Bring out the light line

The Bass have spawned and moved off their beds, the temperatures have risen and may be in the triple digits some places. The days are long and summer fishing has arrived. What are the best summer fishing tactics? Topwater, punching, cranking ledges? As you can see, there are many different tactics which can all be used successfully. My most common summer tactic is finesse fishing, which is what I am going to talk about today. 

I have three main techniques I use for summer finesse fishing. 1: The Wacky Rig. 2: The Drop Shot. 3: Texas Rig. There are obviously many more finesse options when you fish, however, these three are my go-to options and the ones we will be discussing today. 

Number 1: The Wacky Rig 

This has become my most used finesse rig any time of the year, especially in the summer. This technique is a stick bait hooked in the middle, which is casted out to allow it to sink slowly. I have become good at putting this bait right where I want it. In the summertime, this usually means hitting those shady areas, like overhanging trees, docks, or brush piles that are providing shade. I always use a weedless hook, which helps me from getting caught up all the time. Do not be afraid to mess around with how you fish this technique. I have got bass on the retrieve, letting it sit on the bottom, and even dragging it across some weeds when I made a bad cast. 

Number 2: The Drop Shot 

This technique will always have a special place in my heart. I caught my current PB on a drop shot and it was early summer. A drop shot consists of a weight at the end of your line and the hook about 6 inches up from the weight, (hook to weight distance may change) and a finesse worm. Unlike the Wacky Rig, this technique does not skip well, but you can still get it in some great locations with practice. In the summertime, I again focus on shady areas when fishing this technique, but I use it most when I am fishing in tulles. The drop shot has been a dink magnet for me lately. I have also caught some great size fish on it and almost always have one tied on. 

Number 3: The Texas Rig 

This was the first finesse technique I learned when I started fishing and for a long time it was the only one I used. Texas Rig is a bullet weight and a worm hook. With your worm hooked to lay flat with the point barley exposed. This is a technique that can be fished, weighted, or weightless. It also maneuvers through grassy areas well. Once again, you want to hit those shady areas, (it’s a summer thing lol). You can mess around with the speed of retrieve and how you fish this technique. You can pop it and let it sink, or slow roll it in. I have fished this technique so many ways and always catch fish with it. 

No matter which of these techniques I am using in the summer, I am looking for shady areas that provide cover for the bass. These techniques will work in open water and sunny areas as well, however, when it’s hot, the bass love the shade. You can add or take away weight when fishing these techniques and experiment with them (who knows you may come up with the next big thing). I have had some of my best days’ bass fishing in the summer. I have also had some of my worst days, the important thing is that I am always getting on the water and pushing myself to be a better angler. In the summer, these finesse techniques are some of my top choices. Just remember to be confident, have fun, and go catch some big ones!