Lunker Lines Archives - Page 18 of 31

May 2, 2026

Big bass aren’t as active during daylight hours in the summer, so a nighttime assault is warranted — and much more comfortable.

Summer’s ‘Black Ops’

I make a living fishing tournaments, but I still love to get out and just fish for fun when I can, taking a friend with me or taking one of my boys fishing. […]

When deep water lacks oxygen in the hottest weather, bass will move shallow, even though the water is hot.

Shallow bass in August?

David Fritts

I know this is really going to sound unusual, but if you’re going to catch bass from most of our lakes in North Carolina in August, you’d better be prepared to fish shallow. […]

An 11-inch Trigger-X Hammer worm (top) is huge compared to a standard 6-inch plastic worm.

I talk a lot during the year about baits I like to throw, like a Mop Jig — and I’ve always got one tied on — but a bait that’s very effective during the summer, especially when it comes to catching big fish, is a big worm. […]

Bass usually don’t head to deep water until July, but they’ve been a month ahead of schedule all year. So fishing deep, open water might be the ticket this June.

The calendar is lying

David Fritts

I have to admit, I wait the whole year for June to arrive, because it’s my favorite month to catch bass on a crankbait. And I also have to admit, I’m afraid things are going to be different this year. […]

Shad-colored crankbaits should be a presence in any bass fisherman’s tackle box in June.

The Attraction of June

Davy Hite

I look forward to bass fishing whenever I can get on the water, but June is one of my favorite months. […]

Concentrate on main-lake points in May if you want to take advantage of the blueback herring spawn.

Mining the herring spawn

Davy Hite

May has always been a very special month for me, and not just because I was born in May. Throughout my fishing career, I’ve done well and have won more tournaments in May than any other month, largely because it’s a very diverse month. […]

Floating or ‘fluttering’

Davy Hite

In April across South Carolina, a lot of bass have just spawned, there are still a few fish spawning, and you can even catch a few prespawn bass. […]

A reel with a different retrieve ratio is called for when you’re fishing different baits.

One speed fits all?

David Fritts

A question I get at a lot of fishing shows where I do seminars has to do what kind of reel I choose for most of my crankbait fishing. […]

A spinnerbait is a versatile weapon that should occupy an important place in every bass fisherman’s tackle box, especially during the spring prespawn period.

Be sharp with your blades

Davy Hite

I grew up on the upper end of Lake Murray and spent most of my time fishing up there, because the little johnboat I had didn’t give me the capability of fishing the entire lake. […]

As the prespawn approaches, big female bass like to stage around cover such as vegetation, brush, stumps or trees in shallow water close to deep water.

Deep+shallow+cover

Davy Hite

I do a lot of seminars at fishing shows and boat shows around the country, and it’s hard to teach people a lot in just 30 minutes, but the one thing I try to get across to bass fishermen is that the most important thing to having success on the water is to understand the seasonal patterns of bass. […]