Best Summer Bass Fishing Baits
Summer is my absolute favorite time to catch bass. They group up in large numbers and days of huge numbers of fish aren’t uncommon if you can figure out what they want to bite, especially in the early parts of the season.
Here are seven dependable summertime baits to catch bass. While there are certainly lots of baits that can catch fish this time of year, these seven cover of wide range of situations you could face and all of them are proven fish catchers
Strike King 8XD
Deep cranking is as tried-and-true of a technique as there is in bass fishing, and the XD series from Strike King is the OG deep crankbait. I like the 8, but the 5, 6, and 10 are all great baits more applicable at different depths. Make long casts, keep the rod tip low, and just reel steadily.
- Free floating rattle chambers
- Emit varying sound frequencies
- Superb lifelike finishes
- Dives 20' Plus
- 1.4oz
6th Sense Cloud 9
- C6: Length: 2.56” Weight: 1/2oz Dives: 4-8ft
- C10: Length:2.65” Weight: 5/8oz Dives: 8-12ft
- C15: Length: 3.0” Weight: 1oz Dives: 12-19ft
- C20: Length: 3.5” Weight: 1.4oz Dives: 18-22ft
- C25: Length: 3.75” Weight: 1.9oz Dives: 18-26
A good alternative to the XD series is the Cloud 9 from 6th Sense. It’s a little smaller than the XD and the stock hooks on the Cloud 9 are much much better. It absolutely puts them in the boat too.
Mann’s Jelly Worm
As far as big worms go, the Jelly Worm is a killer. I think some anglers are intimidated by how aggressive it is to throw a bait this big. Don’t be. Throw it on a rugby head or a big shaky head. See what it can do (link to video)
- Package length: 2.9 cm
- Package width: 11.8 cm
- Package height: 20.2 cm
- Product Type: SPORTING GOODS
Zoom Ol’ Monster
I like to cycle through a straight-tail worm and a ribbon-tail worm and let the fish tell me which they prefer. For ribbon-tails, especially on southern impoundments with big largemouth, the Ol’ Monster is a classic Texas-rigged bait. Check out our worm color chart here (link to facebook post)
- Product Type: Fishing Equipment
- Country Of Origin: United States
- Item Package Weight: 1.35 Pounds
- Item Package Dimensions: 20.32 L X 15.24 W X 4.318 H (Cm)
Shaky head
While it isn’t a great bait for size, there may not be a bait that catches more fish around the country in the summer than a straight-tail worm on a shaky head. Slowly dragging this thing around just gets bites. Period.
- GREAT FISHING JIG HEAD - The Buckeye Spot Remover Pro Model Jig Head has a heavy-duty built-in spring to keep your worm, craw, or other soft bait locked securely in place, which makes it excellent for skipping
- HIGH PERFORMANCE - These jigheads enable worms or craws to stand on end and are great for spotted bass; These work well for deep water largemouth & smallmouth bass and are excellent for bedding fish; Best choice for avid anglers
- TOP QUALITY - The Buckeye Lures Spot Remover Pro Model Jighead is great for skipping under docks and overhangs because the built-in spring holds your bait securely in place, cast after cast; It is also great for shaky head tactics, as it encourages your bait to stand on end while at rest
- BEST FISH CATCHING TACKLE - The Buckeye Lures Spot Remover Pro Model Jig Head comes with a black nickel 90-degree hook; It is available in a wide range of sizes and in Black, Brown, and Green Pumpkin colors
- BUCKEYE LURES - Founded in 2000, Buckeye Lures has firmly established itself as a competitor in the national tackle market; With a strong pro staff designing products and giving input into how to improve them, Buckeye Lures will continue to push the envelope for innovative jigs and jigheads
- Ultra-versatile finesse worm
- Use for dropshot, shakey, neko, or Carolina techniques
- Sleek, slender body and bulb tail
- Responds to the slightest rod tip movement
Flutter spoon
A flutter spoon is a great weapon for fish that aren’t as tight to the bottom as you’d like to see. The spoon imitates a dying shad as it flutters towards the bottom, and you can rip up through the water column and let it fall back down, getting in the face of fish that are suspended off the bottom.
- Seductive wobble
- Curvacious body
- Emulates dying bait fish
- Sexy Shad
- Great for targeting Largemouth, Spotted, and Striped Bass
Mann’s Little George
A truly finesse presentation, the Mann’s Little George is essentially just a hunk of lead with a spinner blade on the back. You can bomb it on a spinning rod and yo-yo it back to the boat, and it’s a pretty good fish catcher for suspended bass that are spread out a little more through the water column or at least not glued to the bottom.
- One of the oldest lures on the market today, but it still works just as well today as it used to
- One of the top lures of all times
- This sinking tailspinner has earned the right to be in every angler's tackle box
- Great for schooling fish
- Superior action
