| During the summer, water released from dams is significantly cooler than the surface water in reservoirs. This temperature difference, often around 10 degrees cooler, plays a crucial role in determining bass behavior. The cooler water, combined with the current in rivers below dams, keeps the bass in much shallower areas, making them more accessible to anglers. Unlike in lakes, where bass retreat to deeper, harder-to-reach waters, river bass remain in relatively shallow zones. Understanding this behavior allows anglers to target these shallower areas for more successful fishing during the hot summer months. The cooler water enhances oxygen levels, which keeps bass more active and willing to strike. The consistent flow of water from the dam creates a special type of environment where bass are less likely to experience thermal stress, allowing them to feed more aggressively. As a result, anglers can use a variety of techniques, including soft plastic baits, to effectively target bass in these conditions. Recognizing the influence of water temperature and current can also help anglers identify prime fishing spots, such as eddies and current breaks, where bass are likely to moveThe new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost and 10w30 Syntheic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater. |
| Popular fishing spots near dams can become crowded, especially on weekends when both anglers and recreational boaters flock to the water. To avoid these crowds and increase the chances of a successful fishing trip, it’s beneficial to explore areas farther down the river. In such locations, shallow gravel bars may be present, making them difficult to access with standard boats, but ideal for those with jet-driven boats. These less-trafficked areas offer a more peaceful environment and can be prime spots for catching bass. By venturing into these quieter zones, anglers can enjoy a more productive and serene fishing experience. Moving away from the crowds reduces competition for prime fishing spots, allowing for a more strategic and relaxed approach. The quieter areas also tend to see less fishing pressure, which can result in bass that are less wary and more likely to strike. Exploring can lead to discovering hidden gems where bass are abundant and more cooperative. The reduced boat traffic in these areas helps maintain the natural behavior of the fish, increasing the likelihood of successful catches. Navigating to these remote locations can offer rewarding fishing success.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action-triggering strikes! |
| Soft plastics can be highly effective during the early morning or in shaded areas of the river. When worked just below the surface or along the bottom, often attract bass that are actively feeding. Matching the action of these soft plastics to the bass’s behavior is crucial. Slow and deliberate movements can entice less active fish, while more aggressive retrieves might trigger strikes from bass that are in a feeding frenzy. Learning how to vary your retrieve speed and presentation based on the bass’s mood can lead to more consistent and successful catches. Soft plastics are versatile and can be rigged in various ways, such as Texas, Carolina, or drop shot rigs, to target bass in different environments. The lifelike action of soft plastic baits make them particularly effective in clear water. Incorporating pauses and subtle twitches in your retrieve can make the bait appear more natural, increasing its appeal to wary fish. Soft plastics also allow anglers to fish around heavy cover without the risk of snagging, making them ideal for targeting bass hiding in dense vegetation or around submerged structures. Experimenting with different rigging and retrievals can significantly improve your fishing.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Grab our newest Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. Act quickly, these new colors won’t stay in stock for long. We also recently restocked our Ghost, Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown Bug, Electric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Additionally, its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to the HellaMite’s superior performance and versatility |
| The interplay of light and current is a key factor in river fishing, especially during the heat of summer. Early in the day, when the sun is low, fishing in shaded areas can yield good results, as bass are often drawn to these cooler spots. As the day progresses and the sun rises higher, these shady areas disappear, prompting a shift to deeper water where logs and other structures provide cover. Current breaks are also critical, as they create pockets of slower water where bass often lie in wait for prey. Positioning your boat to take advantage of these current breaks and adjusting your fishing strategy as the light changes can make a significant change in your catch rate. By learning how light penetration affects water clarity can help in selecting the right lure color and presentation style. As light levels increase, bass may become more cautious, requiring a more subtle and natural-looking bait presentation. In lower light conditions, you can often get away with more aggressive techniques that create a lot of movement and noise. Monitoring changes in the current, such as increased flow from dam releases, can also help you anticipate where bass might move throughout the day.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round! |
| When bass are not responding, more subtle presentations are perfect for enticing bass that are less aggressive and more reluctant to strike. Flipping different soft plastics lures along structures like logs, rocks, and other cover can often trigger bites in otherwise challenging conditions. Working these baits slowly and deliberately through potential bass-holding areas allows you to thoroughly cover the water and locate where the fish are hiding. By keeping a variety of soft plastics and techniques in your arsenal, you can adapt to the bass’s mood and continue to catch fish, even when they’re being picky. Experimenting with different rigging methods, such as Texas or Carolina rigs, can help you present these baits in the most effective way for the given conditions. Varying the weight and size of your soft plastics can also be crucial in matching the local forage and appealing to bass that are feeding on specific prey. Soft plastics are versatile enough to be fished in a range of depths, from shallow cover to deep drop-offs, allowing you to target bass no matter where they are holding. Paying close attention to the subtleties of how bass react to different soft plastic presentations can help you fine-tune your approach.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added new MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electic Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater. |
| Water flow from dams significantly influences bass behavior and fishing conditions. During summer, a moderate flow rate is often ideal, as it provides oxygenated, cooler water that bass seek out. Too much flow can create strong currents that make fishing difficult, while too little flow may reduce oxygen levels and make bass less active. By understanding and monitoring the flow rates, anglers can position themselves in the best areas of the river, where bass are more likely to be active. Targeting areas with moderate current and avoiding heavy flows can enhance your chances of a successful fishing trip. Flow rates dictate where bass are likely to hold, such as behind current breaks or near slower-moving water, making it easier to predict their behavior. Anglers should also consider the time of day, as water releases from dams often vary throughout the day, affecting the fish’s location and activity level. Adapting your strategy based on these conditions can lead to more consistent catches. Learning to read the water and recognizing subtle changes in current can give you an edge in locating and targeting bass in various flow conditions. Observing these changes will help refine your approach.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round! |
| Despite the presence of deep holes in rivers, bass often remain in relatively shallow water during the summer. These shallow zones, usually less than 15 feet deep, are where bass can find cooler temperatures and ample food. Understanding this behavior is crucial, as it allows anglers to focus their efforts on these more accessible areas rather than wasting time probing deep, less productive waters. Fishing in shallower water also makes it easier to present lures effectively, increasing the chances of a strike. By targeting these shallow spots, you can improve your catch rate and make the most of your time on the water. Shallow water fishing often allows for more precise and controlled presentations, which can be crucial for enticing wary bass. Observing water clarity and structure in these shallower areas can further enhance your chances, as bass are more likely to be active and visible. Utilizing techniques like slow retrieves or bouncing lures off the bottom can also be particularly effective in these settings. Finally, adapting your approach based on the specific conditions of the shallow water will help you stay in tune with behavior and increase your success.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose. For creature baits, we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action. |