Fish Deep During Summer Heat

For many folks across the country, this summer is starting out just like the winter did… Warmer than normal!

Here in the Midwest, we’re looking a one of our first strings of 90+ temps and it’s only mid-June (I wonder what August will be like!)…

As the air and water temps continue to rise, many bass move offshore to humps, bars and ledges.

Learning how to successfully fish these offshore structures will often mean between a day where you’re catching bass or only a sunburn…

In this next video, Bass Pro Scott Martin shows what it takes to pattern then catch bass on one of these structures… ledges…

So what’s the final take-away…

1) Use your depth finder to locate structures holding bass then mark the area…

2) Start out with a search bait such as a deep diving crankbaits (large spinnerbaits or lipless cranks would work too) to locate the area of active fish…

3) Switch to a larger, slower moving lure (large jig or Texas-rigged worm) and slowly probe the area to upgrade your catch!

Different Topwater Method for Smallmouths

I love catching smallmouths! 

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never reject a chance at catching any bass but to me there’s nothing like hooking into a smallmouth…

One of my favorite ways to catch smallies... any topwater bait!

Most of the time, I rely on floating minnow baits, prop lures, poppers and even small to medium buzzbaits but… 

I recently came across a video demonstrating another topwater method I really hadn’t considered for any bass… 

Fishing unweighted lizards rigged Texas-style and using a slow retrieve to keep the bait right under the surface… 

Give a look-see yourself…

One thing during the video got me thinking… 

Given the number of short strikes, I wonder what would happen if they stopped the bait when the fish was following… hmmmm 

Gonna have to check this method out the next time the conditions are right!

Fishing Marabou Finesse Jigs for Bass

They don't look like much...

The most effective retrieve is typically a do-nothing, slow straight one...

So why is the marabou hair jig so effective on smallmouths and spots?

Take a few minutes, watch and see for yourself...

Pretty amazing but personal experience ... they work!

Fishing for Ice Out Smallmouth Bass

After a long north country winter, cabin fevered smallmouth bass anglers itch for the day the ice leaves and we can hit the water to connect with then ole brown fish.

Armed with our favorite ice-out baits like:

• hair jigs
• suspending crankbaits
• thin, flat-sided crankbaits (like shad raps)
• Small spoons or jigging minnows

we head out to find transition areas between their deep water wintering homes and the shallow feeding flats and spawning bays and probe those areas with our traditional ice-out lure arsenal.

There is one bait and presentation we sometimes overlooked shortly after the ice cover departs... using a yo-yo retrieve with a lipless crankbait. 

It can be a smallie killer under the right conditions as Doug Stange from InFiseherman demos in the following video...

I often use yo-yo retrieves with lipless cranks for ice-out largies with great success, time to try it on smallies as well!

Springtime Soft Jerkbait Tips

Northern bass anglers eagerly wait for ice-out and bright sunny days to start elevating water temperatures in our favorite honey holes. 

Once on the water, the best area to start searching for thawing bass can be the vegetated bays, coves and cuts on the north side of the lake. Combining the maximum sun exposure these areas receive in the spring with the darker bottoms means faster heating and the warmest water in the lake.

Warmer water draws baitfish which in turn draws bass eager to chow down after the sluggish cold water period. 

What's the perfect bait for probing these weedy bass haunts?

A Texas-rigged, fluke-style soft jerkbait is often the right lure for the hunt!

Take a moment and listen to Kyle of Wired2Fish explain his reasons and approach when fishing these weedy cuts for springtime bass...