So, you've found cover, shade, deeper water, or a combination of the three. Now let's put the right lure in front of the largemouth's face.
Below we'll discuss what lures to have tied on and ready to go to help you rip the lips of some summertime largemouth bass.
If you missed our previous article of "River Fishing: Finding Summer Largemouth Bass", be sure to check it out to understand the importance of finding cover, shade, and deeper water when targeting summer largemouth.
Time to talk about lures!
When Fishing Cover
When given the opportunity to fish around cover consider using lures that can withstand the possibility of getting hung up. For most anglers this means throwing something that is weedless. Below are a few lure suggestions for different types of cover that have proven themselves time and time again.
Submerged Trees and Flooded Timber
The majority of rivers have wood in some form (stumps, washed up trees, etc.). These are great hideouts for a largemouth bass to get out of the sun. River timber also makes for a great habitat for micro-organisms and smaller river creatures that feed on them meaning that bass are always close by. Give these lures a shot!
Why we like it:
- They're weedless and can be fished where other lures cannot
- Compact lure that allows for very accurate casts
- Can be rigged with a soft plastic trailer to imitate a crawfish or baitfish
- All brands come in a variety of colors
Our picks:
Z-MAN CrosseyeZ Football Jig (https://amzn.to/3GHJVc4)
Booyah 1/2 oz Jig (https://amzn.to/3yFTo1D)
Texas Rigged Senko (Weightless)
Why we like it:
- It's extremely weedless when properly rigged
- It has a naturally, flat fall that drives bass insane
Our pick:
YUM Dinger (https://amzn.to/3MaM3dF)
Grass
Grass fishing is a great time to take advantage of longer casts and lures that can be worked faster. The lures highlighted below are best fished near grass edges or right above submerged grass that doesn't quite reach the surface.
Why we like it:
- You can make really long casts with them
- They're a great search bait
- Very high hookup ratio
Our pick:
Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg (https://amzn.to/3Lp693j)
Spinnerbaits
Why we like it:
- It's very easy to control their depth
- Great at imitating baitfish
- Produces a lot of vibrations
Our pick:
BOOYAH Willow Leaf Spinnerbait (https://amzn.to/3ahFh90)
Rocks
Areas of the river that include a bed of rocks or boulders is a great place for bass to congregate to in the summer months. Rocks provide a cooler environment and typically have an abundance of prey, whether it be crawfish or minnows, for largemouth bass to feed on. Check out what we're throwing!
Crankbaits
Why we like it:
- They deflect off rocks causing reaction bites
- They cover a lot of water
- Easy to fish
Our pick:
Strike King 6XD (https://amzn.to/3RhtN5Y)
Football Jigs
Why we like it:
- They easily maneuver over and around rocks and boulders
- They maintain a real-life crawfish profile thanks to the football shape head
- Some include rattles to add an additional element to the lure
Our pick:
Reaction Tackle Tungsten Football Jig (https://amzn.to/3PUqrW3)
When Fishing Shade
Most of the shade you fish will be around the banks of the river. In most cases, this will end up being shallow water around overhanging trees or man-made docks. That's our focus for these lure suggestions.
Wacky Rigged Trick Worm
Why we like it:
- An easy meal for a largemouth bass
- Produces reaction strikes
- Great for skipping underneath trees and docks
Our picks:
Zoom Trick Worm (https://amzn.to/38M0580)
Offset Wacky/Dropshop Hooks (2/0), 30-Pack (https://amzn.to/3xZrD3k)
Why we like it:
- It's rigged weedless
- Good for skipping
- Great at imitating baitfish
- Creates reaction bites
Our pick:
Zoom Super Fluke (https://amzn.to/3P7tcSB)
When Fishing Deeper Water
Fishing deep in the summer can produce some big bites. Give these lures a shot to increase your chances.
Shaky head
Why we like it:
- It's durable and weedless
- Can be fished with spinning or baitcasting gear
- Can be fished multiple ways
Our picks:
Reaction Tackle Tungsten Shaky Head Jigs, 5-Pack (https://amzn.to/3yKYWHS)
Roboworm (https://amzn.to/3FPU3iy)
Dropshot
Why we like it:
- Covers a larger portion of the water column due to lure suspending off the bottom
- Can be used to imitate multiple types of bait
- Great for lethargic fish
Our picks:
Roboworm (https://amzn.to/3FPU3iy)
Reaction Tackle Lead Drop Shot Weights, 1/8oz (https://amzn.to/3zEvsMO)
Gamakatsu Dropshot Hooks (https://amzn.to/3LxxVep)
Happy Fishing Y'all!
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