Gearing Up For Summer

[Bassmaster21]

Well the dog days of summer are just around the corner and I'm ready to search for some lunkers. In the past the bass fishing has been tough and I spend most of the hot, muggy summer days drowning minnows for crappie. However, I have made a conscious decision this summer to search not only for some largemouth, but for some hogs. Already accepting the fact that I'm fishing for bigger bites not more bites, I think about what kind of lures to use. Looking at summer tournaments not only at Stockton but around the Ozarks, the winning (or big bass) lure is 90% of the time a deep crank or jig. So I think the obvious choice is to start there, or maybe go there second.. I have always been a believer that IF you can get a bite on a topwater over deeper water for suspended fish the odds are IF one bites it will be bigger. So possibly a spook or pop'r type bait will be my starting point on any given day. Regardless of my decisions or success it will be a fun summer and I wish the best of luck to everyone else! God Bless

[DADAKOTA]

Many tourneys are won in the summer on 10 inch worms in deep brushpiles.

[hknfsh]

Ditto on the big worms ! The dinks will go for it too but like they say....big bait big bite !

[conorsixtakc]

Many tourneys are won in the summer on 10 inch worms in deep brushpiles.

Ditto on the big worms ! The dinks will go for it too but like they say....big bait big bite !

x3. Summertime tourneys on LOZ are won on big worms, especially at night when it gets hot.

[Sac River Jim]

if you gonna tourney fish on stockton like everyone else said find ya some brush piles on main lake point and channel swings and break out the big worms!!!!!!

[WakenLake]

I can't wait to throw a big ugly worm. I usually throw purple with some type of flake in it close to dark, greens in the day.

[Sac River Jim]

i like a big nasty blk with red flake 10 or 12'' worm at night. cloudy days green pumpkin and watermelon red with bluebird skies.

[Walcrabass]

Sac River Jim,

It is no secret that Black is a favorite to use at night. Most guys, including myself in years past, lean towards Black and Blue. In the last three or four years I have found that Black and Red is a better Night fishing color. My go to baits this summer just like last summer will be Black N Red Spinnerbait with matching trailer, Black N Red Jig with matching trailer, and Black N Red Buzzbait with matching trailer. I like Crack Craws, Lizards , etc. for trailers but will be using a Brush Hog type of plastic this year. The great thing about night fishing in the summer is that unless they are shut off from a storm their appetite for large baits is good. Lots of skirt, lots of Blade, and lots of plastic trailer. Things should be cracking in about two weeks.

Good Fishing