July is here, and that means one thing to me, it’s summertime bass fishing! No matter where you live, the water temperatures are climbing, the days are long, and bass have settled into their true summer patterns. They’re no longer thinking about the spawn. Instead, they’re looking for deeper water, thicker cover, or current to stay comfortable while feeding. That’s why choosing the right bait this month is so important. In this month’s Top Baits, I’m breaking it down by region with two must-have baits for northern anglers, two for southern anglers, and one bonus bait that catches bass everywhere!
Northern Anglers: Minnows and ‘Moeba Baits
If you fish anywhere from Virginia north, one of the best baits you can throw in July is a minnow-style soft bait. Whether you’re using electronics to target offshore fish or simply casting from the bank, bass are feeding heavily on baitfish this time of year. Natural colors like pearl, white, translucent, or even green pumpkin work great depending on the forage in your lake.
One of my favorites is the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow, especially when bass are feeding on smaller baitfish. If they’re eating bigger forage, I love the new Berkley PowerBait Lab Series Minnow, which combines PowerBait and MaxScent technology for incredible action and scent. Rig both on a Berkley Fusion Jighead and retrieve them with a slow reel while gently shaking your rod tip. That subtle rolling action drives summertime bass crazy.
Another bait that’s been absolutely on fire is the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent ‘Moeba. This unique urchin-style bait has tons of little tentacles that create incredible movement in the water.
For northern anglers, remember these simple tips:
- Match your bait size to the size of the local forage.
- Stick with natural colors whenever possible.
- Fish the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent ‘Moeba with a pull-and-fall retrieve.
- Target deeper structure, current, and transition areas where bass are holding.
These two baits cover a lot of water and consistently produce when northern bass move into their summer homes.
Bonus Bait: Topwater Time!
If there’s one bait that belongs on every deck in July, it’s a topwater lure. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Florida, July is prime time for explosive surface strikes.
Around shallow cover, I love throwing the Molix Lover Buzz SS Buzzbait. It planes quickly, runs straight, and makes plenty of noise to call fish up. When the cover gets really thick, lilly pads, hydrilla, matted grass, bushes, or docks, I switch to the Molix Supernato Frog. Its buzzing legs create incredible action while remaining completely weedless.
There are few things in fishing more exciting than watching a bass explode through the surface on a topwater bait. Those are the bites you’ll remember all year long.
Southern Anglers: Deep Cranking and Big Jigs
If you’re fishing from Virginia south, bass are already dealing with extremely warm water and have often moved into deeper structure or heavy cover. That’s where deep-diving crankbaits become one of my favorite summertime tools.
The Berkley Dredger 17.5, Berkley Dredger 20.5, and Berkley Dime 15 allow you to reach fish holding in that critical 15- to 22-foot zone. The key isn’t just getting the bait deep—it’s making it deflect off rocks, brush piles, ledges, or other cover to trigger reaction strikes.
Then there’s the jig. Honestly, I don’t go anywhere in July without one tied on.
For deep structure, I rely on the Missile Baits Head Banger Football Jig. For grass, docks, wood, and heavy cover, I pick up the Missile Baits Flip Out Jig. Match your trailer to the situation. The Berkley PowerBait Shape 108 Craw gives you lots of action for deep football jig fishing, while the Berkley PowerBait Creature
Hawg or Pit Boss slips through vegetation much easier when flipping heavy cover.
For southern anglers, keep these tips in mind:
- Deep crank ledges, points, and offshore structure.
- Let your crankbait hit cover whenever possible.
- Fish heavier football jigs on rock and hard bottom.
- Flip heavy vegetation with streamlined trailers.
Keep It Simple and Go Fishing
July is one of my favorite months of the year. The fish are feeding, the weather is warm, and there’s no better time to spend long days on the water with family and friends. Whether you’re fishing a big reservoir, a natural lake, a river, or your neighborhood pond, these baits will put more bass in the boat.
Here’s the game plan:
- North: Berkley MaxScent Flatnose Minnow and Berkley MaxScent ‘Moeba.
- Everywhere: Molix Lover Buzz SS Buzzbait or Molix Supernato Frog.
- South: Berkley Dredger and Dime crankbaits, plus Missile Baits Head Banger or Flip Out Jigs paired with Berkley PowerBait trailers.
Give these baits a try this month, keep an open mind, and adjust to the conditions you find. I promise they’ll help you catch more bass this July. Fish hard, have fun, and never stop learning!
______________________________________________________________________________
July Top Baits EXPOSED! (Plus Pros SECRET Pick)
Follow Ike on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok for fishing and fun content. Subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel for access to his educational ‘Ike in the Shop’ videos and his ‘Going Ike’ Adventure series!
