘bridge’ between deep water and shallow feeding flats. If you can find a good combination of suitable structure, with cover, close to both deep and shallow water and lots of food, chances are you will catch lots of bass.
Baitfish have had the whole summer to grow. This is the time to start using bigger baits – match the hatch!!  Bass will start actively feeding in preparation for the winter, and will happily chase down a good-sized baitfish. 
Look for active baitfish in the shallows, as this is where the youngsters feel most comfortable and protected. You should start seeing bass ‘hunting’ in the shallows, often herding the bait into shallower water and  ‘busting’ them against the bank or a weed line. Square-lipped shallow-diving Bomber and Xcalibur crankbaits and Booyah buzzbaits and spinnerbaits are deadly when bass are ‘busting’ bait in the shallows.
Do not be afraid to fish ultra-shallow this time of the year.  Look for cover in shallow water, especially in small coves or pockets. Move your boat in toward the bank until it is almost touching the bottom, and then cast as far as you possibly can toward the backs of these pockets.  Try to get your bait to enter the water with as little splash as possible so as not to spook the bass in the shallows. The best is to try to get it to ‘skip’ a couple of times as it hits the water. This is a good way to imitate baitfish skipping across the surface, and bass will move in from a good distance to investigate.
Fishing with weightless Yum Dingers and Houdini Shad will allow you a more subtle entry into the shallow water, and give you time to let the bait settle. Give it a few moments before starting your retrieve. Retrieve with a subtle twitch-twitch and long pauses in-between.  Sometimes when a retrieve is too active, it could frighten bass in ultra clear or shallow water.
Do not be afraid to cast toward open water in between visible cover or structure.  During the late summer and early autumn, bass are cruising the shallows, hunting, and not entirely dependant on cover to ambush their prey.