Catching Shallow Summer Bass

When you're stuck in a weather pattern like the current local one, with its 60-some-degree daily highs, abundantly strong northerly breezes, and a heapin' helping of that "pissy" rain that I equate to torture treatment, it's just a tad difficult to think that come June 21st, we'll be into summer.

And how much you wanna bet that these 60s will...faster than you can blink...soar into the 80s, 90s and beyond?

When that happens, you can be assured that many bass will head to deeper water...not all, though. As Virginia DWR Chief of Fisheries Dr. Mike Bednarski points out, "There are plenty of bass that stay shallow through the heat of summer, and you can catch them from a boat, kayak or even from shore."

Following are some of the fisheries chief's tips to help you catch more fish.

"The early bird catches the worm. We all know that fish bite well in the morning, and there is no time of year where this is more true than the summer months. I do the best in shallow water between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m., fishing topwater baits, such as buzzbaits, poppers and crawlers around scattered vegetation in 1 to 5 feet of water.

"I look for shallow grass, sticks, docks--anything that could hold a fish--and try to hit as many targets as I can before the sun comes up. Here, nothing covers water like a buzzbait, and if you miss a fish, a quick follow-up with a popper can turn missed strikes into extra fish. I throw a chartreuse-and-white buzzbait and a shad-colored popper. If I'm fishing a place with big fish, like the Chickahominy River, I tend to throw the crawler. This bite usually is over when the sun rises but can last all day if it's raining. I like 40-pound braid for a popper and 50-pound braid for buzzbaits and crawlers. Braid has no stretch and gives you much better hooksets on topwater baits.

"Made in the shade. When it gets bright, bass seek shade. This provides a good ambush point and keeps them safe from predators. When it gets to be about 8 a.m., I start to look deeper into cover for bass. I look for matted vegetation, such as water willow, lily pads, or any vegetation that forms a canopy.

"Frogs and toads really shine here, and you can get some awesome strikes on these baits. When I'm throwing a frog, I throw a big frog, as I can cast it further, and it makes more noise. Frogs and toads work surprisingly well when there is a lot of boat traffic or wind...there's something about the waves and commotion that keeps the bass moving. You can cover a lot of water with this technique, and a simple pattern of moving quickly and throwing along the edge of vegetation can produce some good catches in the middle of the day.

"Another tip: Heavy tackle is a must. I use 50-pound braid and a 7-to-8-foot heavy-action rod. You don't want to doubt your gear when you're pulling a 6-pound largemouth out from the water willow.

"Revved-up metabolism. In the summer, a bass' metabolism is the highest it will get, and these fish need to eat and eat often. When I'm really struggling to get a bite with a frog or flipping in the middle of the day, I'll pick up a buzzbait and just cover water. I throw near cover like docks and weed edges, but I won't worry too much about getting it as close as I can. There are fish that are active and may be 10 or 20 feet away from obvious cover.

"These fish are shallow and can be found toward the back of pockets. For whatever reason, the hotter and calmer it is, the better this bite is. Think 98 degrees, flat calm, and humid. I can't really explain it, but it always puts an extra fish in the boat when I'm struggling. These fish run better than average--think 3 to 5 pounds. So, try a buzzbait in the middle of the day and see what happens.

"A river runs through it. Where you find moving water, you'll find bass. In the summer, your best shallow spots will have moving water. This means explore the headwaters of reservoirs or go one step further and target tidal rivers. Bass orient to cover on the edge of the current, and if you fish where current and cover intersect, you'll find fish. This also applies to old creek channels.

"Even if there is no current, a drop from 2 feet to 4 to 6 feet provides a breakline to which fish will orient. My best spots at either Lake Chesdin or Swift Creek Lake in Pocahontas State Park, which I fish a lot because I live in metro Richmond, either have current or a nearby breakline. And don't overlook small feeder creeks in the backs of coves. There will often be a pocket of deeper water, with cover and current, which will hold a bass or two. Try a small stickworm, wacky-rigged, in these areas."

Photos by Mike Bednarski