Complete Bass Fishing Tips During Summer

Fishing tips are tricky but if we use them in the right way we can achieve our goals. Summertime is ideal for bass fishing. However, no one would even like to eat a pizza or hot prepared dishes when the temperature is 60 degrees sitting and facing the sun, so neither does the fish. The ideal time of the day is at dawn or dusk as light penetration is less, then bass is on feed, and water bodies are calm.

In case if you are missing the dawn or dusk time, you can very well fish during any time of the day by following some guidelines. Spring season or the dawn or dusk time in the summer season is a great time for bass fishing. Thus season, temperature plays a significant role while bass fishing.

Why is Summer Good for Bass Fishing?

Bass are confusing creatures. Someday if you visit the lake it will seem that the bass has left the place. Again after someday if you visit the same lake you will find that you can’t keep down your fishing rod even for a second. Indeed, the bass doesn’t travel out of their home waters but their moods keep changing very often. The change in their moods is all because of a change in water temperature or the season.

Bass adjusts to changes in their environment throughout the year but still, it is easier to catch them during a certain period of the year because they are willing to feed more on that time.

Bass are cold-blooded, so they are more active on warmer water as they need more energy, so they feed more because their metabolism is higher. This also means that they are active during winter but comparatively less. Similar to human beings, they are more active when they burn up more energy.

This makes it easier to catch the bass, as they are more likely to take the bait.

The temperature of water changes as the season changes. We all are aware of the fact that lakes, ponds, and rivers are colder in winter, hotter in the summer, and warmer in the spring season, but do you know that bass move in the upper portion of water and lower portion according to season and temperature? That’s the reason we find them in shallow water sometimes and in deeper water sometimes.

In the warmer days, the bass starts spawning, and their egg needs sunlight and warmth to hatch so they move into shallow water. Generally, they remain on shallow water making it easier to catch them but when the temperature rises close to 80 degrees they travel deeper. However, they can’t go deeper as oxygen tends to decrease deep in the water. We all know, bass and all fish need oxygen to survive.

Tips to catch more bass in the summertime

• • 1. Bigger bass in deeper water– Most basses prefer colder and darker water during the hottest part of the day, the bigger bass will even be deeper. The colder, deeper water holds more oxygen than the warmer surface water so the bigger bass stays deeper as they need more oxygen compared to the smaller bass. This will make it difficult to catch the bigger bass as you have to overtake the smaller bass. For this, you may need a fast diving heavy lure to catch the bass at the bottom.
  • 2. Area to catch summer bass– Summertime is the perfect time to get the bass but it needs some tricks also. As surface water gets hotter quickly as the temperature rises so the bass finds their way to deeper water to hide. The most favorite hiding place of bass is deep brush or seeking shade, mostly around the vegetation and structure.Marinas and docks region is also the dwelling shelter for the poor bass to protect themselves from the hot sun. Electronics are very useful to locate bass on those areas as the areas have varying depths and the bass move for food and oxygen.
  • 3. Go for Finesse fishing– The hotter sun makes people tired and sweaty, also it affects the bass. Bass remain inactive and take rest on the sweaty summer. They don’t even like to take feed on the hot summer afternoon. Usage of finesse fishing can often draw their interest and tempt them with a shaky head, drop shot rig, a finesse worm, or a jig.
  • 4. Ledge fishing– Ledge fishing structures are common on man-made reservoirs and the perfect habitat of bass where they can move freely for food, oxygen, and protection from prey. Ledges that are close to vegetation and shallow spawning beds are an ideal place to target. Jigs can be used as lures to target the larger bass.Crankbaits are also a perfect choice of lures for the larger bass. We can follow simple guidelines. If it is a bright sunny day then better to look on the deeper sides of the ledges but if it is dusk or dawn or cloudy, it is better to look on the shallower sides of the ledges.
  • 5. The ideal time of the day– The ideal time of the day to go for bass fishing during the summer is early morning or late evening. The temperature of the surface water or shallow water remains cooler thus the bass prefers to stay there for feeds and oxygen. Moreover, early in the morning, many insects spring into action which is attracting for the bass to remain in the shallow waters. Generally, shad spawn during the dawn time, mostly in the first hour of the day time.As the shad spawn in the shallows, generally along the ledges or vegetation, the bass eats those shad so are found on the shallow waters during that time. Evening time can also be an ideal time for bass fishing during the summer as the water temperature drops gradually because the midday sun has set in the sky. The cooler shallow water makes it a feeding zone for the bass.

• • 6. Lures usage– Top water lures can be used during summer as there is plenty of vegetation and plant life that can be found floating on the top water. Weedless lures like frogs can be good for casting into vegetation areas, as bass will often tend to be waiting for prey below the weed mats. If there are no weeds or top-water lures, even pooping lures and walk-the-dog style lures can mimic the appearance of dying bait-fish and can attract the bass to feed.However, if you are aiming at large bass that dwells deeper in the water you may try to use diving lures like crankbaits, jigs with crawfish trailers, finesse worms, or rig creature baits. These types of lures are suitable for ledge fishing.

• • 7. Nighttime fishing– Night time fishing trip is most suitable in the summer season. Bass will be biting whether it is clear skies or raining or full moon night. The day type affects more than the nighttime weather. If the day has been rainy or cloudy, then best to fish during the first hours after the sunset or late evening.If the day has been a bright sunny day, bass will be biting throughout the night. When fishing at night, you need minimum tackle i.e. spinnerbaits, jigs, plastic worms. Spinner baits are great for bass fishing as they work through vibrations. These are perfect both for daytime and nighttime.
  • 8. Vegetation Targeting– Weeds, aquatic plants provide shelter to the bass as well as oxygen to them. These aquatic plants are mostly found during summertime. Vegetation mats act like topwater lures as naturally frogs are found in those areas and serve as excellent lures or food to the bass.
  • 9. Sources of food– Naturally, summertime has more food compared to other seasons. Plenty of green plants come alive and small animals make their way to food. During the early morning, shad will stay in the shallow water which is the favorite food of the bass during summer.The sunfish will start to spawn, just after the shad finished spawning which may occur late in the summer and in the same area where bass spawn. Bass usually feed these spawning sunfish, like bluegill so bass are often found near to the spawning beds.

Conclusion

Summer is the perfect season for bass fishing though we should keep in mind some tips so that we won’t fail to catch them. Remember that brighter sun and hot water, the deeper the bass will be most likely. If cloudy days, and cooler days, bass will tend to dwell in the shallower water. Targeting as per the temperature and type of day will increase the chance of more bass bites. Enjoy your summertime bass fishing with your friends or alone by following the tricks and tips.