As the summer season rolls in, bass fishing enthusiasts eagerly await the opportunity to target these robust and opportunistic predators. During the warmer months, bass typically become more aggressive feeders, actively seeking out their prey with less frequent movement. By identifying and fishing the right locations, anglers can enjoy an exhilarating and productive summer bass fishing experience.
Here are the top 5 best spots to target bass during the summer season:
1.Seek Out Current Seams
Whether in ponds, lakes, or reservoirs, current seams provide bass with two essential elements - food and oxygen. By strategically positioning themselves in these current-rich areas, bass can obtain sustenance and aerate their gills with minimal effort. While you may not be looking for raging rapids, even gentle current generated by aeration systems in farm ponds can be enough to attract and hold bass, as they can intercept the flow of food while benefiting from the extra oxygen.
Bass relate to these current breaks because they provide an energy-efficient way to ambush baitfish and other forage that gets swept into the zone. By holding station in the slower, oxygenated water, bass can conserve precious calories while still taking advantage of the bountiful feeding opportunities. Anglers should focus on areas where the current slows, such as behind submerged rocks, fallen trees, or manmade structures like docks and bridge abutments. These current seams are true bass magnets during the summer months.
2.Target Overhead Cover and Shade
Docks, trees, and boathouses provide valuable overhead cover and shade. The lower the cover is to the water's surface, the longer the bass can enjoy the cooling effects of the shade. Cooler water temperatures in these shaded areas, which can be up to 10 degrees lower than the surrounding sun-exposed areas, mean higher dissolved oxygen levels - something bass and their prey find irresistible. Small baitfish also seek refuge from avian predators under the overhead cover, making it an ideal ambush point for lurking bass.
Anglers should thoroughly inspect any available overhead cover, as bass will often take up residence in the same spot day after day, as long as the conditions remain favorable. While you may need to change up your lure presentation or bait to "trick" the fish again on subsequent visits, once a trophy bass finds a preferred hideaway, it will typically remain there for the entire season, provided it has access to adequate food and oxygen.
3.Focus on Main Lake Humps and Points
The term "structure" is as old as recreational fishing itself, but it truly came into prominence with the advent of fish finders, when we first saw the orange blips on the screen that revealed the hidden holding spots of fish. In large open-water bodies, especially natural bowl-shaped lakes, the primary form of structure is the lake's own topography - the undulations of the lake bottom. For predatory fish like bass, the appeal of structure lies in its ability to attract and harbor the baitfish, crustaceans, and other forage that bass prefer to ambush.
Main lake humps, points, and other contour changes provide prime ambush spots for summer bass. These areas concentrate baitfish and other prey, allowing the bass to conserve energy by simply waiting in place for their next meal to swim by. Compared to the constant movement required in open-water settings, bass can be remarkably sedentary when relating to prime structural elements. This is why the largest fish are often found closest to the most pronounced underwater features.
4.Seek Out Submerged Ledges and Drops in Reservoirs
Reservoirs, formed by damming rivers, typically feature deep main-river channels and broad, shallow flood-pool areas. During the summer, bass in reservoirs often relate to the sharp drop-offs between these two zones. In low-light conditions (including the pitch-black of night), start your search at the tops of these submerged ledges and work your way out into the nearby shallow water. The steeper the ledge, the more likely it is to be holding fish. Vertical presentations, both up and down the ledge, as well as parallel to it, are all effective.
These sudden depth changes provide an ideal transition zone for bass, offering quick access to both deep-water refuge and shallow-water foraging opportunities. The steep ledges also create current breaks and eddies that concentrate baitfish, making them high-percentage areas for anglers to target. As with main lake structure, the largest bass will often be found closest to the most dramatic depth changes.
5.Explore Dense Floating Vegetation in Natural Lakes
Actively seek out areas with lush, floating vegetation like water lilies, water hyacinth, and pondweed. Within and under these dense mats of cover, bass can find similar ambush advantages as they do with low-hanging overhead cover, but with the added benefit of the vegetation extending into the water column, providing more opportunities to strike at passing prey.
If you can find areas where patches of different floating plants, like water lilies drifting into a pondweed bed, you've likely discovered a bass hotspot. The more dense and diverse the vegetation, the larger the bass you'll encounter. These floating mats not only offer shade and protection, but they also attract and concentrate baitfish, creating a veritable buffet for the opportunistic bass.
Bonus: Night Fishing Rewards
Sometimes, the key to finding and catching summer bass isn't so much about location as it is about timing. Go fishing at night! Particularly in waters where daytime fishing can be challenging, the "big feed" may primarily occur under the cover of darkness.
Wait until the sky is completely black - around 10 or 11 PM or later. Drift or use a trolling motor to quietly work the shallow areas atop main lake humps and points, or the tops of submerged ledges. Fish the higher percentage water. Be prepared for some exciting, big-fish action as you hear the distinctive slashing sounds of bass striking your lures.
The combination of reduced light, cooler temperatures, and less fishing pressure often triggers a more aggressive feeding response in bass during the night hours. By targeting these prime nighttime locations, anglers can capitalize on the bass's heightened predatory instincts and land some true trophy-class fish.
Remember to equip yourself with the best Bass Fishing and Live Shrimp Hooks to increase your chances of Catching Big Fish this summer. With these key hotspot strategies and the right tackle, you'll be well on your way to a successful and rewarding summer bass fishing adventure.
