Bass Fishing in Tough Summer Conditions
Bass fishing in the summer can be great, but there are going to be times where the conditions get really tough. Depending on where you live, the water can get up to 80 and 90 degrees. That’s hot! Another summer challenge is dealing with the residential boaters as school is out and people are on summer vacation. Let’s look at a couple patterns to use during these hot summer days.
First, let’s talk about fishing deeper, a common summer pattern. Fishing with light tackle and using a dropshot is an awesome way to get them to bite when the fish are on the bottom. It’s a great finesse technique to use in the summer that gets those hard to catch fish to bite. Many people are throwing deep diving plugs and Carolina rigs, so this can be a different approach that the fish don’t see as much. C-rigs and deep divers are a must to have in your tackle box and do work a lot of times, but when there’s a lot of pressure, a dropshot may be able to help. The Banjo Minnow works well on a dropshot rig, too! Another good technique to use out deep is a minnow style lure, especially when the fish are suspended in deeper water. A jig head minnow or a Banjo Minnow can get the job done here.
Another thing to look for during the dog days of summer is heavy cover. Cover will provide the fish that stay shallow with shade and cooler water. Things like docks, grass matts, and thick vegetation are key. Punching thick vegetation and grass matts with a 1 oz.-1.5 oz. tungsten weight and creature or beaver style bait is a must if your body of water has thick cover. Topwater frogs are also a great way to fish grass matts, especially if you notice that the fish are feeding up. The Banjo Frog is a great option for this. If you’re targeting docks, try skipping a Banjo Minnow under there.
Last, we have current to help us during hot summer days. In flows that come in creeks, wind current where it hits a point, or dam release are all things to look for. Even boat traffic can create current and pay off! A couple lures to tie on when fishing current would be jigs, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. Depending on the size of forage in the body of water you’re fishing, adjust the size of your jig to match the hatch.
We’ll go over some more summer time fishing methods in the next article because it’s timely and many anglers are opting out of getting on the water when they don’t have to! Don’t get discouraged, just stay cool and adapt! Banjo on.
