Welcome to summer 2026! While we have had some rain this year, it has not been enough. Just about everywhere is down, some down a lot more than others. I know my local refuge pond is down a foot, at least. And we have been lucky with the heat. We have had some, but it hasn’t been a long heat spell yet.
And with it, the fishing has been crazy. For me, they aren’t where they would normally be. The lily pads are still a great place to start looking for those big girls. With the lower water levels, they have gotten taller and harder to fish. But the big girls are chasing baitfish in them. I’m throwing a SPRO Bronzeye frog on 65-pound braid on a medium-heavy rod and using a 7.0:1 reel to get them out of them. I could go with a much lighter line on the outside edges, but I don’t want to chance breaking them off.
And for some reason, the big girls are up shallow a lot more right now. And I am loving it. If there is water over their back, they are there. For me right now, I am throwing a couple of different baits, and soft plastics is the key bait for me.
My first choice right now is the Missile Baits Chunky D, Texas-rigged. I am using 20-pound Seaguar AbrazX on a medium-heavy rod and a 7.3:1 reel so I can get the bait back faster. It is great around the lily pads and any little something along the bank. If there is a stick, cast to it. And use the sun to help you decide where to cast. Always start on the shady side of the object. If it’s a tree in the water, start with the deepest point and work it from there into the shore. You can get multiple catches off the one tree this way. The old adage the biggest ones are in the deeper, nasty areas is not always true.
My second bait is a Missile Baits Magic Worm. There are a couple different ways to use it. A wacky rig is always a great option, as is a drop shot. But you can Texas rig it on a very lightweight. I have been using it on a small stand-up jig, very lightweight so it falls slowly. Sometimes they hit it on the fall, but once it hits the bottom, let it settle before you start to drag or hop it on the bottom. Just be ready to set the hook. I was throwing it on a spinning rod, medium-heavy, with a fluorocarbon leader. I was using 8-pound test line, but I switched over to 15-pound Seaguar Tatsu so I could get them out of some of the brush they get into.
And my SPRO Aruku Shad is starting to really work over the grass beds. I am throwing it on a special Lipless Crankbait rod, basically a medium-heavy rod with a moderate fast tip, which allows the rod to absorb the strike and still have the backbone to get the bass into the boat. Tick the top of the grass, ripping it free when needed. And be ready when you do, you can get some really “rip the rod from your hand” strikes.
One bait I am not great at, but am throwing it more because it is a big fish catcher, is the glide bait. I am able to make a long cast and work it back with ease. There is something about the strike. It is as addictive as topwater. If you aren’t a user or think you aren’t great with it, just keep throwing it. You may not get a lot of bites, but they will be bigger bass.
One bait I love to throw is a buzz bait. It draws bass from a distance and covers a lot of water. I am truly excited to throw the new Missile Baits Buzz Wagon model. I like the way it is designed. I can throw a buzz bait on open water across points and around laydowns. It is great over the top of some of the nasty laydowns. There is a lot of debate as to what line to use. I have tried braid and found I miss more fish with it. I have switched back to monofilament because it allows me to absorb the hit better. The line stays on top of the water, and I don’t have to work as fast to keep it on top of the water. A high-speed reel is better for helping with it staying on top as well. But the secret is to keep it moving, but not so fast that it runs sideways.
July is going to be a great month for summer fishing. Don’t overlook those shallow bass. Remember to wear your life jacket and protect yourself from the sun. Wear protective clothing and apply your sunscreen often. And wear your sunglasses to protect your eyes. Think safety first, have fun, and live to fish another day!
