July is the perfect time to fi sh for largemouth bass. Because of the heat, boat traffi c on non-ski
lakes is often minimal and your chance to fi sh your favorite spots, especially in the middle of the
day, increases as the temperatures do. Whether new to dog-day fi shing or a sweaty, seasoned
veteran, try a few of these techniques to increase your summertime success.
Story and photos by Jeff Kurrus d h b ff
Techniques for July Bass
48 Nebraskaland • July 2020
Tip 1: Night
"The night is where it's at," a longtime friend
always told me before I fi nally started to listen.
He was right. The sheer mystery of night fi shing,
especially with a partner, makes it that much more
enjoyable. Fish weedless lures on unfamiliar waters
and open up your entire tacklebox at places you've
fi shed before. Usually, fi sh don't hold as tight to
cover as they do during the daylight, so you might
be surprised what you fi nd in the open water –
especially if there is underwater vegetation.
Tip 2: Sleep In
For the hundreds, if not thousands, of times I've
been on the water, I can count on one hand the
number of sunrise bites that blew me away. Quite
often, I feel as if I'm catching the same fi sh I would
have caught had I slept for an extra two hours.
However, there have been countless summer
sunsets when the fi shing heated up to a frenzy.
While topwater options are always the norm in the
late afternoon, crankbaits and spinnerbaits can be
especially productive when fi sh aren't hitting on top
as fast as you want.
