4 Ways to More Summer Reservoir Bass

How Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. event professional, Wesley Gore, is getting his chew on proper now

MUSKEGON, Mich. (June 27, 2025) – Summer season can present glorious largemouth bass fishing on reservoirs, however you have to be versatile. Whereas bedding fish have disbursed there can nonetheless be some shallow fish, in addition to deep, and many locations in between. However with as we speak’s fashionable fishing electronics and mapping, the search has turn into even faster regardless of the place you’re wanting. Listed below are just a few ideas from Whitewater B.A.S.S. event professional, Wesley Gore, that will help you catch extra reservoir bass this summer season.

Discover Shade Strains, Go Previous Faculty

Docks, overhanging timber and submerged brush or vegetation are all cash areas in summer season on reservoirs. Flipping and pitching will get you bit on baits like Texas-rigged creatures, jig & craw combos, and wacky rigs.

“After I’m fishing ‘old style’ so far as discovering shade strains, the largest factor is determining what stage the bass are in. For instance, is there a bream spawn occurring, during which case I’d be throwing bream-related baits, like a jig, Pop-R, or a ChatterBait round shade strains. Up shallow you possibly can have a look at tree shade strains vs. dock shade strains and they’re more likely to have bream beds. Meaning I’m wanting within the backs of coves, shallow pockets—these are the locations you’re going to need to goal to do this,” famous Gore.

“It’s a number of enjoyable to fish this fashion and a great way to place fish within the boat that’s extra sight-oriented with much less use of electronics.”

Go Deep

One other good begin for catching summer season reservoir bass is investigating deeper construction the place water temps are cooler and there’s loads of oxygen. Ledges, humps, submerged roadbeds, factors and creek channels between 15-30 ft can all produce, areas you could find simply with as we speak’s mapping and fish finder know-how.

“Early summer season, I all the time exit and scan the primary stopping locations bass go after the spawn. I’m taking a look at 10- to 18-foot factors which are popping out of spawning pockets. I’m additionally wanting on the mouths of main creeks and secondary creek factors which have the creek channel working by them. Locations like this bass will faculty up and instantly feed after the spawn,” provided Gore.

“A bit bit later in the summertime I get extra goal associated and search for exhausting backside with stumps, brush piles, something I can pinpoint and goal. These are the sorts of areas the place bass will stay for just a few months earlier than they go into the autumn migration.”

So far as baits, Gore added: “In these areas I’m going to crank some with a deep-diving crankbait; jig; drop shot; and I take advantage of an Ol’ Monster 10.5-inch Texas-rigged plastic worm. These are the rigs I usually use all summer season.”

Early-Morning Topwaters

Time of day may come into impact. Early mornings usually deliver on a topwater chew round shallow flats, secondary factors, and the backs of coves the place lively baitfish congregate. Operating areas shortly along with your trolling motor and forward-facing sonar might be an effective way to focus on these fish – moreover waiting for busting bait with the bare eye.

“Relying on what sort of cowl is within the reservoir, like when you’ve got grass, you’re going to need to goal the again halves of the extra main creeks—ones which have water draining into them. The water there’s going to be a little bit bit cooler and extra oxygenated, and also you’ll need to get again there and goal the flats with a frog or a buzzbait round these areas.”

“If you happen to’re in a reservoir with extra rocky, transitional areas and fewer vegetation, you’re going to need to cowl water with a Whopper Plopper or ‘Spook and goal major and secondary factors within the reservoir creeks the place bass set as much as benefit from the low-light interval.” 

Discover Suspended Forage

Summer season reservoir bass will usually comply with baitfish colleges across the reservoir, forage that simply sort of swims aimlessly across the water column. Utilizing forward-facing electronics is the easiest way to faucet these fish, usually with a Damiki rig or dropshot if the bait is extra oriented towards backside.

“For me, within the summertime, I discover fish hanging within the main creek channels, their traditional path. I usually begin discovering them a couple of quarter of the way in which in and you could find them virtually all the time to the very again, that final little little bit of deep water. Clearly, wherever you discover the bait, that’s the place you’re going to seek out the bass.”

“For me, I’m utilizing forward-facing sonar with a minnow Damiki Rig. It’s exhausting to beat the combo for bass feeding on suspended bait.”

Trying to catch extra reservoir bass this summer season? Give the recommendation from younger ace, Wesley Gore, a shot, and also you’ll most likely put collectively an even bigger bag!