How to Catch Bass in the Spring to Summer Transition

Bass head two ways during the post-spawn, and that is towards thick vegetation and docks or deep water off of points. There are exceptions on certain days, but we will be covering the two significant portions of summer fishing. There are a variety of baits to catch these fish, and that is what we will be discussing in this article.

Deep Cranking

Most big fish tend to hang out in the deeper water during summer. This is because of cooler water temperatures, and lower light because bass do not have eyelids. When deep cranking target deep water off of main lake points. Fish around the main-lake point, the hump that is out from the point, and the saddle in between the two. The crankbaits need to get down at least 16 or more feet, so an extra deep diving crankbait is a must. The right gear for crankbait fishing is essential too. Spool up your rod with straight fluorocarbon, and use a composite crankbait rod. This allows the fish to stay pinned and not shake the bait off since you will be fishing with treble hooks. There are three brands I use for crankbaits, and those are Strike King, Sixth Sense, and Rapala. Each one of these brands has its place. I use the 10XD and 6XD by Strike King to start with. If I am unable to get a bite due to it being a pressured fishery Ill switch to a Rapala or Sixth Sense, and I divide the two by size. I use the Sixth Sense for big fish and the Rapala for smaller fish. My crankbait of choice by Sixth Sense is the Cloud 9 series, and my favorite Rapala crankbait is the Ike’s Custom Ink DT Series Crankbait. When picking a color I choose bolder ones, but I keep them natural in clear water. A good example of a bold natural color is the DT Series Crankbaits in the Disco Shad color.

Flipping and Punching

Although the bigger bass tend to hang out in the deeper water, flipping and punching are also very fun and a great way to catch bass. I tend to fish this technique when the main lake is too rough, or the bass in the deep water are shut off. Many brands make good baits for flipping and punching, such as Strike King, Reaction Innovations, Zoom, and a relatively new company called Googan Baits. When the water is clear, I opt for a natural profile bait with little action. The Strike King Rodent and the Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver are good options for clear water. For semi-stained water, I use Zoom Baby Brush Hog or the Googan Baits Bandito Bug. When fishing dirty water, baits with lively appendages work great. The Strike King Rage bug, Strike King Rage Tail, and the Reaction Innovations Kinky Beaver are good options. When choosing a color, I go for a natural look in clear water and a bold look in dirty water. Another key factor in punching and flipping are worms. If I ever punch or flip a worm I go for the Berkley Powerbait 7″ Power Worm.

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How to Flip and Punch Jigs

When flipping, I choose a v-shaped head so that the bait can slip between grass easily. I’ll flip a jig in anything from clear water to water with zero visibility. The plus about a jig is that it gives a more significant presence in the water. When fishing extremely thick cover, I resort to a punching jig, which has a cone-shaped head that dives fast through the cover.

Crankbait Setup

Rod- Abu Garcia IKE Delay Casting Rod 7’10” Med Hvy

Reel- Abu Garcia REVO IKE Casting Reel 6:6:1

Line- Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Clear 12lb

Lures

1. Rapala Ike’s Custom Ink DT Series Crankbaits Size 16 and 20 (Ike’s Blue Back Herring, Ike’s Bruised, Ike’s Rasta, Ike’s Disco Shad, Ike’s Mule)
2. 6th Sense Cloud 9 Series Crankbait C20 and C25 (Blue-Treuse Shad, Wild Shad, Gizzard Shad, Lavander Citrus)
3. Strike King 10XD Crankbait (Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Green Gizzard Shad, Powder Blue Back Char, Pearl/Black Splatter w/Char)
4. Strike King Pro Model 6XD (Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Powder Blue Back Char, Pearl/Black Splatter w/Char, Green Gizzard Shad)
5. Strike King Pro Model 6XD Silent Crankbaits (Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Powder Blue Back Char, Green Gizzard Shad)

Replacement Hooks and Split Rings

1. Gamakatsu Treble EWG Hooks Black (Size 4 for Rapala DT, Sixth Sense and 6XD, Size 2 for 10XD)
2. Owner Hyperwire Split Rings (Size 4 and 5)

Rapala Ike’s Custom Ink DT Series Crankbaits

Flipping and Punching

Rod– Abu Garcia Veracity Casting Rod 7’6″ Heavy

Reel– Abu Garcia REVO Beast X Casting Reel

Line– PowerPro Spectra Moss Green 50lb

Lures

1. Strike King Rage Bug ( Black w. Blue Flake, Junebug, Okeechobee Craw)
2. Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver 4.20 (Green Pumpkin, Flora/Bama, Watermelon Red)
3. Reaction Innovations Kinky Beaver (Hematoma, Junebug, Low Blow)
4. Strike King Rage Tail Craw ( Black w. Blue Flake, Junebug)
5. Googan Baits Bandito Bug (Black w. Blue Flake, Junebug, Okeechobee Craw)
6. Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Rodent 4″ (Bama Bug, Green Pumpkin, Summer Craw, Watermelon Red Flake)
7. Zoom Baby Brush Hog (Green Pumpkin, Junebug, Black w. Blue Flake, Okeechobee Craw)
8. Dirty Jigs Tour Level No-Jack Punchin’ Jig (Hematoma, Okeechobee Craw, The Go To, Green Pumpkin Craw)
9. Dirty Jigs Tour Level No-Jack Version 2 Flipping Jig (Hematoma, Okeechobee Craw, The Go To, Green Pumpkin Craw)
10. Berkley Powerbait 7″ Power Worm (Green Pumpkin, Pumpkin Chartreuse, Black w. Blue Flake, Junebug)

Terminal Tackle

1. Owner Jungle Wide Gap Hook
2. VMC Tungsten Flippin Weights
3. VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook