Here at Wired2Fish we have a wealth of talented anglers that target different species of fish all over the country. I myself am based primarily in the southeastern United States, however I travel all over the country to fish. Just this summer I’ve fished in over 7 different states, and caught a variety of smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass. Depending on where I am in the country I’ll try a variety of different lures, however there are a few staples I seem to always have tied on. I’m a deep water fisherman at heart, and there’s no better time to fish deep that the heat of summer. This features highlights my offshore summer lineup, going into detail on rods, reels and bait selection.
TOPWATER WALKING BAIT
A topwater walking bait is easily my favorite lure to throw throughout the summer. No matter what body of water you’re on in the country, this is something you should always have tied on throughout the summer. You can fish this bait around nearly any type of cover and its perfect for generating some ferocious strikes. I use a variety of walking baits this time of year, however I picked a few of my favorites to share with you all. These include a Reaction Innovations Vixen, Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg and the Evergreen SB Topwater Plug.
Another great feature about most topwater walking baits is that they don’t require any specialized setups. I throw this bait on a traditional 200 sized spool with an 8:1 gear ratio. This larger spool size is great for making long casts while the higher gear ratio is perfect for quickly picking up line while working your bait. One of my go to reels for this technique is the Shimano Curado 200 K. For a rod however I prefer one with a strong back bone and a parabolic tip. This stronger backbone is perfect for throwing larger topwaters, while the parabolic tip help to keep fish pinned on light wire treble hooks. One of my go to rods for this application is the 7-foot 4-inch Ducket Jacob Wheeler Select Cranking Casting Rod.
JIG AND MINNOW
Although this lure is slightly controversial, you have to mention the jig and minnow whenever you’re talking about deep water fishing. Whether you have forward facing sonar or not, this lure is perfect for generating bites from both lethargic and pressured bass. I throw a variety of different jig heads and soft plastic minnows, however a few stand out above the rest. some of my favorite jighwads include the Queen Tackle Live Sonar Tungsten Jig Head and the Owner Range Roller. As far as soft plastic minnows go, I almost strictly throw either a Strike King Baby Z-Too, Rapala Crush City Freeloader or a Duo Realis Versa Shad. No matter how you pain these jig heads and minnows your sure to be met with an attractive action that’s bass can’t stand.
For a rod and reel I prefer a strong, short spinning rod paired with a 3000 sized reel. I prefer this larger reel because it allows you to pick up line much quicker than smaller sizes. this is great for both working your bait and quickly correcting a misplaced cast. One of my go to reels for this application is the Lew’s Carbon Lite Spinning Reel in the 3000 size. For a rod however I prefer a 7-foot rod with a strong backbone. This heavy backbone is great for getting good hook penetration with these single hook swimbaits. The shorter length rod is also perfect for making accurate casts at both structure and fish. One of my favorite rods for this technique is the 7-foot medium action Shimano Expride Spinning Rod.
DEEP DIVING CRANKBAIT
Another one of my favorite summer techniques is a deep diving crankbait. This lure is perfect for generating reaction strikes as fish being to group up offshore. I use this lure throughout the entirety of summer, and it often accounts from some of my biggest fish of the season. I use a variety of different crankbait this time of year, however I generally prefer ones that diver to around 20-25 feet. Some of my favorite include the Strike King 8XD, Duo Realis G87 20A and the O.S.P. Blitz Magnum EX DR.
For my rod and reel setup I prefer a longer rod with a low gear ratio reel. This longer rod is perfect for making extended casts with big, heavy crankbaits. I also prefer. parabolic tip as it keep you from pulling the treble hooks out of the fishes mouth. One of my go to rods for this application is the 8-foot moderate action Dobyn’s Champion XP Casting rod. For a reel I prefer a slower gear ratio and a larger spool. This larger spool accommodates the longer casts this bait requires, wile the low gear ratio gives you more torque while winching this bait back to the boat. One of my faovvirte reels for thrown a deep diving crankbait is the Shimano Curado 200 K in the 6:1 gear ratio.
DROP SHOT
Last but certainly not least, a drop shot is a summer staple every bass angler should have tied on. Whether bass are active or lethargic this rig is sure to get you a few bites. I use two different hooks and two different style of soft plastics for this rig. If I’m fishing around cover I prefer the Gamakatsu G-finnesse Light Worm Hook, however in open water I prefer the Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Finnesse Drop Shot Hook. Both of these hooks have a fantastic hookup ratio and I almost always have one or both of them tied on. For soft plastics I prefer either a straight tail worm or a small soft plastic jerkbait. I switch between these two soft plastics based on forage and water color. In clear open water I prefer a soft jerkbait style lure, however if I’m fishing around heavy cover or in stained water I prefer the straight tail worm. Two of my favorite drop shot baits include the 6-inch Straight Tail Roboworm and the Strike King Baby Z-Too.
For a rod I prefer a shorter length with a parabolic blank. The shorter rod length allows for accurate casts while the parabolic tip help play fish on light line. One of my go to rods for this technique is the 7-foot Medium action Dobyn’s Champion XP Spinning rod. For a reel I prefer a 3000 sized reel with a smooth drag. The larger size allows for a faster line pickup while a smooth drag is essential for playing big bass on light line. One of my go to reels for this application is the Shimano Stradic FM 3000.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a weekend warrior, these are the techniques you need to try this summer. These baits can catch every species of bass, and they often account for my biggest of the summer. No matter what body of water you’re on across the country, these four summer techniques are sure to get you bit.
