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When it comes to understanding the summer dining habits of largemouth bass, you might be surprised by their culinary diversity. As any seasoned angler will attest, largemouth bass in the summertime are opportunistic feeders, eating anything small enough to fit in their mouths—even their smaller brethren!
To better equip you for your bass fishing ventures, let’s delve into their primary food sources and the ideal lures to mimic these prey.
Baitfish, Minnows, and Smaller Fish: Top of the Bass Menu
Making up a substantial chunk of the largemouth bass diet are smaller fish like shiners, shad, bream, smaller bass, and other minnows. These are prime targets for bass, especially in shallow and medium-depth waters.
When it comes to lures, you can’t go wrong with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jerk baits. Crankbaits like Rapala original floaters excellently mimic minnows, making them ideal for use in areas where bass are feeding near the shore.
Spinnerbaits, evoking small pods of swimming baitfish, are another summer favorite. When using these two lures, remember to reel them in steadily.
On the other hand, try an unweighted jerk bait (like a soft plastic fluke) in shallow waters when largemouth bass is targeting schools of minnows. The lure’s jerk and twitch movements give the impression of a struggling baitfish, irresistible to hungry bass.
Frogs: A Largemouth Bass Delicacy in Summer
Frogs are a sought-after prey for bass during the summer months, especially near shorelines, grassy areas, water bodies featuring lily pads, or where streams feed into lakes or ponds.
Scum frogs, poppers, and floating crankbaits in fire tiger color patterns serve as effective frog baits. Scum frogs, which can also successfully imitate mice and rats, are a top choice for waters with plenty of grass and lily pads, as they can be fished without snagging.
Crayfish: Deep Water Delights for Bass
Bass is known to have a soft spot for crayfish—freshwater crustaceans that usually thrive in deeper waters. They are a tempting meal for bass, who are drawn to their bottom-dwelling lifestyle.
Jigs and pigs and tubes, some of the best year-round baits, work wonders in luring largemouth bass in the depths. Dark-colored jigs and pigs should be cast into deeper water, allowed to sink, and then retrieved with rod twitches and slow reeling of the slack line created.\
Insects: The Heat of Summer Brings a Bass Feast
During the dog days of summer, insects become an important part of the bass diet. Dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, crickets, and cicadas often find themselves in the water, making them easy targets for lurking largemouth bass.
Surface baits like small poppers, unweighted plastic worms, and floating crankbaits are effective in mimicking these insects. When largemouth bass is surface hunting, they’re unlikely to turn down any topwater baits presented by savvy anglers.
Fishing for largemouth bass in the summertime is an exciting pastime across North America. Knowing what bass eat and which lures best replicate their prey can significantly increase your chances of success.
With this guide in hand, you’re well-prepared to make the most out of your summer fishing exploits. Happy angling!
