Summer time is here. So far since I've moved to the Bay Area, the Summer has been the worst time of year for me. Anyone have any favorite tips or tricks for big bass this time of year? Anyone have a favorite big bass worm (style and color) that they like for Summer time fishing? Another thing I'm looking for is a good night time crankbait. Any recommendations? My ears are open. I need to get a good one this Summer.

-Rob

Rob- how 'bout the black or black\blue flake DD-22 & DD-14? They work pretty good down here at night-

Bassnet has some good choices. Others you should try are Black/Red flake and Black back w/ red sides w/ red flake in the Bill Norman cranks (DLN). Also try the Armstrong cranks (any color).

Well I read a lot about the Armstrong Crankbaits that this guy who fishes Lake Perris a great deal makes... so I bought one. It doesn't have any rattles and is supposed to displace a lot of water. Hand made... hand painted, etc. My results? I have caught one fish on it to date - a small one.... and in two tries of throwing it a lot at Castaci Lagoon at night, I have yet to get a fish on it.

I know Tsunami was talking this crank up a lot a few months ago... and I picked one up at the Fred Hall. I think it has a lot of potential, but I just haven't had any luck with it yet.

I guess this isnt' really a good tip...haha... but I'm wondering if anyone else has thrown this bait and what kind of success they've had? I understand the Armstrong guy has thrown this bait a lot at night with good success.

I picked up a shad Armstrong at the show in Long Beach and have been very happy I did. I fished bass for the first time this season at Puddingstone (never fished LMB before) and it has become my confidence crankbait. I don't dare to fish it deep ($20 lure!), but have not needed to. Caught a number of 3 and 4#ers and two 5#.
All on evening bites.

The Norman Deep "N" in Dark Red with Black Back. That is just an awesome crankbait...period! (Especially @ night!)

I also have an Armstrong in shad, but I've yet to throw it at night.
I've got a few 2's on it during the day, so it definitely works!

As far as plastics, I like BIG 10-inch power worms in pumkinseed, junebug, or black, along with 5-inch Power Hawgs (Or Brush hogs!) in black with red flake. Big "IKA's" from GYCB in Black & Blue/Black-Red flake, and of course.....7-inch Senko's in Black-Blue/flake or Watermelon/Black flake. Zoom make a 8- inch monster lizard in Black, and the Big Dead Ringer (10-inch) will always get some @ night.(Variety of colors....you pick!)

My 2-cents.

Late!

"ROD"

I love fishing in the summer time. Now granted, I dont stick too many fish over 10lbs, so maybe its a different catagory, but in the summer months is when I get the most fish between 5-8lbs.

I cant wait till the surface temp hits 80+ degrees in the morning. This is the time when you can put 30lbs of frog fish in the boat on certain lakes. Theresnothing that compares to an 8lber coming up through the grass an smashing a frog, not even a swimbait bite.

Speaking of swimbaits, as you allready know, they are year around baits. I love it when the majority of the anglers put those rods away until the next trout plant in the fall. I get the most swimbait fish in July and August when the fish are active and are alot more willing to chase a bait.

As for the cranks, cant go wrong with the black/blue normans. Anything from the DLN up to the DD-22, especially at night. Its also hard to beat the trusty 3/4oz spinnerbait with the big black colorado blade on it. call that one "thumper". The more it "thumps" the more it gets bit.

The summer months can give you the greatest variety of fishing patterns. Its nothing down here in SD to be catching 5lb frog fih in less then a foot of water, and then turn around and hit the outside humps with worms in 40 feet and stick 5lbers out there to.

Active fish = aactive fisherman, this time of year allows you to also cover as much water as possible, unless its outside structure your fishing, put the trolling motor on a higher speed and fish for those active fish, theres 75% more active fish in the summer then in the winter months, so you will usually catch them first cast into the spot.

Well, if you cant tell, works slow in Shimano land, I'm bored, and I hope this helps some of you out there.

Keep em bent
Cam

Cams right like usual. Summer months finds a lot more active fish, my best fishing is normally in the summer. Fish are also a lot easier to pinpoint, down in SD anyways. Granted I dont fish a lot of swimbaits, but reaction baits and crank baits always heat up this time of year, so why not swimbaits? I'd say keep throwing em...especially mid morning.

Black XL Muskie size Jitterbugs at night.
Remove the stock hooks and put Gammies on. Add black feathers to 'em too.
You won't get many bites but the ones you do get will be from BIG FISH. :7

I trow alot of topwater at night(black spooks,buzzbaits and hulapoppers).I also have done well with a terminator midnight special spinnerbait(or any black or dark color with a thumper colorado blade).10-12"black power worms are also good.The only question is...where the hell can you night fish around here!I sure wish the quarries would let us on after dark!Those big smallies would be awsome at night:7
Swampy

You can hit Coyote, Uvas, and Chesbro at night from shore.

As for lures, I've noticed noone mentioned what moon phase they like to use what lures. For me a 1/4 moon (rising preferably, but either way) means White/white spinnerbaits the bigger the better. Before the 1/4 moon becomes visible, I like BIG Black Buzzbaits worked as slow as possible. New moon means White MS Slammer and Full moon means either 10" Black Power worm or a Jointed Black Musky Jitterbug with Owner trebles.

Yo Swamp,
The next time there is a rising moon and it's between 3/4 and full, come up here. Spring lake at night, during the summer, is not to be missed. And I'm doin' lots of missin'!

Chris

Summer time had always been tough for "big bass" for me also until last year at Pablo. Talk about getting spoiled ! Of course I thought to myself..."Even if next year is not quite as good....." But heck, not quite as good ??? Turns out that the Summer bite at Pablo this year, at least so far, has been just flat "non-existent" ! (big frown)

So buddy, I know you were looking more for a good technique or lure..... but personally, I think the real key is finding a place with a better "big bass bite" ! I'm going to try a night trip to Rancho very soon. I think Chabot might be a good shot too, but I won't personally fish that place because I refuse to "jump through hoops" for those people, and I refuse to pay them big $$$ to be be able to do that.
I know you won't fish crawlers, but I think I could stick a pig or three on live worms in Chabot. The later in the year that it is, and the more hookings and close calls that a big bass has had on artificials, the more those crawlers shine (smile)

A Castaic trout to find them, and a crawler to stick them... A one-two punch that's hard to beat !

Peace,
Fish

I believe, when Joey caught his double-double-digits at Calero that night from his round tube, oh-so-long-ago, he was dropping a 10-inch worm with a brass-n-glass setup on a submerged island, 'shaking it like hell,' as I recall.

Y'might want to talk to him to confirm that, but that's the story, as I remember it. Unfortunately, I can't remember what time of year that was.


Something to consider! (Larry Hemphill has also ascribed to this method, up at Clear Lake).