How to fish early-summer bass-What is the best baits-
- 1. Early Summer Bass Behavior
- 2. Early Morning Shallows
- 3. Daytime Offshore
- 4. Daytime Cover
- 5. Conclusion
1. Early Summer Bass Behavior
Early summer marks the timing when bass have finished spawning and are recovering their strength. Bass activity increases as they actively chase baitfish, and there's also a chance to catch bigger bass that finished spawning early, making bass fishing an enjoyable season. However, it's important to keep in mind that some individuals may have just finished spawning and haven't fully recovered, so their conditions can vary.
As temperatures rise during this season, bass select comfortable locations and move according to the time of day.
Morning (Pre-dawn to around 8 AM): Shallows
In the pre-dawn hours, bass move up to the shallows in search of small fish that serve as bait. One reason they choose shallows is that it's easier to corner baitfish there. On cloudy or low-light days, feeding time tends to be extended, while on clear, sunny days, bass tend to finish feeding early and move offshore or to cover as the sun rises and it gets brighter.
Daytime: Offshore or Cover
As summer approaches and temperatures rise, bass leave open shallows where water temperatures increase easily and move to offshore areas or cover in search of comfortable water temperatures. The higher the water temperature, the more they tend to move to deeper layers and thicker cover.
Let's examine early summer strategies by dividing them into early morning shallows, daytime offshore, and daytime cover.
2. Early Morning Shallows
In early morning, when the sun isn't high, bass tend to be more active and aggressively chase baitfish.
[Target Points]
Focus on baitfish presence and topographical changes
- Shallow flats connected to break lines
- Areas near reeds or overhanging shade where direct sunlight is limited
- Places with variations like standing timber or sunken objects
- Areas around bluegill nests
2.1. Bass Targeting Small Baitfish
When you see small baitfish in the shallows, work a topwater bait to mimic baitfish swimming near the surface. MEGABASS's DOG-X Jr. COAYU and other standard small walking baits are recommended, as are lures like the Aventa Crawler VAZELLE that, despite their small size, can run across the water surface as fast as a buzzbait to fool bass with quick movements.
If there's no reaction to topwater, it's a good idea to search a level deeper with a jerkbait. MEGABASS's ONETEN LBO is recommended for shallow-water. It's particularly known for how fast it starts swimming. Bass waiting in ambush around obstacles are carefully observing their surroundings, so if you fumble during the retrieve, they might detect it. However, ONETEN LBO starts its action immediately after hitting the water, giving bass no chance to detect weakness, and offers well-balanced swimming ability even around obstacles.
2.2. Bass Targeting Spawning Shad
In May, sometimes extending into June, early summer coincides with the shad spawning period. Shad spawning occurs in the shallows before sunrise in the early morning. Unlike bass, they don't create nests but spawn while roaming in schools. This is precisely a feeding opportunity for bass to gorge themselves. Once spawning begins, the location becomes quite noticeable, so target it directly. However, since spawning often finishes within 30 minutes to an hour, the key is to enter the spot early and wait.
The recommended lure is a swim jig that resembles a shad in appearance. In particular, MEGABASS's UOZE Swimmer is recommended for its excellent ability to slip through without snagging in shallow water. Large bass that have recovered should respond from early May to early June.
2.3. Bass Taking Position in Cover like Reed Edges
Bass near cover edges may not have fully recovered from the post-spawn period and could lack stamina, so try enticing them with a fallen insect pattern. MEGABASS's POP X is recommended for portraying insects that have fallen onto the water surface. Its dog-walking action on the water surface should look just like a struggling insect. The duct in the mouth creates a streamlining effect, providing stable operability while splashing water to appeal to bass, causing bass that are watching the surface for prey to rise and strike.
For bass in cover that won't come to the surface, drop a free-rig straight down and entice them. Turn on their feeding switch with backsliding soft-plastics. If you want to show crustaceans, EVERGREEN's Claw Motion is recommended. Designed with penetrating deep into cover in mind, it can be inserted deep, especially with the backslide setting. With salt content maximized to the limit, it reaches the bottom even when no-weighted-texas-rig.
2.4. Bass Targeting Bluegill Nests
It's essential to note that early summer overlaps with the bluegill spawning period. When nutritious bluegill are preoccupied with spawning and have reduced vigilance, or when they're weakened from spawning, it's advantageous for bass, making bluegill ideal prey during this period. A bait you should use for the bluegill pattern is T.H.tackle's Zoe, which looks remarkably like the real thing. You can leave it on the bottom or make it appear weak with an i-motion swimming.
IMAKATSU's Gilroid Jr. is another bluegill-type bait worth introducing. After making it swim like a less cautious bluegill with an i-motion movement, if you make it appear to flee in panic with an gliding action when it notices a bass, the bass should switch on and chase it.
3. Daytime Offshore
Open shallows during the day are prone to temperature increases, so bass move to offshore areas with stable water temperature and oxygen levels.
[Target Points]
Stay between the entrance to deeper areas from the shallows and the deepest part
- Places with humps or flats adjacent to deep water
- Inlets and points where fresh water flows in
- Places with topographical changes like table rocks, sunken objects, or standing timber
- Suspended in mid-depths when baitfish are roaming
3.1. Bass Focusing on Surface Baitfish
For bass focusing on baitfish roaming near the surface, fish with a popper to make them rise and strike. If you can narrow down the bass's location to some extent, try using MEGABASS's popper POPMAX with its strong appeal to bring surface-conscious bass up.
When bass are scattered, a buzzbait becomes effective. Create strong water agitation with DEPS's new Mad Waver featuring larger blades to attract bass from a wide area.
When small fish are swimming in schools, bass often follow them, so it's good to entice them with a spinnerbait. Choose EVERGREEN's D-Zone if you prioritize high appeal, or IMAKATSU's ZINX Mini if you seek more natural presentation.
3.2. Bass Not Rising from Mid-Depths
Bass that don't rise to surface appeals may not be fully active. In this case, use mid-strolling technique to make your bait look like easy prey. Note that while mid-strolling technique has high catch power, but it does not draw fish from a distance, so use it after narrowing down the bass's location or focusing on areas with topographical changes where bass might be stationed. For soft-plastic, use the original mid-strolling specialized minnow, Fish Arrow's Flash-J series, taking advantage of its flashing effect to attract bass.
3.3. Bass That Have Dropped to Deep Water
Especially on days with high temperatures and strong sunshine, bass might be seeking more stable water temperatures in deeper water. Focus on searching the bottom, particularly at deep spots leading to shallows and points with topographical changes.
The recommendation is bottom dragging with a heavy Carolina rig. Using KEITECH's Shad Impact as it creates life-like posture and action during swimming, stimulating the bass's predatory instinct.
If there's still no response, it's good to trigger them by tapping with a deep crankbait. By using MEGABASS's Deep-X series with its rapid diving capability, selecting according to water depth, you can search deep areas without missing spots.
4. Daytime Cover
During the day, as temperatures rise, bass move from open shallows to shade or cover, waiting in ambush for bait while hiding from predators.
[Target Points]
Shaded areas are key
- Deep in thick reeds or back of aquatic vegetation
- Under overhangs
- Floating debris or pockets sheltered from current
- Edges of rocks or table rocks
4.1. Bass That Have Entered Inside Cover
For bass that have entered cover, you'd ideally want to cast a lure directly in to appeal to them. JACKALL's Bounty Fish makes this possible. It can dog-walk even in heavy cover, and its ribs act as brakes to reduce travel distance and appeal precisely at pinpoint locations. The charm is that it can be clearly shown to bass inside cover.
If it's difficult to cast your lure directly into cover, cast a swimbait in front to draw the bass out from the cover. JACKALL's Maekon is a jointed bait with the charm of dog-walking while minimizing travel distance. The lag in movement between the front and back of the joint acts as a brake, allowing you to appeal accurately to bass at pinpoint locations.
Let's also reintroduce the bluegill pattern mentioned in the shallows section, as post-spawn bluegill may drop into cover. When nearly dead post-spawn bluegill fall down, bass can't help but use their mouths. Among these, GEECRACK's Bellows Gill can mimic a weakened bluegill. If you drop it into cover where bass lurk, it will fall while twitching its tail, attracting the bass's interest. Additionally, due to its all-ribbed body, it's easier to suck into the mouth than its apparent volume suggests.
4.2. Bass That Have Entered Even Thicker Cover
Bass may also inhabit thick floating cover like muddy floating debris or areas around aquatic vegetation that protrudes through the water surface to avoid sunlight. To penetrate such thick cover, use punching, which is a Texas-rig with a heavier weight. Aim for a weight around 1 oz. After casting, use up and down movements based on lift and drop as the basic technique, and if there's no reaction after throwing, quickly cast to a different location.
For soft-plastic, craw-types like NORIES's Escape Twin would be good.
For a more finesse approach, a cover Neko-rig can be effective. With the hook point hidden in the soft-plastic, it can slip through slight gaps to penetrate complex cover. For soft-plastic, JACKALL's Flick Shake with a body that bends to attract bass, or the somewhat more aggressive Yummy would be good. For cover Neko rigs, we highly recommend pairing with DECOY's NK Hook.
5. Conclusion
The key points about early summer bass are that while many are gradually recovering from the post-spawn and entering feeding mode, they move to the shallows in the early morning when water temperatures rise slowly, and then to offshore areas or cover with stable water temperatures during the day.
- 1. Early Morning Shallows
- Use walking-baits or jerkbaits when bass are targeting small baitfish
- For bass targeting spawning shad, use swimjigs resembling shad
- Present easy-to-eat bait like fallen insects to post-spawn recovering bass in cover
- Bottom placement or i-motion technique with bluegill type swimbait is effective for bass targeting bluegill nests - 2. Daytime Offshore
- Mimic surface-swimming bait with poppers, buzzbaits, and spinnerbaits
- For bass that won't rise from mid-depths, use mid-strolling technique
- Search with heavy Carolina rigs and deep-divers for bass that have dropped deep - 3. Daytime Cover
- Direct heavy-cover soft-plastic into cover or draw out bass with swimbaits
- Mimic dying bluegill with bluegill type soft-plastic
- For even thicker cover, use punching, or for finesse, target with Cover-Neko-rigs
The characteristic is that target points change according to the time of day. And since they are in feeding mode, it was also important to develop fishing strategies with baitfish in mind.
For more information on the daytime offshore pattern, refer to the blog below which provides further explanation.