| June is a transitional month when bass start to feel the summer heat, and finesse often becomes the key to unlocking bites in pressured waters. A compact finesse bait that combines the glide of a worm and the profile of a small jig can be especially deadly in pressured waters. These soft plastics often fall slowly and naturally, with a horizontal glide that imitates injured prey. Hopping them along the bottom or near structure allows for a subtle, yet highly effective presentation. A good example would be a lizard, beetle, or insect larvae-style bait paired with a hook that allows rolling action without line twist. This approach works well in clear water and around shallow flats, docks, or rock transitions. When rigged properly, these baits can be skipped under overhangs or into tight cover where the larger lures struggle to reach. Their natural profile and slow fall rate often trigger bites from bass that have seen too many of the traditional presentations. Subtle twitches with long pauses can make the bait appear vulnerable, enticing even inactive fish to strike. This technique excels during calm conditions or when bass are short-striking faster-moving baits. Light fluorocarbon line and a medium-light rod help enhance sensitivity and control, making it easier to detect soft bites and maintain finesse.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. Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. We’ve recently dropped a new HellaMite Pro Pack that is loaded with 60 total baits in all six proven colors, plus three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs and a handy storage bag. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also recently restocked our popular 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. 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 its superior performance and versatility. |
| Bass often suspend or cruise mid-column near baitfish in June, making fast-moving soft plastics an effective way to cover water. A soft-bodied, swimbait-style presentation can be fished near the surface or weighted slightly to reach fish a bit deeper. These lures are ideal for targeting feeding fish along shorelines or around submerged cover. Quick retrieves paired with sudden pauses simulate the darting motion of baitfish. For added realism, cray-styled baits or soft beetle profiles rigged weightless or lightly weighted can also excel in this role. This approach shines when bass are actively chasing but not fully committing to surface lures. Casting parallel to the bank or over submerged points allows you to intercept fish as they move along travel routes. In clear water, natural colors and subtle tail action can make a major difference in fooling cautious fish. When bass are deeper, adding a belly-weighted hook or light swimbait head helps maintain a consistent depth. Adjusting your retrieve speed and depth throughout the day helps you stay in the strike zone as bass behavior shifts with light and temperature changes.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, and the 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 that triggers strikes! |
| In early summer, bass fishing excels thanks to schooling activity and aggressive shallow behavior. A walking-style topwater bait can mimic distressed baitfish and provoke explosive strikes when worked with the right cadence. These baits are best used in open water near points, grass edges, or feeding flats. Long casts and responsive line help cover more water and improve hookup ratios from a distance. As the water warms, topwater presentations become a key way to locate active bass quickly and trigger reaction bites. In low-light conditions such as early morning or late evening, topwater action often peaks as bass roam farther from cover. Pay attention to surface activity, nervous baitfish or swirls can indicate where to cast. It’s wise to vary your retrieve speed until you find what the bass prefer on a given day. Pausing the bait occasionally can trigger strikes from followers that need just a second longer to commit. While it’s a visual and exciting method, patience and precision are important to maximizing success in June. Experimenting with different soft plastic trailers or subtle color changes can also make a big difference when bass are following but not striking.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic 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. |
| Fishing a floating soft plastic designed to mimic a beetle or crawfish is one of the most thrilling ways to catch bass. These baits can be skipped under overhangs, worked across matted vegetation, or reeled steadily to create subtle surface commotion. When paused, the floating body stays in the strike zone longer, increasing the chance of a reaction bite. Bass often hold tight to heavy cover in June, making this style perfect for pulling them out of hiding. The best part is the visual nature of the strike. It’s all about precision and timing. To get the most out of this presentation, use a stout rod with braided line to ensure solid hooksets through thick vegetation. Target areas like lily pads, submerged grass, laydowns, and shallow pockets where bass lie in ambush. Varying your retrieve speed and cadence can make the bait appear more lifelike and unpredictable. Early morning and late evening are especially productive times, when bass feed more aggressively in shallow water. Even when other techniques fall short, a well-placed floating beetle or craw-style bait can provoke explosive strikes and salvage 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! |
| The shakey head setup remains a go-to when fish become less responsive to aggressive presentations. A straight-tail worm rigged on a shakey head allows for a subtle, stand-up posture on the bottom that entices bites with minimal movement. It works in both shallow and deep water, from docks to offshore brush piles. A tapered worm or insect-style soft plastic will amplify action with very light twitches, making it deadly for pressured fish. This type of technique offers both versatility and consistency throughout the summer months. One of its biggest strengths is its ability to keep the bait in the strike zone for an extended period without spooking wary bass. Light line and a sensitive spinning setup help detect even the slightest tap. It’s especially effective after cold fronts or during mid-day lulls when fish are less active. By adjusting the weight of the head, you can fine-tune the fall rate and bottom contact for different conditions. Whether you’re fishing clear reservoirs or stained rivers, the shakey head worm remains one of the most dependable options.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 MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red Worms have been restocked as well. 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, Electric 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 — 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. |
| The most effective soft plastics often have unique design traits that separate them from standard options. Small changes in tapering, weight distribution, or tail shape can affect how a bait glides, stands, or quivers in the water. These details matter when fish are selective or pressured. It’s worth testing how different baits move on the fall or respond to slight rod twitches. Mastering these subtle traits can significantly improve your success rate, especially when targeting lethargic or pressured bass. Experimenting with different body profiles, such as segmented worms, ribbed beetles, or flat-sided cray-style baits, can reveal which triggers the most strikes. Some soft plastics are designed to create micro-movements even when sitting still, making them ideal for dead-sticking or slow presentations. Bass often key in on small visual cues, so lifelike motion can be more important than size or color alone. When conditions are tough, downsizing slightly or switching to a bait with more glide or tail flick can be the adjustment that unlocks the bite. The more familiar you become with how each bait behaves in the water, the more effectively you can adapt to fish moods.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! |
| Every bait or technique works best when paired with the proper gear. Rod power and action affect how a bait moves, how well you can set the hook, and how accurately you can cast. Line choice, whether it’s braid, fluorocarbon, or a leader combo, affects both visibility and sensitivity. Using the right gear setup allows you to maximize bait performance and minimize missed bites. Being intentional about rod-reel-line pairing is often the difference between a decent day and a great one on the water. For topwater presentations, a medium-action rod with braid offers responsiveness and long casting distance, while finesse setups often call for spinning gear with light fluorocarbon leaders. Heavier rods and stronger line are essential when fishing thick cover or making hard hooksets with compact soft plastics. Reel gear ratios also matter, faster reels help take up slack quickly during long casts or when a fish charges the boat. Balancing all components ensures that your bait behaves naturally and your strikes result in clean hooksets. Investing time in dialing in your setup for each technique leads to greater efficiency, confidence, and ultimately, more fish in the boat.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve recently released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting 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 precious 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 that triggers bites. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next adventure. |