Top 5 Best Bait Categories for July
0. The Beginning of Full Summer
As July arrives, the summer heat intensifies, and bass that have been gathering in shallow areas from spring through early summer gradually move to deeper water as water temperatures rise, seeking more comfortable temperatures and higher oxygen levels.
However, they don't completely abandon the shallows. During cooler morning and evening hours when temperatures drop, they often return to shallow areas for feeding. Especially during the cool hours around sunrise, you'll notice bass actively chasing baitfish in shoreline shade and weed areas, making for excellent topwater fishing opportunities.
During midday, bass avoid direct sunlight by hiding in places where water temperature increases are minimized, such as under docks, overhangs, or near inflows. This makes fishing centered around shade and structure the primary approach. Understanding bass movement patterns as full summer approaches and adapting your approach to time-of-day changes becomes crucial.
- 1. Morning and Evening Feeding Time -Topwaterbaits-
- 2. Bass Hiding in Shade -Texas Rig & Free Rig-
- 3. Bass Targeting Baitfish at Inflows- Bluegill-type baits-
- 4. Bass Dropped to Deeper Levels-Mid-strolling & Carolina Rig-
- 5. Bass Relating to Bottom Structure-Drop Shot Rig-
- 6. Summary
1. Morning and Evening Feeding Time -Topwaterbaits-
Both excel at taking time to show the lure and trigger strikes when the surface is calm. The key to successful midsummer topwater fishing is patience—don't rush, don't panic, and enjoy the surface battle.Bass avoid the intense midday sun and move into shallows during the cooler morning and evening bite times, actively chasing baitfish. Since bass are often focused on the surface, particularly because it's easier to corner prey there, topwater presentations are highly effective.
Among topwater lures, slow-moving baits are recommended here. Bass during this period conserve energy, so they may give up chasing fast-moving lures. For slow topwater presentations, We'd first recommend the legendary MEGABASS POPX popper. Its natural dog-walk action and popping sounds, crafted with attention to lifelike detail, give bass no opportunity to examine the lure closely even when worked slowly, compelling them to strike.
For a slightly larger action that churns more water while maintaining slow presentation, the IMAKATSU Aventa Crawler RSR is effective. This crawler-type lure creates ripples on the surface with its wings, maintaining bass interest for extended periods even with extremely slow retrieves.
Both excel at taking time to show the lure and trigger strikes when the surface is calm. The key to successful midsummer topwater fishing is patience—don't rush, don't panic, and enjoy the surface battle.
POPX
Aventa Crawler RSR
Conversely, when bass don't respond to slow presentations, try the opposite approach with ultra-high-speed retrieves to trigger reaction strikes. The IMAKATSU Aventa Crawler VAZELLE can be burned across the surface like a frilled lizard running on water, creating splashes that compel bass to strike. It also allows for sudden stops, so experiment with varying the cadence.
Aventa Crawler VAZELLE
2. Bass Hiding in Shade -Texas Rig & Free Rig-
To escape the intense summer sun, bass hide in shade created by docks, overhangs, or floating debris. To target these fish, Texas-rigs and free-rigs that can penetrate cover are effective. The key is using the rig's weight to smoothly deliver the bait deep into cover, then allowing it to fall slowly, giving bass time to examine and strike.
For soft plastics, we recommend imitating crustaceans like shrimp and crawfish, which provide efficient nutrition for bass. Particularly effective are the NORIES Escape Twin with its voluminous arms, and the MEGABASS Bottle Shrimp with its compact profile designed for triggering strikes and gentle arm movement—both perfect for shade fishing.
ESCAPE TWIN
BOTTLE SHRIMP 3"
For free-rig presentations, the high-water-resistance IMAKATSU Javallon is also recommended. Its undulating action the moment the weight touches bottom triggers bass predatory instincts.
JAVALLON 140
3. Bass Targeting Baitfish at Inflows- Bluegill-type baits-
Areas where fresh, cool water flows in—such as river spillways or pond drainage outlets—maintain cooler temperatures and serve as perfect summer refuges for bass. These spots are rich in oxygen and attract baitfish and crustaceans, making them bass feeding areas. Of particular note is the "bluegill pattern"—targeting bluegill that have finished spawning and begun roaming from shallow areas. For bluegill schools near inflows, realistic profiles and lifelike movement are most effective.
The IMAKATSU Gillroid Baby and DEPS Bull Shooter are proven bluegill-type baits that faithfully reproduce bluegill silhouettes and vibrations. Using steady retrieves, stop-and-go, and twitches to create natural movement allows you to appeal to bass without creating suspicion. The JACKALL Chibitarel Dead Rise faithfully reproduces a "dying bluegill" floating on the surface. By releasing line tension and letting it sit, it mimics a struggling, weakened baitfish on the surface, making it easy for even low-activity bass to feed on.
GillROID BABY
BULLSHOOTER 160 Floating
CHIBITAREL DEADRISE
4. Bass Dropped to Deeper Levels-Mid-strolling & Carolina Rig-
During hot summer days when surface water temperatures rise due to intense sunlight, bass avoid the surface layer and move to deeper zones—typically around 10-16 feet in the water column or near bottom. Targeting these fish requires approaches matched to their depth and preferred prey.
When bass are focused on small baitfish in the area, mid-strolling to thoroughly work the mid-water column is recommended. Keep movement distance minimal while presenting naturally, making it easy for low-activity bass to feed. For extremely lethargic bass hugging bottom, Carolina-rigs can effectively cover water while presenting a weak, vulnerable-looking small fish.
For these situations, the KEITECH Shad Impact with its natural silhouette and vibration is recommended. Being softer than other mid-strolling worms, it produces more lifelike rolling action.
SHAD IMPACT 4"
5. Bass Relating to Bottom Structure-Drop Shot Rig-
When bass drop to the bottom to escape high summer water temperatures, they're often found relating to structure such as fallen trees, standing timber, or breaks and other depth changes. In these situations, precisely targeting likely bass holding spots rather than covering water broadly leads directly to success.
Drop-shot-rigs work perfectly here—drop the rig next to structure, keep the weight on bottom, and lightly shake just the soft-plastic. This gives bass natural-looking feeding opportunities without creating suspicion. Small lures with natural vibration are most effective.
We recommend the JACKALL Peaceton Fry and KEITECH Easy Shaker. The Peaceton Fry's delicate silhouette and split-tail micro-vibrations make it look like a weak small fish separated from its school. The Easy Shaker is a straight worm that maintains horizontal posture when drop-shot rigged, and its entire soft body sways with minimal movement, triggering the instincts of bottom-dwelling bass.
PEACETON FRY 2.8"
EASY SHAKER 3.0"
6. Summary
July marks the beginning of full summer, making approaches that target bass avoiding heat while conserving energy during feeding activities crucial. Identify when and what bass are feeding on, and where they're seeking relief from the heat.
- Target feeding bass in morning/evening shallows with slow topwater presentations
- For bass hiding under shade, slowly drop penetrating Texas-rigs and free-rigs
- Imitate bluegill gathering at inflows
- For bass dropped one level deeper, use mid-strolling for mid-water column and Carolina-rigs for bottom
- Target bass relating to bottom structure with drop-shot spot shaking
For detailed information about mid-summer fishing, please see this article.
Also, for mid-summer deep-water fishing and cover fishing, see here.
