Fishing Paddletail Swimbaits for Deep Summer Bass

As summer progresses, bass tend to move deeper in search of cooler water and active forage. This can make them difficult to target, but paddletail swimbaits can be a great way to get their attention.

Paddletail swimbaits are soft plastic baits that feature a large, paddle-shaped tail. This tail creates a lot of water disturbance, which can be very attractive to bass. The baits also have a lifelike swimming action that can fool even the most finicky bass.

When fishing paddletail swimbaits for deep summer bass, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you'll need to use a heavy enough rod and reel to cast the bait effectively. You'll also need to use a line that is strong enough to handle the occasional big fish.

Second, you'll need to fish the bait in the right spots. Look for areas where there is deep water with some structure and cover, such as ledges, humps, or brush piles. Bass will often hold on or near these areas during the summer months.

Third, you'll need to use the right retrieve. A slow, steady retrieve is often the best way to fish paddletail swimbaits for deep summer bass. As always if a one retrieve is not producing, vary your retrieve to see what it takes to trigger the bass into striking.

Want a little more insight from a Bassmaster Elite pro?

Take a few minutes and watch as bass pro Buddy Gross describes his approach for using swimbaits to trigger deep, structure-oriented bass into biting!