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Summer 2026
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also go to offshore humps and islands near deep water. The bass like to move offshore and recover near these humps and islands after they spawn. I concentrate on the top
30-feet of water or just above the thermocline. The most important key is to find bait and fish activity.
WB: Please explain the techniques and cadences you would use to catch the fish you find.
THAO: I always have a topwater walking bait like a Teckel USA Kicknocker, 8” flutter spoon and a minnow-style bait.
If the fish are less than 20-feet deep, I’ll use the walking bait with a fast- splashing walk, so the nose of the bait dives and pops. The fish are able to hear and sense the walking bait while they are in shallower water.
I like to check for bait around standing timber and marinas because it seems like the larger fish will be suspended around or near the timber and marinas. I’ll use a Jackal Counter Back spoon if the fish don’t want the larger 8” flutter spoon. With both flutter spoons, I’ll drop on a semi-slack line and then pop the spoon next to the fish I can see suspended under the kayak.
The minnow-style bait, I’ll shake it – mostly. But at times, when I see the fish come off the bottom, I’ll reel fast so the bait looks like it wants to get away from the bass. Most of the bites I get on the minnow bait are when I pull the bait away from the fish.
WB: How important are your electronics to locate bass during the summer months?
THAO: Electronics are a huge factor to help locate bass both by using mapping and forward-facing sonar. I will