A warning to all bream, small fry, frogs, small animals, and reptiles; the spawn is long gone and lunker bass are now searching out their prey like an unseen submarine destroyer. Yes, these lunker bass are now feasting on any and everything that they can catch to help re-stock their energy supply.

Though they are still wary of lures, their hunger and natural feeding urges this time of the year make them more susceptible to falling victim to anglers. Once a bass gets a victim in their sights they usually strike suddenly and viciously, crushing their prey and making a quick meal of them.

This is not the time to use finesse fishing approaches. That time comes much later in the summer when the bass have calmed down and are trying to seek refuge from the sun and hot weather. Now is the time to get their attention by using lures that emit more than a whimper.

                                           Right Lure  

         

During a late afternoon trip to a local lake last week I found the perfect bait for a fishing trip at dusk. The lake had water grass along the edges and moss growing from the bottom in the shallow water areas of the upper end.

I was hunting for a big bass and really didn’t want to catch a bunch of small ones with only minutes of daylight left in the day. The last thirty minutes before dark are sometimes the best for catching lunker bass as the bass become less wary as they search the darker waters for their late afternoon meals.

Detecting swirls in a shallow pocket on the upper end of the lake I quickly fished my way in that direction. My first lure choice was obviously not working so I quickly turned to a Strike King Rage Tail. The Rage Tail is a plastic lure that has a large tail that operates much like a buzz bait but is not quite as loud. It can also be worked around moss, grass and lily pads with equal effectiveness.

My first couple of casts didn’t draw a strike. I finally spotted another swirl some twenty feet off of the bank and promptly pitched the rage tail out past the area and began my retrieve. As the Rage Tail buzzed over the strike zone a monster bass suddenly exploded from the depths and smashed the unsuspecting victim.

                                               Setting the Hook   

               

Reeling up slack I quickly reared back on the rod and slammed the hook home. Instantly the enraged sow bowed up and exploded through the water’s surface as she tried to fling the lure free. As she tried desperately to shake loose from the hook she continued to jump and tail walk across the surface.

After quite a battle I was able to wear the lunker out and bring her onto shore. After a few quick photos we released her back into the dark water to live to fight another day. This late afternoon trip has been repeated time and again on late afternoon forays to area lakes this time of year. 

Want to catch lunker bass? Then simply use lures that are compatible with the habitat. There are a variety of weedless lures on the market, but my favorites are the Strike King Rage Tail lures when fishing in or around grass. If you haven’t tried them yet then you’re in for a real treat. But be forewarned, you need a stiff rod, heavy line, and a strong heart, because the heart wrenching action of the lunker bass will take your breath away and leave you with a broken line, if you’re not prepared!