Smallmouth bass are undoubtedly among the strongest freshwater fish in the world. Fishing for them in the heart of summer requires the use of certain baits. Following are some of the best July fishing lures for smallmouth bass in rivers, all of which may be found at sporting goods stores and outfitters such as Cabela's.
Zoom Finesse Worm, a Top July Bass Bait
The finesse worm is one of the best soft plastic baits for bass in summer. It is slender, durable, and has great motion. These lures in dark colors, especially when rigged on light Slider jigheads to help them sink, are excellent for summer smallmouth. They should be retrieved with slow reeling and intermittent rod twitches. Another technique that works well in slow areas with this lure is the slow drift. Use no weight, and allow the worm to simply drift, with rod twitches every half minute or so; this can be very productive in slow eddies or along deep banks.
Yamamoto Senko, a Great July Fishing Lure for Smallmouth Bass
Gary Yamamoto's senko, a thick, weighted plastic worm is superb for smallmouth in summer. This bait in the four inch size in watermelon or smoke color arrangements is dynamite when fished slowly in deep holes or along deep, shaded banks. Rig these artificial worms with offset worm hooks.
Substitute senkos, such as Case magic sticks are also top bass baits for mid summer smallmouth. These may also be found at sporting goods stores and major outfitters, and they are generally cheaper than senkos, but they lack the weight of the original Yamamoto worms.
Tubes, Some of the Best Bass Baits in Mid Summer
Tubes are among the best smallmouth bass lures ever developed for use in deep water. Smaller, lighter lures than jig and pigs, they do very well when fished slowly. Tubes in dark colors, such as watermelon, pumpkinseed, and smoke are best, and they must be rigged with jigheads. To fish a tube, cast it out, let it sink, and slowly raise the whole rod up (pulling the lure off of the bottom, having it look like a swimming crayfish), and then slowly reel the slack, and repeat. These baits are difficult to use in areas with a lot of grass or bottom structure, as they are not weedless and are prone to snagging.
Rapala Original Floater, a Topwater Bass Bait
The Rapala original floater, a surface crankbait that floats well and swims on or just below the surface is often a great lure to throw to structure or to the bank. It should be slowly, steadily reeled back, with no rod twitches. This plug is best in silver, gold, or perch color arrangements for smallmouth bass in rivers.
Smallmouth bass fishing in July is an excellent outdoor recreation in the Eastern United States. Though many of the same baits that work for largemouth are great for smallmouth, smaller baits that may be retrieved more quickly or through current, such as those above, are perfect for the river.
Thomas Wyatt - Tom Wyatt grew up in Virginia. He has been interested in the outdoors (fishing, birding, camping, and other such activities) since he was ...
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