Bass Fishing Tips for Summer

Fish Shallow Water Early

While many people think of bass as a shallow-water fish species, a large amount of the bass in any body of water move deep when summer hits and the water gets warm. However, these bass move shallow under the low-light conditions of dawn and dusk, as well as at night and when the sky is overcast. These fish will be around shoreline cover if there is deep water nearby; otherwise they will move onto the shallow parts of the humps, drop-offs and other structure on which they are located. The tops of points can be particularly productive, as can weed flats on 4 to 8 feet of water. Under low-light conditions, cast quick-moving lures, including topwater lures, in shallow areas.

Move Deeper as the Sun Rises

As the sun works its way higher into the sky and the air temperatures rise, there is a corresponding rise in the water temperature in shallow water. As this happens, bass seek out the deeper, cooler water where they will spend the daytime hours. During these times, look for bass on structure in 10 to 20 feet of water. Weed lines are particularly good places to look, especially where those weed lines make points or inside turns. A weed line associated with a drop-off is even better. Bass also will move to the edges or humps and reefs during the day, and sometimes will suspend in the open water off the edges of these structures.

Do Not Forget Shallow Cover

Even though many bass move deep during the summer, there always are some bass that stay shallow. But these fish are not just anywhere; they are associated with shallow cover such as boat docks, fallen timber and emergent vegetation. These fish will be loosely associated with such cover under low-light conditions, but hold tight to these shade-providing elements when the sun is high in the sky. The best shallow cover during the summer has deep water nearby. Pitch or flip plastic worms, tube jigs, or jigs and pigs into cover.

Locate Schools of Bass

By the summer, bass in deep water are in schooling mode. That means if you catch one fish, there are likely more in the immediate area. A good tactic is to cast a quick-moving lure such as a deep-diving crankbait, Carolina-rigged worm or a spinnerbait to locate schools of fish. Continue casting these lures until the fish quit biting, then throw a slow-moving, saturation lure such as a jig and pig or plastic worm and work it along the bottom. Doing so likely will result in a few more fish. Make note of areas where you locate schools of bass, since the school likely will be there the next time you come back.

Big Lures for Fig Fish

While you have a chance to catch a big bass on the smallest of fishing lures, anglers who target big bass during the summer should use a big lure for a couple of reasons. The natural forage species that bass eat are growing throughout the summer, so the bass are used to chasing and eating larger items. Also, big bass like to conserve energy. So if they can eat one large meal instead of several small ones, that is their choice. Jigs that weigh 1/2 of an ounce or more and plastic worms that are 10 inches or longer can be particularly effective.