Gerald Almy: Tactics for catching summer bass

Slipping up to a shallow flat on the sprawling central Virginia lake, we cast out topwater lures and began slow, rhythmic retrieves. Within seconds my fishing partner and I both drew savage strikes from actively-feeding largemouth bass.

After landing six fish and missing several others, we knew the surface bite was over. After all, it was a hot summer day. Action in thin water doesn't last forever at this time of year.

The day was still young, though. We knew that by adapting our tactics to the changing patterns and movement of the bass, we could probably enjoy steady action for the rest of the hot, muggy summer day. And we did. Here are three of the tactics we turned to that day on Lake Anna, just a short drive away for Shenandoah Valley anglers.

Cast a soft frog lure

These lures not only have the appeal of a topwater lure, they also have a soft, realistic feel and crumple in a fish's mouth when it nails the offering. Bass are always on the lookout for a frog or even a mouse that happens to accidentally tumble or hop into the water. They know such a meal will quickly help meet their food needs for the day.

The weedless configuration of these lures also allows you to work them in thick cover where other offerings would get hung up. And that's where quite a few fish reside during the dog days of summer. Sure, lots of bass go deep in hot weather. But others simply hang out under thick cover of milfoil, hydrilla or lily pads and near brush piles and log jams.

Work a frog lure over them by twitching it back or offer a rat or mouse imitation by steadily V-waking it across the surface. Explosive strikes are almost guaranteed.

Delay setting your hook for a second or two after you see a fish grab the lure. Then drive the hook home with a lift of the rod. If you miss the bass, let the lure sit motionless, then twitch it again. Often the fish will come back for a second try.

Scour deep structure with plastic worms

During the summer, some of the biggest bass in lakes move far offshore and establish their living quarters on deep structure. To cash in on this bounty, look for structure such as humps, submerged islands, points that taper into deep water, washed-out holes, brush piles and river channel drop-offs, particularly at bends. Use a topo map and sonar to locate this deep cover and mark it with buoys.

Try 4-7 inch plastic worms rigged Texas style with a ¼ to ½ ounce slip sinker on the line and a 2/0 to 4/0 hook. You can also do well with a Carolina rig. This method calls for a sliding sinker 3 to 4 feet in front of a barrel swivel so the lure (preferably a floating worm) runs behind the commotion of the weight and up just off the bottom.

Use a lift-and-crawl retrieve, or if that doesn't work, a slow steady reeling motion. If you make contact with brush or other structure, jiggle the worm up and down in the cover. That often triggers a strike from reluctant fish that are following the offering, but not fully convinced they want to eat it.

Be alert for surface schooling fish

The opportunity doesn't happen every day, but when you come upon a school of bass feeding in a frenzy on baitfish they’ve corralled against the surface, some hectic sport lies in store. Be alert for splashing and surface commotion as well as swooping seagulls. Look for white spray or water that looks choppy or churned up.

Use binoculars periodically to see if you can locate any schools breaking in the distance. Also listen for the popping, churning sound surface feeding bass make. It may be a dozen fish or it may be 50.

Get to the action fast. Cast from a good distance away and run the lure at shallow to moderate depths. Lipless crankbaits are fine choices. They look just like a shad, sink about one foot per second and work well from the surface down to 10 or 15 feet. Blade lures are another good choice. They cast even further and sink quickly. Tail-spinners are also good, as are surface chuggers and soft plastic jerkbaits.

For ease of unhooking fish, I sometimes opt for a ¼ or 3/8-ounce bucktail jig, usually in white or chartreuse, with a soft plastic twister tail. With these lures you can quickly land fish and get back in action before the short-lived surface feeding frenzy ends.

Award-winning outdoors writer Gerald Almy is a Maurertown resident

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