Bass fishing in July can be a finicky business, as the bite varies widely based on a bunch of factors you can’t control. Anglers have to dig deeper into their bag of tricks when the hot summer sun is beating down and bass hang out in shady cover. In this video, Flukemaster Gene Jensen shares his five favorite baits and lures to tempt July bass out of their watery hiding spots.
Best Baits and Lures for July Bass Fishing
Jensen starts with the shakyhead. “Summer can be really really tough, and sometimes the only way you can get ‘em to bite is by throwing a Ned rig or a shakyhead.” Jensen prefers standup heads or those that can be easily dragged, and he uses baits like the Missile Warlock, Zoom Trick Worm or 13 Fishing BFF.
Next up is the hollow body frog. “This thing is probably the most fun bait to fish with when the bass are shallow and active,” Jensen says. “Whether they be in the brush or be in heavy cover, or just along the bank early in the morning a hollow body frog is amazing.” He has two clear favorites, the Spro Bronzeye Frog and the 13 Fishing Trash Panda Walking Frog. Jensen suggests fishing a frog with a shorter rod to make it easier to walk.
The third pick is a toad lure, which differs from the frog as a soft-bodied, non-hollow lure meant for casting and retrieving. Jensen rigs up the toad on a Gamakatsu 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hook. His favorites are the Zoom Horny Toad and the Strike King Rage Tail Toad. “It’s like a buzzbait that’s on steroids,” he describes. “Not really loud, but really has a lot of action, a lot of kick along the bank and over grass.”
Swim Jigs, Flipping Jigs and More
This write-up only scratches the surface, so make sure you watch the full video for Jensen’s two final picks, plus plenty more July bass fishing tips. And if you’re not already a subscriber, check out the Flukemaster YouTube channel for tons more great bass fishing content.
