The summer bass fishing season is underway and it’s time to hit the lakes. As you start planning your outings, it’s also time to identify the gear you need to make your trip more enjoyable and angling more productive. Sure, all bass masters have their favorite bait and tackle. But new rods, lures and other gear can help make that next trip even more bountiful than usual.
The more you fish, the more familiar you’ll get with your gear to find the best fit for your style. Examine the conditions of the sites where you enjoy fishing and ask veterans of those lakes to see what you might need. However, here are some general summer’s trends to key an eye on:
Top new casting rods
Selecting the right fishing rod will improve your chances for catching bass. Perhaps even more than live bait, crankbaits, or any technique, anglers live and die by their rods. The right flexibility and material on a casting rod, for example, will help you land the fish that actually bite. Dobyns Rods were designed by tournament fisherman Gary Dobyns and offer numerous designs and flexibility for the serious bass fisherman.
Best summer baits
Fishing with crankbaits varies based on the season. The general rule in summer is to use baits that address the more aggressive nature of bass, which get energized by the sun’s heat.
Pro bass master Skeet Reese listed his five favorite summer baits in a slideshow on Bassmaster.com. Lucky Craft LC 2.5DR or 3.5DR crankbaits and the Berkley Havoc Federale Worm topped the list. The Lucky Craft baits, Reese said, work well “on points and shellbeds on ledges where schools of bass have grouped up.” He said the 10-inch Berkley worm, which he designed, is the “best swimming tailed big worm on the market” and that it works well when paired with crankbaits.
Effective eyewear
Being out on the lake on a sunny day can leave you squinting and uncomfortable. The right pair of sunglasses is nearly as important as your rod or tackle. Polarized lenses help see beyond the lake’s surface and avoid being stunned by a ray of sunshine. Deflecting sunlight can help anglers see those subtle movements of fish or things like underwater vegetation, depths and other indicators.
Oakleys are a popular brand, and the company offers replacement polarized lenses if you don’t already have them. Consider replacing your lenses rather than getting new frames. Oakleys are pretty durable, so all you really need are new lenses.
