By Eric Rollins
June brings in some hot summer days. But the moments before the heat sets in can be peaceful, therapeutic, and a time when you begin to think about the greater things in life. Just imagine yourself on the water: the sun is just beginning to rise in the east, and the water is the calmest it will be all day. So calm, it looks like glass, and you can see the reflection of the world around you—a gift only God could make, and you are the blessed one able to experience the moment. The quiet sounds of a summer morning you have been longing for all winter are finally here. You toss a line, hoping to feel that bite.
June can be an exciting month for catching largemouth bass. The spawn is winding down, bass are hungry, and fish are actively feeding as they settle into their summer patterns. Whether you are fishing from a boat, kayak, or the bank, June offers excellent opportunities to catch both numbers and quality bass. If you are fishing some of the warmer climate areas where the heat has already set in, most of the bass have likely left the spawning areas and are actively feeding, ready to eat and fill up.
Bass Behavior
Year after year, bass have a cycle and tend to stick with it. Spawning has already happened. So now, the females want to leave the bed and feed. Meanwhile, the males are still sticking around the beds, some tending to the young fry that hatched only a few weeks ago. This is a transition period. Males will eventually return to deep water, but at the moment, they are making sure their young are protected and ready to move along. In some of the warmer areas, like our southern states, those males and females are already making the dive to deeper waters.
No matter where you are fishing from, this time period allows for some great fishing because bass are hungry. That includes those trophy bass. The bass on the beds are ready to strike. They are hungry and ready to eat. Whether it is morning, afternoon, or evening, they are feeding—and so are the females, if you can find them.
Minnesota Prime Time
I just returned from fishing some lakes in Minnesota. The fishing was electric. Those male bass on the beds were chasing the bait, and I was reeling in the bite. No matter the time of day, they were feeding. From shady spots underneath docks to shallow water on the beds and that sweet spot right where the depth took a big drop from the shallow waters, it was all hitting. Largemouth and a few smallmouth were ready to eat. You could find them in grass lines all throughout the day, no matter the time.
The redness on some of the fins indicated fanning. That is where the male fish uses his fins to fan and clear debris from a space during spawning. It is a nest site they prepare for the female. Some of the fish I reeled in indicated this activity. It was prime time. A highly recommended trip if you are looking for somewhere to go—Minnesota has some great fishing. After all, it is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes!”
Where to Fish for Bass
No matter where you are fishing—up north, down south, or somewhere in between—here are some areas to consider when trying to reel in the bite:
- Spawning areas
- Grass and weed lines
- Boat docks
- Marina slips
- Submerged brush piles
- Drop-offs
During the morning hours, bass move to shallow waters to feed. As the sun beats down along with those hot temperatures, a lot of fish like to retreat to deeper water or seek shade so they can stay cool, much like we do on those hot summer days. I know Southerners equate this to sippin’ some sweet tea in a rocking chair on the front porch. Meanwhile, Midwesterners would consider this to be laying back under a shade tree feeling the breeze of summer. No matter your style, the point is to cool off, and that is exactly what the fish are feeling.
Luck of the Lures
Topwater baits work great for those early mornings. There is nothing better than seeing a largemouth bass explode through the surface from underneath the water and strike on a popper, chatterbait, or topwater frog.
- Topwater Frogs: These can be great in Southern lakes with heavy vegetation. Frogs can produce explosive strikes around hydrilla, lily pads, and shoreline grass where bass hide from the midday sun.
- Spinnerbaits: These work nicely for windy or overcast conditions. When a breeze ripples the surface, a spinnerbait’s flashing blades mimic a school of panicked baitfish, drawing aggressive reaction strikes near docks and submerged brush piles.
- Baby Brush Hogs: This creature bait is a versatile weapon for targeting bass transitioning to deeper summer structures. Its unique flappers and curly tails create a lot of water displacement, making it irresistible when rigged Texas or Carolina style and dragged slowly through grass lines and drop-offs.
Final Thoughts
June is a month every bass angler should take advantage of. The combination of hungry post-spawn fish and predictable summer patterns creates the perfect recipe for an unforgettable day on the water. So grab your gear, beat the summer heat, and get out there to catch your next big one.
