We will start with Summer. One of the most confusing times for those who seek River Largemouths. This first article is about to catch the fish once you find them. We will break it down further and discuss what presentations, lures, etc.,since you already have read, River Fishing for Largemouth Bass - Summer (Location). Now lets cover the presentations to catch these Summertime river bass.
SUMMER
Presentations
Your presentation in the summer should focus mainly on the food sources
that the bass in the river system you are fishing key on this time of
year. In most rivers, summer bass are chasing baitfish, sunfish, or crawfish. I tend to focus on fishing sunfish or crawfish pattern lures this time of year. Summer largemouths can pretty active, but can also be lethargic, or anything in between. Once you locate the fish, you need to figure out how to get them "in the boat." I break down my Summer river largemouth presentations by time of day. The following is a good starting point that should catch you a few fish.
Morning
Morning summertime bass fishing, especially in the river is the prefect time to fish topwater. Early in the Summer I like to fish buzzbaits and topwater frogs. Baits that are constantly moving and create a large disturbance on top of the water to get the attention of active bass. As the summer moves on, I will slow my topwater lures down and throw more poppers. I fish buzzbaits over feeding flats, sand and gravel bars, and over the tops of weedbeds. Bring your lure downstream, with the current whenever possible. I fish frogs and toads in areas that have more cover, such as areas along the shoreline, through reeds, over grass, and in lily pads. Fish your poppers in any of these areas, just slow them down. Fish poppers with several pauses. Try to leave your lure in the same spot as long as possible.
Fish your topwater lures as long as there is a decent topwater bite. The fish will tell you when you need to change. On cloudy or overcast days, this time may never come. Fish your topwater lures all day long. Some of the biggest fish and most exhilarating strikes will come on summertime topwater lures.
Late Morning
As soon as the topwater bite begins to slow down, it is time to change lures. During the Summer, just start working your way down the water column. Once the topwater bite is gone, tie on a shallow running crankbait, a lightly weighted or weightless fluke, or a swimming jig, and start fishing the same areas you were catching fish on topwater lures. Early in the Summer, spinnerbaits can also produce very well when the topwater bite turns off. These fish are likely still active and chasing baitfish, but as the sun moves higher, their attention moves deeper.
Keep fishing these lures and start fishing different sections of the river as well. Be sure you bump as much cover as possible with your lure. As soon as you hit a tree or a rock, pause your retrieve for a second or two before beginning your retrieve again. Striking cover can be the key with these lures. If you are fishing grass beds, try to nick the top of the grass as much as possible. Pay attention to the current, whenever possible work your lure back to you with the current, not against it. The fish position themselves, looking into the current, so that food just comes down river to them.
Fish a weightless senko along the banks, over grass beds, or through lily pads. Fish them slow, and pay special attention to the current. You will want to cast your weightless soft plastic well upstream from where you think the fish are and just let it slowly float down to the fish. Deadsticking your senko on the bottom for minutes at a time can be hard to do, but can also catch countless river largemouths.
Jigs are also great lures for the heat of the day. Fish them slowly, dragged along the bottom to imitate a crawfish, or flip and pitch into heavy cover to imitate a sunfish. Fish your jig very slow. You can also fish a light jig similar to a senko, casting upstream and letting the jig slowly drift into the strike zone.
If you can remember to use lures that mimic what the bass are keying on in your river during the Summer, and stick to locations where the bass are holding, you will have success fishing a river for largmouth bass in the summer.
Keep fishing these lures and start fishing different sections of the river as well. Be sure you bump as much cover as possible with your lure. As soon as you hit a tree or a rock, pause your retrieve for a second or two before beginning your retrieve again. Striking cover can be the key with these lures. If you are fishing grass beds, try to nick the top of the grass as much as possible. Pay attention to the current, whenever possible work your lure back to you with the current, not against it. The fish position themselves, looking into the current, so that food just comes down river to them.
Mid-day and Early Afternoon
As the day wears on the bite slows down, keep fishing these active baits around cover in the current, just keep working your way down the water column. Tie on a deeper diving crankbait or a heavier jig and start working deeper water. Fish along the deep edge of weed-lines, casting upstream and working your lure downstream, back to you. Start slowing your retrieve down a little more, have longer pauses with your crankbait, or slowly drag your jig along the bottom of the river (imitating a crawfish.) The fish will tell you when to move away from these faster techniques.Afternoon to Early Evening
When the bite stops on your actively moving lures, it is time to really slow down. Take of the crankbaits and start fishing a soft plastic. During the summer, weightless senkos are often my go-to lures when the bite slows down. Other soft plastic presentations, such as Texas Rigs and Carolina Rigs, can also produce well.Fish a weightless senko along the banks, over grass beds, or through lily pads. Fish them slow, and pay special attention to the current. You will want to cast your weightless soft plastic well upstream from where you think the fish are and just let it slowly float down to the fish. Deadsticking your senko on the bottom for minutes at a time can be hard to do, but can also catch countless river largemouths.
Jigs are also great lures for the heat of the day. Fish them slowly, dragged along the bottom to imitate a crawfish, or flip and pitch into heavy cover to imitate a sunfish. Fish your jig very slow. You can also fish a light jig similar to a senko, casting upstream and letting the jig slowly drift into the strike zone.
Evening
Summertime evening fishing for bass in rivers can revert back to the same presentations as early morning--meaning the topwater action can be great. As the sun begins to disappear tie back on the topwater lure that was catching bass int he morning and start fishing these same areas again. You will catch a few more bass this way, this time of day.If you can remember to use lures that mimic what the bass are keying on in your river during the Summer, and stick to locations where the bass are holding, you will have success fishing a river for largmouth bass in the summer.
Related Articles:
River Fishing for Largemouth Bass - Summer (Locations)
River Fishing for Largemouth Bass - Summer to Fall Transition
River Fishing for Largemouth Bass - Fall (Presentations)
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