Top 4 Baits for June – Let’s Go!
June is one of my favorite months of the year, not just because June 17th is my birthday (happy birthday to me!), but because it marks the real start of summer bass fishing! This is the month when things start to change. Up north, bass are just finishing up the spawn. They’re tired, skinny, and looking to eat. Down south, they’re already in their summer haunts, out deep, near ledges and main lake points. So today, we’re talking about my top four baits for June. I’m giving you two baits for Virginia and north, and two baits for down south, like the Carolinas, Georgia, all the way to Texas and Florida.
Northern Bait #1: The Fluke
First up for the north is one of my all-time favorites in June; the fluke. I’m talking about a soft plastic jerkbait that looks like a minnow. The Berkley Powerbait Jerk Shad in a 5-inch size is perfect. Up north in June, bass are recovering from the spawn and feeding up on baitfish like herring, shad, and shiners. That’s where the fluke shines! I throw it two main ways. If I’m around grass, docks, or wood, I go weightless Texas rig with a barrel swivel and a 4/0 or 5/0 offset hook. That setup keeps it weedless and lets me skip it under cover.
But if I’m fishing open water, especially when I see fish schooling or using forward-facing sonar, I’ll throw it on a jighead. Use a jighead with a 90-degree line tie like the Berkley Fusion Hybrid Head, because it helps the fluke stay balanced. Either way, the fluke is killer for those post-spawn, feeding-up bass!
Northern Bait #2: The Spinnerbait
Bait number two for up north in June is the good ol’ spinnerbait. Now listen, I was this close to going with a topwater bait. I love walking baits and poppers, especially in June. But the spinnerbait wins because of its versatility. Weather changes fast this time of year, calm one minute, windy the next and spinnerbaits handle that perfectly. When I see shad or herring spawning early in the day around marinas, riprap, floating docks, I’ll burn a spinnerbait just under the surface. And if it’s cloudy or windy, I’ll slow it down and fish it deeper. It mimics baitfish really well and gives those post-spawn bass an easy meal. For clear or lightly stained water, I like double willow blades like the Molix Muscle Ant Double Willow Spinnerbait. If the water’s dirtier, I switch to Colorado blades.
Southern Bait #3: The Football Jig
Alright, now we’re heading down south! In June, bass in the southern states are done spawning and have moved out to deep water like ledges, points, bluffs, and river channels. That’s where the football head jig comes in. This bait is amazing for dragging across hard bottom areas like shell beds, gravel bars, or brush piles. I use jigs from 1/2 to 1 ounce, but 3/4 is my sweet spot. Color-wise, you can’t go wrong with green pumpkin, brown, black and blue, or even peanut butter and jelly. Now, here’s a tip: the warmer the water, the more action I want from the trailer.
I’ll use a Berkley MaxScent Creature Hawg or a double-tail grub in summer to get more movement. And if you’re in Florida or Louisiana and don’t have deep ledges, just punch the grass! Thick hydrilla or milfoil in 8–10 feet of water is perfect, same idea, different cover.
Southern Bait #4: The Deep-Diving Crankbait
Last but not least, my number four bait for June in the south is a big deep-diving crankbait. This is the sister bait to the football jig. Once those fish get offshore, a crankbait is a great way to cover water and find them fast. I’m talking about baits that dive 15 feet or more like the Berkley Dime 15 or the Berkley Dredger 17.5 and up. These baits dig the bottom, bounce off cover, and look just like gizzard shad, white bass, bluegill, you name it. Make sure your crankbait dives as deep or deeper than where the fish are. If you’re fishing a ledge in 16 feet, throw a bait that goes 17 or 18. You want to feel it digging the bottom or ticking through brush. That’s when you get the big bites!
There you go, my top four baits for the month of June. If you’re up north, tie on a fluke and a spinnerbait. If you’re down south, grab a football jig and a big deep crankbait. And remember, if you’ve got deep grass instead of deep ledges, go flipping or punching. That’ll get you bit too. June is all about change and it’s the start of summer and the fish are hungry. So get out there, tie on one of these baits, and go catch them!
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