As spring transitions into summer and water temperatures continue to rise, largemouth bass begin settling into their summer patterns. While many anglers assume this means every fish moves offshore, that is not always the case.
Some largemouth remain shallow throughout the entire summer, relating to docks, grass, bluegill beds, shade, and other forms of cover. At the same time, other fish move offshore toward deep weed lines, points, humps, ledges, brush piles, and schools of baitfish.
Both patterns can produce some of the best fishing of the year. The key is determining which group of fish is more active based on the lake, available cover, forage, weather, and current conditions.
The Shallow Bite
One of the biggest mistakes anglers make during the summer is assuming all of the fish have moved deep. Even during the hottest parts of the year, quality largemouth can remain shallow if they have access to food, shade, healthy vegetation, and nearby deeper water.
Early mornings and evenings can provide some of the best shallow-water action as bass move away from cover and actively feed. Topwaters, swim jigs, chatterbaits, and other moving presentations can help anglers cover water and locate active fish.
As the sun gets higher, bass often position tighter to docks, grass, laydowns, lily pads, and other forms of cover. Slowing down with a wacky rig, jig, Texas-rigged soft plastic, or another presentation that can stay in the strike zone often becomes more effective.
Fishing Docks
Docks can provide everything a largemouth needs during the summer, including shade, cover, food, and access to deeper water.
Although nearly any dock can hold fish, some are more productive than others. Docks near deeper water, healthy grass, bluegill beds, or additional cover often hold more and larger bass. The darkest and hardest-to-reach areas beneath a dock are frequently the most productive because they receive less fishing pressure and provide the most shade.
Skipping a wacky rig, jig, or Texas-rigged soft plastic underneath docks allows anglers to reach fish that may otherwise be difficult to target.
For fishing jigs and Texas rigs around docks, we recommend:
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Line: 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon
The 7' length provides the accuracy needed to make precise casts and skip baits into tight areas underneath docks. The medium heavy power provides the backbone needed for solid hooksets and pulling fish away from cover, while the fast reel helps quickly pick up line and maintain control of the fish.
Finding Bass in Grass
Healthy vegetation is one of the most productive places to target summer largemouth. Grass provides oxygen, shade, cover, and an abundance of food, allowing bass to remain shallow or at mid-depths throughout the summer.
Instead of fishing an entire grass line, focus on areas that are different from the surrounding vegetation. Points, pockets, inside turns, isolated clumps, changes in grass type, and areas where multiple types of cover meet can all concentrate fish.
Moving baits such as swim jigs and chatterbaits are excellent tools for covering water and locating active bass. Once fish are found, slowing down with a Texas rig, jig, wacky rig, or drop shot can help generate additional bites.
For fishing moving baits around grass, we recommend:
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Line: 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon
The medium power and moderate-fast action provide enough tip to cast moving baits accurately and allow fish to fully load the rod before the hookset. The rod's parabolic bend also helps keep fish pinned while still providing enough backbone to pull them away from vegetation.
The outside edge of deep grass can also be productive during the middle of summer. These deeper edges allow bass to move between feeding areas and deeper water without leaving the cover of the vegetation.
Targeting Bass Around Bluegill Beds
During early summer, bluegills begin moving shallow to spawn, creating an easy feeding opportunity for largemouth bass.
Bluegill beds are commonly found in protected pockets, around docks, near shallow grass, and on hard-bottom areas. The beds often appear as groups of small, circular depressions along the bottom.
Large largemouth frequently position just outside the beds, underneath nearby docks, along grass edges, or beside isolated pieces of cover where they can ambush bluegills moving in and out of the area.
Topwaters, swim jigs, wacky rigs, and bluegill-profile baits can all be effective around these areas. Instead of casting directly into the beds, focus on the edges and nearby cover where larger bass are more likely to position.
Offshore Largemouth
While some largemouth remain shallow throughout the summer, others move offshore and relate to deeper structure.
Points, humps, ledges, roadbeds, brush piles, deep weed lines, and other offshore areas can concentrate both bass and baitfish. Electronics are extremely valuable for identifying these areas and determining whether fish are present before spending time fishing them.
Once fish are located, techniques such as football jigs, Carolina rigs, deep-diving crankbaits, large worms, and drop shots can all be effective.
It is also important to remember that offshore fish are not always positioned directly on the bottom. Some largemouth suspend above structure or follow schools of baitfish into open water. Forward facing sonar has helped anglers better understand how often fish leave traditional structure and roam in pursuit of food.
How Weather Affects Summer Largemouth
Weather can play a major role in determining whether shallow or offshore fish are more active.
During bright, calm conditions, shallow bass often position tighter to shade, docks, grass, or heavy cover. These conditions can make accurate casts and slower presentations especially important.
Cloud cover and wind can cause fish to move farther away from cover and feed more aggressively. Moving baits such as chatterbaits, swim jigs, crankbaits, and topwaters become excellent options when fish are actively roaming.
Wind can also push baitfish toward grass lines, points, and other areas, creating feeding opportunities for both shallow and offshore bass.
Cold fronts can make fish less willing to chase and cause them to hold tighter to cover or structure. Slowing down, downsizing, and keeping a finesse presentation in the strike zone longer can help generate bites during tougher conditions.
Should You Fish Shallow or Offshore?
There is no single answer that works on every lake.
Some fisheries consistently produce quality largemouth from shallow docks and grass throughout the hottest parts of summer. On other lakes, the largest groups of fish may move offshore and relate to deep structure or schools of baitfish.
Instead of deciding before you get on the water that you are only going to fish shallow or offshore, spend time sampling both patterns. Pay attention to the quality of fish, the number of bites, available forage, and how fish respond as conditions change throughout the day.
The most productive pattern can also change during the day. An early morning shallow bite may slow as the sun rises, while offshore fish become more active. On other days, bright sunlight may position shallow fish tighter to predictable pieces of cover and make them easier to target.
Final Thoughts
Summer largemouth do not all move to the same places.
Some remain shallow around docks, grass, bluegill beds, shade, and other cover, while others move offshore toward deep structure, vegetation, and schools of baitfish. Both groups can provide excellent fishing throughout the summer.
The key is remaining open-minded and allowing the conditions and fish activity to determine where you spend your time. By understanding both shallow and offshore patterns, anglers can adjust throughout the day and consistently put themselves around more summer largemouth.
