Summer Bank Fishing

[Mattyesque]

Hi, I live in South East Tennessee and been fishing off the bank. I was just curious if you guys could give me some suggestions on what I should/could try throwing at those largemouth. I've been using worms but I'm not exactly sure what colors to use this time of year (beginning of summer). Also, any techniques you think would help. I know the feeding times right now seem to be early in the morning and then late in the evening before they go back down to bed but not sure what to throw mid-day and if I should be fishing deep or what? Give me some insight guys! Thanks!

[PatrickMc]

Pick up some senkos and either weightless texas rig or wacky rig it (if you don't know how look it up on YouTube). When Texas rigging you can use anywhere from a 3/0 hook to a 6/0. For wacky rigging, you can go buy some "wacky rig hooks" or just use a small worm hook. As for their color it doesn't really matter as long as it's not too crazy. Green pumpkin and blue/black is always a go-to color for any soft plastic. 5" is a pretty solid size, you could always cut it down if the fish aren't biting on it. As for the senkos or really any bait you're using you want to target structure (fallen trees, grass/lily pads, etc). For both the wacky rig and weightless texas you should cast right next to/parallel to the structure, let it sink to the bottom, give it some twitches, repeat.

Another good pond bait is frogs or other topwaters like poppers. Target the same area as you did with the senko, but this time you could even go on top of the vegetation with the frog. Personally I like any popping frog- the Booyah Popping Pad Crasher and Spro Poppin Frog are great ones. Give it a few pops, pause; give it a few pops, pause.... Many say the frog is best in morning and at night because that is when the fishes eyes are adjusting so they just attack whatever is making commotion since they can't see it very well but honestly the frog and popper will work anytime. For frog color, any natural color (white, yellow, greenish) and black are always good, don't worry about what color it is on the top of the frog; the fish don't see that anyways.

Let me know how you do... Good luck!

[burrows]

Square bills, spinner baits, chatter baits, frogs, soft plastics, buzz baits, jigs, swimjigs, and the kitchen sink.

1 minute ago, Cheesefrank said:

Square bills, spinner baits, chatter baits, frogs, soft plastics, buzz baits, jigs, swimjigs, and the kitchen sink.

Im sure you'll catch something.

[blckshirt98]

Early morning/late evening I'll fish the shallows and use either a dropshot or a shallow running squarebill.

When the sun comes out and it warms up, the fish will usually go deeper.  Try casting straight out with like a lipless crank and if you're lucky you'll find some areas where your hooks will come back with some grass/milfoil/other vegetation from deeper water.  There's a good chance that's where the fish are hunkering down because it provides shade/cover/oxygen.  Switch up to like a wacky senko or a plastic on a light jighead and work it in and around those pockets of vegetation.

[primetime]

Quote

I fish alot of summer ponds and I agree with all above, during day fish are either in shady areas under cover, undercut banks, drop offs in deeper water, and casting accuracy is the key. You need to put your bait right on top of them or have it pass by them within inches for them to use energy. I would start with a green pumpkin colored bait, if water is stained a black bait, hard to beat a 4" Senko, Fluke, or 6" Ribbon tail...Instead of heavy weights, put a split shot 18" in front of your worm, cast it out and work it very slowly and always cast toward areas that look like ambush points where bass would be waiting to grab a straggling bait fish....Colors are not as complicated as we all make them out to be...Green Pumpkin, Junebug, Watermelon, black, will all catch fish, just try to not use anything really big during the day, a Senko is hard to beat, you can add a split shot as mentioned to get it deeper, fish will always be near structure of some type, even if just a shade line or running water.....Some days you just need to make alot of casts to find fish willing to strike, but evening and early are 10x easier....

 

[loudcherokee]

I'm in SE TN as well. What lake you fishing? They've really been hitting on Watermelon red flake and green pumpkin for me at Melton Hill / Carbide Park.

I've also had some fish on black and blue jigs when fishing deep, and white spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc.

Not had much luck around here at all on crankbaits of any color. Only a few fish caught.

I was throwing a ned rig last night with a green pumpkin TRD and caught about 6 within an hour, only 2 of any real size though.

LC

[Heron]

T-rig craws

[Brikon]

Try a Carolina Rig with a 14-18" Leader. Use a long Medium-Heavy/Fast action rod. So you can cast into deeper water. Since that's what bass tend to do during the summer  

[the reel ess]

I don't know the pond. But my favorite way of catching pond bass in summer is to go about 2 hours before dark. I'll throw something that bumps the bottom and maybe a Trick Worm until the light gets low. Then I'll start with a frog and Spook or Chug Bug. These can really wear out some pond bass. And it's a cooler time of the day.

[Hurricane]

Chatterbait, Ned Rig, Senko, Spinnerbait, Crankbait..... Have a blast and try not to stress.   These lures will do the job..