®
Summer 2026
A
s summer settles in, many bass abandon the
shallows and move offshore to their seasonal
holding areas. But on nearly every lake and river, some bass remain shallow all summer, relating to available
cover and shoreline structure.
Most anglers enjoy shallow-water fishing, but endless stretches of cover and featureless flats can make locating bass frustrating. There are things an angler can look for to help increase their odds when fishing in shallow water, as well as some key lures.
KEY FEATURES THAT HOLD SUMMER BASS
When fishing in skinny water, as I like to call it, some key things to look for are depth changes, isolated cover and current Even subtle depth changes can position fish. A bank transitioning from two feet to two-and-a-half feet may not look significant, but it can concentrate bass. Depth changes can sometimes be shown by vegetation or weed edges in the water. Slight ripples on the water are also a sign that there is a bottom change present.
An isolated laydown or small patch of lily pads can become a prime ambush point for shallow bass. That piece of
cover provides the bass cover from the sun beating down in the water, thus the water under or behind that cover can be a few degrees cooler than the rest of the water on that bank As the sun changes position throughout the day, bass will reposition with the moving shade line.
In the summer when you find fish on an isolated piece of cover, chances are that you are going to catch a few bass
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