The Dog Days:
Going Back to School
by Bruce Callis Jr
Welcome to the dog days of summer! August and early September can be some of the most difficult times to go fishing. The heat and humidity can be overwhelming, and just downright suffering. Many anglers change up when they fish, opting for night fishing, or hitting the water early and leaving before noon at the latest.
And these are great solutions for beating the heat. But a lot of us welcome the challenge of finding the bass during the difficult times of the day! I’m not sure about you, but the fishing this year has really been a challenge. The largemouth bass have been anything but predictable. Where they should be, they aren’t. But they are also exactly where they should be at times. Patience and switching up what we are doing is the key to everything.
Topwater can be a great bait in August and into September. I love to throw a SPRO Bronzeye Frog across grass mats and around the lily pads. There is just something about watching a bass blow up on your bait. Make sure to walk your bait in any open areas. It also will work for the shallows and over laydowns. You can also make a switch and tie on a SPRO Popping Frog that gives you a few options on how to work it. Pop it or walk it, both will work great.
I love to pitch and flip. There is just something about that direct contact between the bass and myself. Those sunny days will drive the fish to seek comfort and safety in the shade, and laydowns are prime spots. Make sure to pay attention to the sun and which side the shade is on. And while I start hitting the outside of the shade line in hopes of drawing out the bass, in hopes of multiple catches, don’t be afraid to put it up very tight to the laydown.
For me, I like to use a couple of different baits for this. When I want a slim, straight bait, I like to use a Missile Baits 6” Magic Worm. I Texas-rig it on a light weight, 1/8 ounce with a 2/0 straight shank work hook. And I let it fall through any limbs to give the bass a good look at the action as the tail wiggles down. And at other times, I like to switch it to a Missile Baits D Bomb or Chunky D, depending on what action I want to give the bass. I still like the 1/8 ounce weight, but will go up to 1/4 or 3/16 ounce to make it fall faster. For this bigger bait, I like to use a flipping/punching hook.
I will go up in weight size to flip through those heavier grass mats. But unless it is super thick, I try to go as light as possible so the bait doesn’t lose its action. I prefer the D Bomb for the grass mats, as it has less appendages and goes through the mat easier. I will sometimes remove the appendages totally to make sure it goes through cleaner.
And you have to have a moving bait this time of year. So many choices that will work great. A spinnerbait is always a great choice and has been a great choice since it was introduced. And one of my favorites is a lipless crankbait. I love to keep one handy. But for me, a suspending jerkbait is my choice. A SPRO McStick 110 is my choice. I can work it up shallow or out over the drop offs and long points. It works great along the edge of laydowns and lily pads. It is a year round bait that a lot of anglers overlook, but don’t miss out on the fun.
One bait I am still not great at is a final choice. The baitfish are getting bigger and a glide bait is a proven big bass lure. If you are looking for that big bass, don’t overlook this bait. I’m not stopping trying to hook into a monster with one. I’ve been told by a lot of anglers who use them all the time to just keep throwing it year-round.
Don’t give up this time of year, but be patient. Keep plenty of water on hand also. Make sure to pay attention to what the fish are telling you throughout the day. Pay attention to the clues. Go have fun, catch some big bass, and be safe! Wear your life jacket, especially when the big motor is engaged, and have your killswitch attached to it.
