As the sun-soaked days of summer roll in, bass fishing enthusiasts gear up to hit the water. Known for their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights, bass offer an exhilarating experience for anglers. When it comes to targeting this prized species, employing effective lure fishing techniques can significantly increase your chances of success. In this blog post, we'll explore some valuable tips for summer lure fishing and highlight a selection of lures that have proven to be highly effective for those elusive silver bars.
Before we delve into the world of lures, it's crucial to understand the behaviour and preferences of these magnificent predators. During the summer, these fish often seek shelter near rocky structures, jetties, and in estuaries. They are known to be opportunistic feeders, preying on a variety of smaller fish, crustaceans, and even molluscs. Keeping these characteristics in mind will help you select the right lures and mimic natural prey effectively.
Soft Plastic Swimbaits, like the Fishus Soft Shad are one of the most versatile lures for targeting bass. If you are going to use this method, I would opt for models in the 4 to 6-inch range with lifelike swimming action, matching the hatch is what it is referred to as. These lures can be rigged on a weedless hook, allowing you to navigate through vegetation without getting snagged, or at least as snagged as little as possible (I’m not sure there is a 100% weedless lure) Retrieve the swimbait at varying speeds and don’t forget to twitch the rod tip every so often, this imitates an injured bait fish or a fleeing prey, which often entices aggressive strikes from the bass.
During warmer months, bass can often be found patrolling the shallows, especially during low-light conditions. Surface lures are excellent choices for enticing explosive topwater strikes. The FISHUS ESPETIT in 95 and 110mm are deadly lures for scoping the shallows for bass. When fish are finicky a smaller surface lure like a Fishus Espetit 70mm will bring them out from under their cover. Experiment with different speeds and pauses to mimic the erratic movements of a wounded baitfish, don’t be afraid to pause the lure, let it sit for a few seconds, you be surprised how many times it will be Smashed when stationary.
Jerk baits are another reliable option when it comes to attracting bass. These lures imitate an injured or struggling fish, triggering predatory instincts. Look at suspending or slow-sinking models the (Fishus Jerk SP) are perfect ones to look for. They can effectively target the mid-depth range where bass often lurk. Utilize a twitch-pause retrieve, imparting erratic movements that mimic a distressed prey. The sudden changes in direction often trigger aggressive strikes from nearby bass.
Finally, are metal lures. They come in a range of sizes and weights but from shore I'd want to be looking at something in the 15 to 20g range, FIIISH have recently introduce the HYPNOCAST and these little bullets are easy to use and catch fish! When the fish are actively feeding, metal jigs can be highly effective in imitating small baitfish. Choose metals with a weight and profile that match the local forage. Silver or chrome-colours tend to mimic sand eels, a favourite prey of bass. Vary your retrieve speed to imitate an injured fish or use a vertical jigging technique near structure to entice strikes.
During the summer and autumn months bass tend to be more active during low-light periods, such as dawn and dusk, dark is also a wonderful time to hunt the bigger fish. Bigger bass tend to scour the shallow at dark when all the other fish have gone to bed. Make sure to plan your fishing trips around these times to maximize your chances of success.
Be sure to Focus on areas with structure, such as rocky outcrops, jetties, submerged reefs, and estuaries. These locations provide shelter for the bass and attract smaller prey, making them prime hunting grounds.
Experiment with different retrieval speeds, pauses, and jerks to imitate injured or fleeing prey. Bass are often attracted to erratic movements, so don't be afraid to mix things up. For most of your lure fishing make it a habit to Pay Attention to Tides, bass are highly influenced by tidal movements. Fishing during the incoming or outgoing tide can increase your chances of encountering actively feeding
I hope all of this makes sense and you can take this information out on your next trip and land a STONKER! Definitely let us know if you do, we would love to know!
Tight lines guys and girls and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!