Let’s face it, August is HOT. I don’t care if you’re in California, Maine, Texas, or Ohio, this is the hottest month of the year. The water is warm, the sun is beating down, and the boat traffic is heavy. That makes fishing tough. So today I want to talk about my top four baits for August. I’m going to give you two for the northern part of the country, let’s say Virginia and up and two for the southern half, Virginia down to Florida, Texas, and beyond. Whether you’re fishing deep, thick, or current, I’ve got you covered.
Northern Pick-Bait #1: The Ned Rig
Let’s start up north. My go-to bait in tough summer conditions is the Ned rig. This thing has straight-up changed the game. When the fish are skittish because of heat, boaters, or pressure, you can still get bit on a Ned rig. All it is, guys, is a little jighead paired with a stubby soft plastic. I like the Berkley Half Head Jig, anywhere from 1/16 to 1/4 oz depending on depth.
The key is keeping it simple. For the plastic, I throw the Berkley Maxscent Lil’ General, but listen—you can use cut-up stick baits too. Save those torn-up worms from earlier in the day, bite them in half, and boom, you’ve got a Ned bait. The best thing about a Ned rig is that it does nothing. And that’s perfect for August. The bait falls slow and just slides along the bottom with no crazy action, which is exactly what pressured bass want. If the fish have seen everything else, finesse ‘em with the Ned!
Northern Pick-Bait #2: The Neko Rig
Alright, staying up north—bait number two is the Neko rig. This one’s another finesse option, and it works especially well in deeper water or current. You start with a straight-tail worm, 4 to 6 inches, like the Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Hit Worm.
Slide an o-ring toward the head of the worm—not in the middle. Then stick a little nail weight into the head—1/16 to 1/8 oz is perfect. Finish it off with a small drop shot-style hook under the o-ring, with the hook point facing the tail. When this bait hits the bottom, that nail helps it “peck” like a little bird. Ting-ting-ting! The worm tail quivers while the weight stirs up silt. It’s like ringing a dinner bell. This is deadly on fish that are hanging out deep in August, especially around rocks, ledges, and humps.
Southern Pick-Bait #3: Punch Rig
Now let’s head south. If you’re in places like Alabama, Florida, or Texas, you know it’s oppressively hot in August. We’re talking brutal! That means bass are getting under the thickest cover they can find grass mats, bushes, trees, you name it. That’s where the punch rig comes in. This is a heavy-duty setup designed to punch through cover and get down to those fish. You start with a bobber stop, a big tungsten weight (1 oz to 1.5 oz), and a strong straight-shank flipping hook (3/0 to 5/0). For the bait, I like the Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg or any streamlined beaver-style bait. Avoid big flappy arms because this needs to slide through the cover. Rig it Texas-style and send it into the jungle. This is hands-down the best way to catch bass hiding under thick mats in August.
Southern Pick-Bait #4: Hollow-Body Frog
Last but not least, my fourth top bait for August is the good ol’ frog. That’s right—a hollow-body frog is absolutely deadly when the fish are buried under thick stuff. Think boat docks, overhanging trees, thick matted grass—places where other lures just can’t go. My favorite is a walking-style frog, like the Molix Supernato. It walks side to side and pushes water to draw attention. You can skip it under docks or work it over mats. It’s one of the most exciting ways to fish because when a big bass blasts it…BOOM…it’s game on! Some of the biggest fish in the lake will be under this thick stuff in August. You’re either going to punch ’em or frog ’em!
So there you have it, my Top 4 Baits for the Month of August. Up north? Go finesse with the Ned and Neko rigs. Down south? Get aggressive with the punch rig and the frog. These baits match where bass go during the heat of the summer, deep, thick, or current, and they’re proven to work. Try ‘em out, stay cool, and keep fishing hot!
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