How to fish the bass in Mid Summer
-What is the best baits -
0. Characteristics of Midsummer Bass
The intense summer heat is a major enemy for bass. Just like humans, bass can experience a phenomenon known as "summer fatigue," causing them to become sluggish.
As a result, while bass are widely dispersed in early summer, they start to hide in spots with lower water temperatures once midsummer arrives. When targeting bass in midsummer, focus on cool areas where the water temperature tends to drop, such as deep areas with low temperatures, shades without direct sunlight, and spots with inflows or backwaters.
On top of that, even in the peak of summer heat, bass tend to move into feeding mode during the early morning hours—the coolest part of the day. When targeting early morning bites, focus on bass that are holding shallow and looking up toward the surface.
In this blog, we’ll break down three key areas where bass typically seek cooler water, along with tips on how to effectively fish topwater in the early morning.
- 1. Deep Areas
- 2. Shades
- 3. Points with Current and Backwaters
- 4. Topwater baits
- 5. Conclusion
1. Deep Areas
During this season, bass tend to gather in deep areas where the water temperature is closer to their comfort zone due to the high temperatures.
1.1. Banging Bottom for Reaction Strikes – Deep Diving Crankbaits
Since bass are generally in a less active state because of the high water temps, rather than a finesse approach to make them bite, it's more effective to use lures like deep diving crankbaits to trigger reactionary bites through erratic side-to-side movements.
A recommended staple deep crankbait is the Deep-X series from MEGABASS. Available in four models diving from 10 to 20 feet, they transition from a wobbling & rolling on the descent to a tight wobbling & rolling on reaching maximum depth, with this change triggering bites. Even after 15 years since its release, it remains a popular standard deep diving crankbait.
If you need to dive even deeper, the IMAKATSU IK-800R2 is a good choice. It can reach 16 feet when cast at maximum distance and trolled for about 50 feet after a full cast.
1.2. Finessing Deep Water the Natural Way – Carolina & Dropshot Rigs
If bass aren’t responding well to cranks and you feel like a more natural presentation is needed, try switching to a Carolina rig for horizontal movement or a dropshot for vertical finesse.
The Carolina rig is great for covering water efficiently while keeping solid bottom contact. Pair it with a subtle swimbait like the KEITECH Shad Impact, which swims with a natural, lifelike action even when dragged just above the bottom.
If the local forage calls for it, flat-profile baits like the GEECRACK Bellows Gill or craw-style baits like the Bellows Craw are also excellent for probing the bottom with horizontal movement.
Once you’ve located where the bass are holding, a dropshot is ideal for targeting them with precision—especially around standing timber or vertical cover like dock posts. Rig up with a compact finesse bait like the JACKALL Peaceton Fry or KEITECH Easy Shaker, and let it hang in place with a gentle shake. Bass will often mistake it for an easy baitfish and strike without hesitation.
2. Shades
In midsummer, in addition to rising water temperatures, the sun also becomes stronger, so bass often stay in shaded areas where the water temperature is slightly lower and out of direct sunlight. Shades can be found everywhere, forming under bridges, floating debris, and various other places.
Floating debris often newly appears due to weather and wind conditions, and can be expected to have low pressure, so it's a good target. Rig up a Texas rig or weightless-rig or better weedless performance.
For lures imitating crustaceans that allow bass to efficiently replenish nutrients, options include the Bottle Shrimp from MEGABASS, where the arms powerfully push water with a slight delay to rod techniuque, and the Escape Twin from NORIES, whose two thick paddles firmly displace water without being swept away by the current.
For the free-rig, The IMAKATSU Javallon, with its high-water resistance, separates significantly from the weight during its fall. The wavy, flashing motion at the moment the weight hits the bottom triggers the bass's predatory instincts.
Also, a key factor in shade fishing is targeting the shade formed under overhanging trees along the shore. In such spots, bass lie in wait even during the day, aiming for insects falling from above. Discern what kind of insects are being preyed upon in that field and select an appropriate bug bait.
In fields with a lot of cicadas, try using a Siglett from MEGABASS. Not only does it look just like a cicada, but the two internal rattles even mimic the sound, going "jijii...jijii..." in a dead ringer for real cicada cries. It comes in three sizes, so choose based on the types of cicadas in the field.
For bass hiding in the shade of underwater weeds, the use of sinking bug-type soft-plastic is also an option.
The Wamwam Flare from JACKALL has the characteristic of making minute undulations with its legs while slowly falling when rigged weightless and standard rigging, or exhibiting a long, gentle backsliding action when rigged backwards, allowing you to precisely target tight cover.
Another great option is dropping a worm-style soft-plastic vertically to entice bites. The JACKALL Yammy is especially effective—just rig it wacky-style with no weight and let it fall naturally. Its subtle shimmy draws attention without any extra action.
It really shines in sight-fishing situations. When you spot a bass cruising the bank, pitch the Yammy right in its path—the way it twists and undulates on the fall can trigger instinctive strikes.
3. Points with Current and Backwaters
Areas with dams or drainage from ponds and streams with fresh, cold-water inflow, or spots with underwater currents that are not visible to the eye, become favorable areas for bass as the water quality is clear, temperature is lower compared to surroundings, and dissolved oxygen is abundant. However, invisible currents do not flow throughout the day, and water flow is created by factors like gates being open or dams releasing water due to elevation differences and discharge volumes, and the flow also changes based on the terrain, weather, and wind direction. Read the water flow in your own field, taking into account the surrounding environment.
3.1. Baitfish Gather Where Fresh Water Flows – Bluegill-Style Baits
Backwaters are also a standard point for targeting summer bass. In reservoirs, backwaters refer to inflows in the uppermost reaches. Backwaters and inflows have low water temperatures and abundant dissolved oxygen, drawing in not only bass but also other creatures like baitfish. Especially in summer dam lakes, backwaters are almost always prime spots.
It can be expected that other fish will also gather around good water. The first baitfish that comes to mind for bass is bluegill. The GillroidBaby from IMAKATSU is easy to use as a bluegill swimbait that can catch fish just by casting and employing a stop-and-go retrieve. Other recommendations include the most popular bluegill glidebait in Japan, the BullShooter from DEPS, and the Chibitarel Deadrise from JACKALL which portrays a dying bluegill with a vertical swimming action.
If you’re going with soft plastics, the GEECRACK Bellows Gill is a solid choice on a free rig. Thanks to its fully ribbed body, it offers a bulky profile while still being easy for bass to inhale—making it both eye-catching and bite-friendly.
4. Topwater baits
During the high-activity periods of morning and evening when air temperatures are still relatively low, even midsummer bass may be more sluggish in the morning compared to spring and fall, so relatively slow-drawing topwater plugs like poppers and crawler baits that match their slower movements and keep their gaze above eye level can be effective. Bites can also be visually observed, making it exciting and enjoyable!
4.1. Matching the Mood: Slow-Moving Topwaters for Early Morning Bass
In high-pressure environments, use a popper to entice bass with delicate popping sounds. A standard choice is the POP-X from MEGABASS. Its restrained pop sound draws in bass.
For slowly reeling crawler baits, the IMAKATSU Aventa Crawler RSR moves a short distance at dead slow speed, portraying weak or small creatures on the surface, while the Volcano Gripper buzzbait, with its enlarged blade for improved hook-ups, has a strong water displacement that can be reeled slowly and lift bass from one level deeper.
5. Conclusion
The hot midsummer season is an uncomfortable period for bass. If you think about where the cool spots are for bass, conversely, it can be considered a chance to pinpoint target areas. This article took a broad look at midsummer fishing in general, but by digging deeper into each aspect like cover, inflows, and deep areas, you can develop more strategies and deploy tactics that set you apart from others.
- [1] Deep Water
- Bang the bottom with deep crankbaits to trigger reaction bites.
- Use a Carolina rig to cover the bottom horizontally, or a dropshot for a subtle shake in place to tempt finicky bass. - [2] Shade
- For shade created by floating debris, go with a Texas rig or free rig that can punch through and get down.
- Under overhangs, mimic bugs falling from above to trigger strikes. - [3] Incoming Flow
- When bluegill gather in the fresh water flow, match the pattern with gill-style lures. - [4] Topwater
- Even in mid-summer, bass looking toward the surface in the early morning can be tempted with a slow-moving topwater retrieve.
For a deeper dive into deep-water tactics during midsummer, check out this article.
For more insights on fishing heavy cover in midsummer, take a look at this one.
