Spring has passed and bass are completely done with their spawning cycle. Outside and water temperatures are rising and the bass bite seems to have slowed down. Summer does not have to be a slow producer for monster bass. Bass are creatures of habit and more times than not predictable. Once you learn the patterns for the area you are fishing, you will have great pictures of your bass to brag about on social media instead of just posting a sunrise!
How to find summer bass
You will hear some anglers say you must go deep. Others will say you must stay shallow. In theory, they are both right, and wrong. More on that later!
Much like us when the temperature is rising bass do not want to move, but they still must eat. Bass will position themselves in areas that will produce the most food and oxygen in the water.
Shade is important it helps cool the water when in full sunlight. Docks, boat houses, trees, or any object casting a shadow. Water in this area will be cooler, which will allow more oxygen into the water. Due to the cooler water temperature and extra oxygen baitfish will be attracted to the area. More food and more oxygen equal more bass!
Underwater structures such as drop-offs, ledges, and points that lead to deep water will hold bass. Bass will tend to stay to the deeper side of the drop-off where the water is cooler and more oxygenated and move to the shallows to feed before returning.
Where streams rivers or other sources of current feed the lake are great places to locate summer bass. Cooler water and plenty of baitfish move in and out of the inflow sources. Structure, cover, or shade in these areas will more than likely be holding the next trophy you can hang on your wall.
How bass react during summer weather.
Bass will react to current weather conditions and changing weather conditions. The reaction bass have to weather is quite extensive, so we will only be doing a quick overview. We wrote an article that covers this topic more in-depth plus included a FREE PRINTABLE CHEAT SHEET here!
When the sky is clear and the sun is shining bass will move to deeper water or cover such as weed beds, wood, or rocks. If the sky is cloudy bass will tend to move further from cover into the open to find food. Bass will react to changing weather and will normally start behaving differently before the weather changes. In the link above we discuss how to spot a weather change coming and be a step ahead of the bass!
Wind and wind direction also influence bass behaviors. The current from the wind will blow algae and small plant matter towards the shore the wind is directed at. Baitfish will move to those shorelines along with their food, which will motivate bass to move along after them. Looking for areas as outlined in the previous section will have the highest probability for bass.
Do bass go shallow in the summer
After the spawn resident bass will more than likely stay shallow, looking for that summertime shade. They also may move slightly out where there is an underwater structure that leads to deep water. No matter which way they decide to go, they will not move too far away from the area they spawned which is why they are called resident bass.
Bass that stick to the shallows do not normally school up, they normally have the area they like and are protective of it. They will however move if the food source becomes scarce due to weather changes or other reasons. Shallow summer bass feed on crawfish, baitfish, bluegill, and other forage that are natural to the area where it is located.
Do bass go deep in the summer
Bass that move out deeper after the spawn are called transitional bass. These bass normally stay deep and move to the shallows only to spawn or feed. Finding deep water that has structure leading to the shallows along with some cover will be the best shot at finding your summertime deep bass.
Bass that move to deeper water tends to school up due to less cover in the area. You can use this to your advantage and start a feeding frenzy by getting just one to take the bait. Normally you will get a smaller member of the school to take the bait. Be sure to follow up in the same area to pick up the trophy that is patiently waiting to be netted!
What lures to use in the summer to catch bass
During the summer months, bass will try to get the most bang for their buck. This is why you will hear bigger lures work better. Bass have to exert the same amount of energy for small meals as for big meals. Bass will try to conserve their energy by going for the biggest offering. Although if you are not having success with big lures, downsizing is a tactic that will often change your fishing trip for the better.
Staying along the lines of bass trying to exert the least amount of energy possible is why finesse tactics are so powerful in the summer. If you rip a crankbait by a bass you may end up pulling it out of the zone the bass is willing to strike. You may end up with a reaction strike or get the bass to chase the lure, but it may also just hang back and wait for a slower easier-to-catch meal.
Patterns are another subjective topic when it comes to summertime bass. One day it could be the newest hot pattern on the market, the next the old trusty fire tiger pattern. Pattern choice comes down to the water you are fishing., the forage in the lake, and the current weather conditions. While going for the tried and true patterns or the hot pattern of the year usually produces. Custom lures give you some unique advantages that a mass-produced lure cannot, read more about it here!
Final Words
Nothing is better than barbecues, campfires, and some bass fishing. There is no longer a need to fear the dog days of summer, and chalk up the day to well the fish weren’t biting. Using the knowledge of bass patterns and knowing the body of water you are fishing you can now go get some summertime trophies
