Bass Fishing Tips and Tricks: What to use to Catch More Bass

Summer is an excellent time for bass fishing, as the warm water temperatures make bass active and hungry. To maximize your success, it's crucial to use the right baits and techniques. Here are some tips and tricks for using crankbaits, swimbaits, Texas rigs, Senko rigs, and creature rigs effectively for bass fishing throughout the summer.

Crankbaits

Crankbaits are versatile lures that can cover a lot of water quickly, making them ideal for locating active bass.

1. Choose the Right Depth: Select a crankbait that dives to the depth where the bass are feeding. In summer, bass often stay in deeper, cooler waters during the day and move to shallower areas in the early morning and late evening.
2. Vary Your Retrieve: Start with a steady retrieve, but if you're not getting bites, try varying the speed and adding pauses. This erratic action can trigger reaction strikes from bass.
3. Bounce Off Structures: Cast your crankbait near structures like rocks, stumps, and docks. Allow the bait to bounce off these objects to mimic fleeing prey, which can entice bass to strike.
4. Use Bright Colors: In murky water or low-light conditions, opt for brightly colored crankbaits. In clear water, natural colors like shad or crawfish work best.

For day fishing check out the Jail Breaker 68:

Swimbaits

Swimbaits are excellent for imitating larger prey and enticing big bass.

1. Match the Hatch: Choose swimbaits that resemble the primary forage in the lake, such as shad, bluegill, or perch. Matching the local baitfish increases your chances of a strike. 
2. Slow and Steady Retrieve: Swimbaits work best with a slow, steady retrieve that mimics the natural swimming action of baitfish. Patience is key, as bass often follow the bait before striking.
3. Fish Around Cover: Cast swimbaits near submerged vegetation, timber, and other cover where bass are likely to hide. Allow the swimbait to swim naturally through these areas.
4. Use a Weighted Hook: Depending on the depth, you might need a weighted hook to keep the swimbait at the desired level. Experiment with different weights to find the right balance. 

Check out our tungsten underspin hook to make the perfect rig:

Texas Rig

The Texas rig is a classic and highly effective method for fishing soft plastics, especially in heavy cover.

1. Select the Right Plastic: Worms, creature baits, and craws are popular choices for Texas rigs. In summer, try larger baits to attract bigger bass that are actively feeding. 
2. Peg the Weight: Pegging the weight ensures the bait stays close to the bottom, where bass often hunt during the hotter parts of the day. Use a bullet weight and a bobber stop to peg it in place. 
3. Work Slowly: Cast the Texas rig into cover and work it slowly with small hops and pauses. This technique mimics a crawling prey and can provoke strikes from lethargic bass.
4. Use Heavier Line: Since you're often fishing in thick cover, use a heavier line (15-20 lb fluorocarbon or braid) to prevent break-offs.

You can easily create a great Texas Rig using the mamba stick, a tungsten bullet weight, and a gap hook as seen below:

Senko Rig

Senko worms are incredibly versatile and can be rigged in various ways. The wacky rig and weightless Texas rig are two popular methods.

1. Wacky Rig: Hook the Senko through the middle and let it fall naturally. The wacky rig's fluttering action is irresistible to bass, especially in clear water.
2. Weightless Texas Rig: Rig the Senko weightless and cast it near structures or vegetation. The slow fall and subtle action can entice bass lurking in shallow water.
3. Fish Slowly: Whether wacky or Texas rigged, work the Senko slowly with gentle twitches and pauses. This slow, deliberate action mimics injured prey and triggers strikes.
4. Use Natural Colors: Senkos in natural colors like green pumpkin, watermelon, and black work well in most conditions. In stained water, try brighter colors or ones with added flakes for extra flash. 

Make a great set up with baitholders and Bait Monster’s Deadly Senko as seen below:

Creature Rig

Creature baits are designed to mimic various types of prey and are highly effective in enticing big bass.

1. Choose the Right Size and Color: Select creature baits that match the local forage in size and color. Larger baits can attract bigger bass, while natural colors work well in clear water.
2. Rigging Options: Creature baits can be rigged Texas style, Carolina style, or on a jig head. Each method has its advantages, depending on the cover and depth you're fishing.
3. Work Through Cover: Cast creature rigs into heavy cover such as grass, timber, and brush piles. The lifelike action of the bait as it moves through cover can trigger aggressive strikes.
4. Experiment with Retrieve: Vary your retrieve speed and action. Sometimes a slow drag along the bottom works best, while other times a hopping or swimming action can be more effective.

See the Creepy Crawler 3.3 combined with the tungsten swinging football jig below:

General Tips for Summer Bass Fishing

1. Fish Early and Late: Bass are most active during the cooler parts of the day. Plan your fishing trips for early morning or late evening to increase your chances of success.
2. Find Shade: During the heat of the day, bass often seek shade. Target areas with overhanging trees, docks, or submerged vegetation where bass can stay cool.
3. Stay Hydrated: Summer can be hot, so remember to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.
4. Be Persistent: Bass fishing can be challenging in the heat of summer, but persistence pays off. Try different techniques and locations until you find what works.

By using these tips and tricks for crankbaits, swimbaits, Texas rigs, Senko rigs, and creature rigs, you'll be well-equipped to catch more bass this summer. Happy fishing!