The dog days of summer are quickly approaching. This means long days, warm weather and good fishing. Summer is one of my favorite times to fish for bass, and I’ve highlighted some of my favorite summer patterns. You can catch bass using a variety of techniques this time of year, however we simplified it down to a few favorites. If you’re having trouble choosing what to throw this time of year, this features explains everything you need to know about having the right summer bass bait selection.
BEST BASS LURES FOR SUMMER
While many anglers consider summer to be a tough time to fish, there’s still plenty of ways to catch some bass. High water temperatures and changing conditions allow anglers to catch bass using a plethora of different techniques this time of year, making this one of my favorite times to hit the water. While fluctuating weather conditions can make bait selection difficult, there’s a handful of lures that your should always have tied on this time of year.
Some of these lures include a crankbait, topwater, soft plastic jerkbait and a dropshot bait. While I do employ other lures this time of year, these are the true workhorses of my summer lineup. These lures see action nearly every time I hit the water, but knowing when and where to throw them is key. Here’s a handy guide to a few of our favorite summertime baits as well as how and when to use them.
DUO REALIS G87 20A CRANKBAIT
You can’t talk about summertime bass fishing without mentioning a crankbait. No other lure does a better job at getting big bass to react like a crank. I use a variety of them this time of year, however if I had to choose just one it would be the Duo Realis G87 20A Crankbait. This bait is packed with fish catching features which are highlighted in our G87 20A Crankbait Review. The biggest reason I would choose this model, however, is its overall diving speed and depth.
One of the biggest keys to effectively fishing a crankbait is long casts and a fast retrieve. The longer cast maximizes the bait’s time in the strike zone, while the fast retrieve triggers reaction bites that you wouldn’t otherwise get with a slow moving bottom bait. This lure gets down to 20 feet, but I’ll fish it at nearly any depth between 10 and 20 feet. Furthermore, this bait dives down exceedingly fast. This allows for more time in the strike zone, ultimately resulting in a more efficient cast.
I typically toss this lure around ledges, points and other locations where bass congregate. Using this lure around groups of fish is often imperative as the competition from other bass often causes them to react. Using your electronics is another easy way to be productive with this style of lure. Using both side and down imaging to locate schools of bass is an easy way to find productive locations to fish this bait.
STRIKE KING SEXY DAWG
The next technique I have to mention when talking about summertime fishing is a topwater. Bass love to chase shad and other types of fast-moving baitfish this time of year, and there’s no better way to catch them than throwing a topwater walking bait. Similar to the crankbait, I throw a variety of topwaters, however if I had to choose just one it would be the Strike King Sexy Dawg. This is a walking style bait that great for calling fish in from long distances. If your interested in learning more about this bait, you can read our full review here.
You can throw the Strike King Sexy Dawg virtually anywhere this time of year, however the key is being around bait. A few of my favorite places to use this bait are around sea walls, shade lines and schooling fish. If you’ve spent time on the water in the summer, you know it’s not uncommon to see groups of fish busting on the surface. These are usually bass pushing shad to the surface of the water in order to ambush them. This creates the perfect opportunity to get some quality strikes on a topwater walking bait. Not only is the bait super fun to fish, but it can generate some giant bites that other baits simply wouldn’t get.
RAPALA CRUSH CITY FREELOADER
Another bait that has quickly worked its way to the top of my summertime arsenal is the Rapala Crush City Freeloader. This is a soft plastic jerkbait-style bait that’s perfect for targeting individual fish in various situations. I typically rig this bait on a traditional jig head, and fish it around a variety of locations. The flat sides on the Crush City Freeloader create a distinct rolling action that’s perfect for imitating a wounded baitfish. This is a finesse style presentation that doesn’t move much water, therefore I generally throw it in clear water scenarios.
A few of my favorite locations to throw the Crush City Freeloader include brush piles, ledges and suspended fish. I generally target brush and ledges on lakes with a prominent largemouth population, however I will target suspended fish anywhere that has a healthy population of spotted bass. Spots love to group up throughout the summer and chase bait. Their location is often unpredictable, however once you find them you catch a ton of fish. My favorite way to fish this bait is by slowly swimming it over fish, then quickly speeding up the retrieve once you see them engage the bait.
ROBOWORM STRAIGHT TAIL WORM
Last but certainly not least, the drop shot is likely my biggest producer in my summer lineup. This simple yet effective bait is responsible for catching both numbers and size. One of my favorite baits to throw on a drop shot this time of year is a 6-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm in the morning dawn color. I’ve been throwing this worm for as long as I can remember, and I can honestly say its something every angler should have tied on. I rig this worm on a 2/0 Gamakatsu G-Finnesse light worm hook paired with a 1/4-ounce weight.
I throw this bait at all types of structure this time of year, however my favorites include stumps, brush piles and other types of isolated cover. This bait is perfect for targeting both lethargic and pressured fish. I generally use light line and impart little to no action from my rod tip. I’ve found that less is more with this bait as I seem to get bit more by just letting it sit. While I wouldn’t consider this to be nearly as fun as a topwater or other fast moving reaction bait, its the perfect bait to pull out whenever the fishing slows.
While there are hundreds of baits that work well throughout the summer, these are a few of our top picks. Deciphering fish patterns and behavior can be challenging at times, however these four baits are all guaranteed to be productive throughout the dog days of summer. If you’re having trouble choosing the right bait, this summer lineup is sure to put fish in the boat the next time you decide to hit the water.
