Best Summer Bass Lures

Posted by Tom Hennie on May 21st 2025

Table Of Contents

Best Bass Lures For Summer
How Bass Behave In Summer
Best Summer Bass Lures And How To Fish Them
Crankbaits
Soft Plastics
Topwater Lures
Jigs
Swimbaits
Chatterbaits
Spinnerbaits
Jerkbaits
FAQs About the Best Summer Bass Lures
Best Summer Bass Fishing Lures Overview

Best Bass Lures for Summer: Top Picks, Tactics & Pro Tips

When summer hits and the sun blazes down, bass fishing doesn’t slow down, it just changes. And if you want to keep putting fish in the boat or from the bank, you need to change with it.

Whether you're flipping jigs in grass mats in Florida, drop-shotting soft plastics off deep ledges in Tennessee, or working swimbaits in the clear Great Lakes, the right summer bass lure makes all the difference.

This guide walks you through the best bass lures for summer, how fishing for bass in the summer changes from spring bass fishing. We will walk through when and where to throw these best summer bass lures, the weather and water conditions for each of these summer bass lures. The most popular models and colors of each type of lure and some overall tips, setups, and bass summer behavior to give you the ultimate guide on summer bass lures and how to catch bass in the summer.

how bass behave in the summer best summer bass lures

How Bass Behave In Summer

Understanding how bass respond to rising temperatures is the first step to choosing the right lures. In the summer, largemouth bass behavior is heavily influenced by rising water temperatures and increased sunlight. As the heat intensifies, bass become more sluggish during the hottest parts of the day, often retreating to deeper, cooler waters, shaded structures, or areas with abundant vegetation to conserve energy. They are most active during the early morning and late evening hours when temperatures are lower, and baitfish are more accessible. During this time, bass tend to hunt aggressively in shallow waters near drop-offs, weed lines, and submerged structures. Understanding these seasonal shifts is crucial for anglers looking to target largemouth bass effectively in the summer months.

In early summer (post-spawn), bass are hungry and aggressive. But by mid to late summer, especially during heatwaves, their patterns shift.

These are some of the key changes in summer bass behavior:

Move deeper to find cooler water and oxygen
Feed more in low-light hours (dawn/dusk)
Use shade, grass, and structure for ambush
Suspend more frequently over deep water

Typical water temperatures that summer bass live in:

70–75°F: Bass may still be shallow, especially in the morning
75–85°F: Fish move deeper midday but feed aggressively early and late
85–95°F: Deep structure, current, and oxygenated water become critical

Overall water temperature plays a big role in fishing for summer bass as they move off their beds and replenish their bodies form the Spring Spawn. Keep an eye out and target heavy structure, shade, and current are the three best takeaways when trying to catch bass in the summer.

best summer bass lures top bass fishing lures

Best Summer Bass Lures And How To Fish Them

Below are the top 8 lure types that every angler should have on hand for summer bass fishing with expert insight into each.

best bass lures crank baits

Crankbaits

Crankbaits are my go to for summer bass fishing because they are versatile, efficient and can imitate natural prey. During the summer months bass will move to deeper, cooler water during the day to get out of the heat and deep diving crankbaits are perfect for getting to those fish. These lures have longer lipped that allow them to dive 10 feet or more and are great for targeting bass holding on ledges, drop offs and submerged structure. Lipless crankbaits are good for covering big flats or grass lines where bass may be chasing baitfish during the early morning or late evening feeding windows. Their tight wobble and ability to be fished at any depth make them deadly when bass are spread out and actively foraging. Crankbaits also allow you to cover water fast and find schools of fish quicker than slower presentations. With the right retrieval speed and cadence crankbaits will trigger reaction strikes from territorial or feeding bass, making them a must have in your summer bass lure tackle box.

Best Models:

Pro Tips:

Use 12–15 lb. fluorocarbon to help the bait reach max depth.
Bounce it off the bottom or structure, erratic motion = strikes.
Fish steep drops, channel swings, and offshore humps.

Top Colors:

Clear water: Sexy shad, natural perch
Stained/muddy: Chartreuse blue, citrus shad
Crawfish forage: Red craw, green pumpkin brown

Soft Plastics

While I personally don’t use them often, most summer bass anglers find soft plastics to be one of the most reliable choices for summer bass fishing. When the heat drives bass into thick cover or deeper water, soft plastics let you slow things down and present a natural-looking bait right where the fish are hiding. Whether you’re flipping a creature bait into heavy vegetation or dragging a worm along a deep ledge, the subtle action and versatility of soft plastics consistently draw strikes. They’re perfect for those sluggish summer bass that won’t chase fast-moving lures. Plus, with so many shapes and rigging options, there’s always a soft plastic that works.

Best Baits:

Zoom Trick Worm
Berkley MaxScent Creature Hawg
Yamamoto Senko (Texas-rigged or weightless)
Strike King Rage Bug
Missile Baits D Bomb (flipping)

Popular Rigs:

Texas Rig (weedless, heavy cover)
Carolina Rig (dragging deep)
Ned Rig (finesse, smallmouth)
Wacky Rig (shallow structure)

When & Where To Fish Soft Plastics:

Midday in thick grass, brush piles, deep ledges
Weightless near shade and docks
Night fishing — big worms with 10"+ profiles

Topwater Lures

There’s nothing more exciting to me than a topwater blow-up on a warm summer morning. Topwater lures are perfect for early mornings and late evenings when bass are feeding near the surface in cooler, low-light conditions. I love using frogs over thick mats or walking baits across calm water, it’s a thrilling way to fish and incredibly effective. During summer, bass often hunt shallow around weed lines, docks, and shorelines, and topwater lures let me target those zones with explosive results. It’s a technique that demands attention and patience, but when it works, it delivers some of the most memorable strikes of the season. Some of the best types of topwater lures are whopper ploppers, poppers, frogs, buzzbaits, and walking stick baits or spooks.

Top Lures:

Where to Use:

Over hydrilla, lily pads, or scattered grass
Points, docks, or flats with shad presence
Calm mornings or overcast days

Pro Tips:

Use braided line (40–65 lb.) for frogs
Let the lure sit after cast, then twitch subtly
Pause between pops or walks — that’s often when bass strike

Jigs

Jigs are not my go-to lure when bass fishing but for many anglers when summer bass get finicky in the summer heat jigs are their choice. They’re incredibly versatile, you can flip them into heavy cover, drag them along deep structure, or swim them through weed edges. When bass hunker down during the hottest parts of the day, a well-placed jig mimics crawfish or baitfish perfectly and can tempt even the laziest fish into striking. Summer bass anglers like pairing them with a soft plastic trailer for extra movement and bulk. Whether fishing shallow docks or deep brush piles, jigs can give you confidence year-round, but they really shine when summer bass need a slower, more deliberate presentation.

Types of Jigs:

Football Jigs: Best for rocky bottoms and ledges
Swim Jigs: Great around grass lines and cover
Flipping Jigs: Punch heavy vegetation and docks

Popular Brands & Models:

Match Trailers:

Strike King Rage Craw
Z-Man Goat
Zoom Super Chunk

Swimbaits (Hard & Soft)

Want to target trophy bass? Swimbaits have become one of my favorite tools for targeting big summer bass, especially when the fish are feeding on shad or bluegill. Their lifelike action and realistic profile make them incredibly effective in clear water, where bass get more selective. I love using paddle-tail swimbaits on a weighted hook to cover water efficiently, especially around grass lines, points, and open flats. They work great in the early morning or evening when bass are actively chasing bait. For deeper fish, I’ll throw a heavier swimbait to reach the strike zone. Swimbaits give me the perfect blend of realism, versatility, and consistency.

Best Summer Swimbaits:

Where They Shine:

Schooling fish on ledges
Suspended bass in open water
Large flats with baitfish activity

Chatterbaits (Bladed Jigs)

Chatterbaits are among my go-to lures for summer bass fishing because they combine the flash of a spinnerbait with the vibration of a crankbait, and that noisy thump can really fire up aggressive fish. I like to throw them around grass, along weed edges, or near submerged structure—places where summer bass like to hang out. The vibration helps bass locate the lure even in murky water or thick cover. Paired with a swimbait trailer, chatterbaits offer a bulky, natural look that triggers reaction strikes. When bass are scattered or roaming, a chatterbait helps me cover water fast and draw bites.

Top chatterbaits for summer:

Tips:

Use with a swimbait trailer (Zako, Rage Swimmer)
Fish around submerged grass edges, riprap, and flats
Vary retrieval rate, include occasional “burn & pause”

Spinnerbaits

Old-school but deadly, spinnerbaits have earned a permanent spot in my summer tackle box because they’re so effective at triggering reaction strikes, especially when summer bass are holding around cover. I love fishing them along wind-blown banks, through submerged vegetation, or near shady docks where bass wait to ambush prey. The flash and vibration from the blades mimic baitfish perfectly, and I can control the depth with my retrieve speed, which is great when bass are suspended or roaming mid-depth. Spinnerbaits also excel in stained or choppy water, where visibility is low. They’re versatile, easy to fish, and flat-out produce when the summer bite gets tough. If you want a full and complete breakdown of everything you need to know about spinnerbaits read our guide on What Is A Spinnerbait?

Favorite Spinnerbaits for Summer Bass:

Blades:

Willow for speed and flash (shad)
Colorado for thump (dirty water)

Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits might not be the first lure people think of for summer, but they’ve saved my day more than once. When bass are suspended in deeper water or chasing baitfish near drop-offs, a suspending jerkbait can be lethal. I like to work it with long pauses, letting it sit right in front of a bass until it can’t resist. The erratic darting action mimics a wounded baitfish, and that triggers reaction strikes even when the fish aren’t actively feeding. Jerkbaits in the summer are especially effective in clear water or on overcast days. Jerkbaits give me precision and control, which is huge during the unpredictable summer bass bite.

Favorite Summer Jerkbait Models:

Tips for fishing jerkbaits in the summer:

Use longer pauses for suspended bass
Target shade, structure, and drop-offs
Mix up your cadence, try different retrieval speeds and patterns

Summer Bass Lure Selection by Water Type

Water Type	Best Lures
Clear Reservoir	Drop Shot, Swimbait, Jerkbait
Grass Lake	Frogs, Swim Jigs, Texas-Rigged Creatures
Rocky Reservoir	Football Jigs, Deep Cranks, Carolina Rigs
River Systems	Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, Ned Rigs
Small Ponds	Topwater, Senkos, Light Texas Rigs

FAQs About the Best Summer Bass Lures

What’s the best all-around summer bass lure?
A deep-diving crankbait like the Strike King 6XD — covers water, triggers reaction bites, works on most structure.
Can I catch bass at night in summer?
Yes! Some of the biggest bites happen after dark — try black spinnerbaits, topwater, or big ribbon tail worms.
How important is line choice in summer?
Use fluorocarbon for deep, clear water, braid for frogging or heavy cover, and Mono for topwater lures that need to float high.

Best Summer Bass Fishing Lures Overview

Summer bass fishing is a puzzle, but it’s one you can solve with the right pieces. By understanding how bass behave, adjusting your tactics to water temps and light conditions, and picking lures that match the moment, you’ll turn more casts into catches. So stock your box with: Deep divers, plastics for structure, frogs for the surface, swimbaits for monster summer bass, finesse for high-pressure waters, and go chase that summer bass bite. Good luck, and tight lines! Let us know your thoughts, and your catches! If you have any questions talk to our bass fishing experts by calling or filling out a contact us form.