Go Deep This Summer

As the summer temps heat up the water, bass migrate out deep and spend the next several months roaming around points, ledges, and other types of deep structure. Today there are a multitude of baits that specifically target bass at these depths.
One of the hottest new lures on the market is the spoon. This bait has been around for years, but up until recently has it been used to catch suspended bass out off of deep ledges and points. Strike King took notice of this and has come out with the Sexy Spoon. It is fairly simple to use. Cast the spoon out and let it fall to the bottom. Once the bait makes contact with the bottom simply snap your rod up jerking the spoon off the bottom and then let it flutter back down on slack line. The strikes usually occur when the bait is falling. This is a great bait to get a school of bass fired up into feeding again. I use seventeen pound test Vicious Fluorocarbon on a medium heavy seven foot Falcon rod. I also use a fast reel like the Ardent XS 1000 with a 6.3:1 gear ratio.
One of the best baits to throw out deep is the classic ten inch worm. The Strike King Thumper worm was designed specifically for offshore fishing. I use the same tackle as above mentioned. One key I have found is to vary your retrieve somewhat. Sometimes the bass like the worm drug along the bottom and other times they want it bouncing across their face. One good thing is you can get the worm in brush piles or around stumps and slowly work it through the structure.
My all time favorite is a deep diving crankbait. I love throwing the new Strike King 6XD out deep. I throw this bait on ten pound test Vicious fluorocarbon on a glass crankbait rod. I also use a slower gear ratio Ardent which is 5.0:1. I just do not cast it out and reel it in. I am trying to bump the bottom or the structure I am targeting. When I do hit a stump I will stop reeling and let the bait float up. That is usually when the strike occurs. I also work an area casting the bait at different angles. Sometimes the bass will only bite if the bait is going a certain way. It takes a lot of patience and practice to become a good crankbait fisherman.
Another great bait that few people throw is a one ounce spinnerbait. This overlooked bait can really produce when nothing else is working. The Strike King Bottom Dweller stays on the bottom as you reel slowly. This bait can be thrown around structure much like a crankbait or a worm. Cast the bait out and let it fall to the bottom. Once it come s in contact with the bottom begin reeling it slowly back to the boat.
All of these baits work great around ledges, points, channel swings, and around deep structure. Make sure you use all of these baits when fishing out deep. Bass tend to get used to a certain bait but by mixing it up, you can keep catching them throughout the summer.